insert fun party trick here: cheese straws

cheese straws | everybody likes sandwiches

Last month our building had a holiday apartment crawl inspired by the book, The Selby Is in Your Place. Going in & out of your willing neighbours apartments to hang out and get neighbourly with just the appropriate amount of snooping is actually super fun. Making crafts, listening to someone play the piano or decorating Christmas cookies at each stop is even better. For our stopover, we made vintage cocktails for everyone (strong boozy drinks are always a charmer) and of course I made snacks too. Somehow after drinking a bit too much mulled wine at previous apartment hops I forgot that I had a plateful of devilled eggs in the fridge to serve alongside the cocktails. No matter because I did not forget about the cheese straws. Cheese Straws people!! These get the capitol letter treatment because, my god, they were really freakin’ delicious. Not to mention ridiculously easy to make too.

cheese straws | everybody likes sandwiches

See that cheese? That’s the good stuff. Premium aged Cheddar. Five year old, award winning cheese. Hooray!

cheese straws | everybody likes sandwiches

If you need a nudge to get a food processor, let this be the recipe to convert you. It’s kind of amazing how easy these were to pull together. Just a whizz-bang of flour, cheese, butter, aleppo pepper and milk and the dough is ready to roll. Ideally, the key to perfect straws is to roll out a perfect rectangle. I’m not sure how one does that (see above). Perfectly shaped cheese straws? Who needs ’em. My homey, rustic cheese straws were amazing as is, thank you very much.

cheese straws | everybody likes sandwiches

Use the squat, ragged ends as “testers”. Or just serve them. Trust me, no one will mind.

cheese straws | everybody likes sandwiches

The real magic happens when they bake. Thanks to all that butter and cheese, don’t just end up golden brown and crispy, but they’re also quite puffy and light! These crackers are a class act all the way.

cheese straws | everybody likes sandwiches

Let’s recap. Puffy, easy to bake, cheesy and a hint of spice. Serve them in mason jars! These will disappear quickly so you might think about making another batch. Whatever party or gathering you make them for will be better off because of it.

elsewhere: Check out Poppytalk this week for my recipe for a quick pasta & lemony brussels sprouts dish. It’s a perfect weeknight meal.

cheese straws | everybody likes sandwiches

14 comments to “insert fun party trick here: cheese straws”

  1. 1
    hag   January 25, 2013 at 12:36 pm

    Yum! I love cheese straws. They would be perfect with boozy cocktails (is there any other kind?).
    What a fun christmas open house idea! Sounds like you live in a great building!

  2. 2
    Eileen   January 25, 2013 at 1:42 pm

    These cheese straws look so good! And yes, I can feel a serious push toward food processor acquisition…

  3. 3
    Joanne (Bijoux)   January 25, 2013 at 6:59 pm

    What’s not to love? You’ve got your butter and cheese and Aleppo pepper…mmm! This is my “eat it all in one sitting” kind of snack 🙂

  4. 4
    Joanne   January 26, 2013 at 3:38 am

    These are so fun! The perfect party finger food.

  5. 5
    Elizabeth   January 26, 2013 at 11:53 am

    Oh my gosh, I love these things! And it sounds like a lovely party. I hope to live in a place where I can have a party like that someday.

  6. 6
    kickpleat   January 26, 2013 at 12:24 pm

    Hag, these are the best with cocktails (and yes, who on earth – besides preggos – would order mocktails. An insult, if there ever was one). Yes, we love our building 🙂

    Yes, go for it, Eileen. I resisted the lure of a FP and now use it often.

    Bijoux, these are very dangerous. Make them for a crowd!

    Joanne, agreed. Perfect party fare.

    You have excellent taste, Elizabeth. We lucked out with our building, apparently 🙂

  7. 7
    Piper   January 26, 2013 at 12:39 pm

    I wish i was having people over tonight, instead of having to go some where. This sounds perfect and delicious… with some yummy cocktails… the real kind. My new fave is an Old Fashioned!

  8. 8
    danielle   January 27, 2013 at 11:49 pm

    i use the smitten kitchen one and usually make small cut out stars. they are amazing for kids birthday parties.

  9. 9
    Jabba   January 28, 2013 at 9:28 am

    Oh man!! This might put me over the edge. I’ve been coveting a food processor for over a year now! This recipe is too hard to pass it. I love it rustic too, who cares of them all matching?

  10. 10
    Sarah   January 28, 2013 at 5:34 pm

    Home-made cheese crackers of any kind are where it’s at! They are so freaking tasty it’s ridiculous, and they never fail to blow people’s minds. Thanks for the reminder!

  11. 11
    kickpleat   January 29, 2013 at 11:32 am

    Piper, I love old Fashioned’s! For our night, we made The Last Word. But this past Friday, I made a delicious blood orange Manhattan. Yum!! I wish I had more of these cheese straws to nibble on!

    I love the idea of cutting them out into shapes, Danielle. Stars are awesome! Fun idea.

    Jabba, do it!!

    Yes, totally mind blowing, Sarah! I hope you make ’em.

  12. 12
    Nicole   January 29, 2013 at 12:00 pm

    Oh man, your apartment stop must have been the best! That is such a fun idea. Boozy vintage cocktails and cheese straws! I’ve been meaning to make these for years. I think Deb adapted them from The Lee Bros Cookbook, which I own and love, but have to dig back into. I’m glad you loved them so. A perfect pairing with cocktails!

  13. 13
    Sammy Shaw   January 30, 2013 at 7:57 am

    I love Cheese Sticks/Straws and so do my kids and now, I will definitely use your recipe to make some for them. But what I really love is the photography that you have provided along with this post. The apartment obviously tells a beautiful story! Well done.

  14. 14
    kickpleat   February 7, 2013 at 5:25 pm

    Nicole, I’m so happy we’re in such a great building! So much fun. I’m going to have to check out that cookbook. Sounds like a keeper.

    Thanks Sammy!

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