Cheese Straws

Cheese Straws are a perfect place to use up small amounts of leftover shredded cheese. Cheddar, Parmesan, mozzarella measure out 1 cup of whatever you have available for a penny-pinching appetizer.

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1 cup finely grated sharp Cheddar cheese

6 Tbsp butter or margarine

1 Tbsp cold water

Directions

1. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, cayenne and Cheddar in a large bowl. Stir well.

2. Cut butter into slices and add to bowl. Cut in with a pastry cutter or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

3. Add cold water to bowl. Stir until mixture forms a stiff dough. Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease 2 large baking sheets. Spoon mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.

4. Pipe 4-inch lengths of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing an inch apart. Bake until slightly golden, about 10 minutes. Remove sheet and cool completely.