Cheese Straws

Story

One of my mother's traditional Christmas Party recipes. Though nothing particularly festive about it, it was a staple at the annual neighborhood Christmas Party.

Ingredients

• ½ lb Sharp Cheddar
• ½ Cup + 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter (at room temperature)
• 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
• ½ tsp Salt
• 2 cups All Purpose Flour

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375° F.
2. Using a stand mixer, cream the butter and cheese thoroughly. They should be well combined.
3. Add the pepper, salt, and flour to the cheese/butter mixture. Add slowly and allow to combine, this will be a workout for your mixer.
4. Portion the mixture into small pieces onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. This can be easily done using a cookie press and a small, star shape insert. You can make strips of 1 to 2 inches in length or circles with a 1 inch diameter (or whatever shapes you fancy).
5. Bake for approximately 12 minutes. Check the bottom of the straws, they will be slightly browned when done.