Monday, October 26, 2009

Southern Cheese Straws.


Cheese Straws


8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, softened
8 ounces deep-yellow, extra-sharp cheddar cheese, grated or finely shredded
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (add a pinch more if you like them a bit hotter)
1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon sifted flour.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix the butter with the cheese and the seasonings in a large bowl. Add the flour and knead into a smooth dough. Pack the dough in batches into a cookie press and press through the flat, ridged-line opening onto an ungreased cookie sheet to form ''straws'' of about 2 1/2 to 3 inches in length. Bake until golden (do not let them brown) and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the pan with a metal spatula and let cool. Serve or store in an airtight container. (The straws are very fragile.)

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