When it come to a great snack, cheese is a natural. Everyone loves cheese (unless you’re lactose intolerant) and to have it in the form of a crunchy stick to wave around, what a treat. Served with a salad or next to an ice-cold brew, these power pointers are the perfect mate.
I started thinking about who the leading experts on cheese snacks would be. Chester Cheetah came to mind. This crazy cool cat will do almost anything for his cheese snacks, including dancing with men in hard hats. Chester is a cat who is not afraid to get his cheese on.
Then there is perhaps the worlds leading authority on the cheese snack, Eric Cartman. This cartoon 5th grader from South Park knows snacks and truly loves his cheesy poofs.
I find I prefer a bit of a more of a “grownup” snack than Cartman and this one is just the ticket, simple to make, spicy, and delicious.
- 1½ cups extra-sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter cut into chunks and softened
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne powder
- 1 Tablespoon of milk
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Place all ingredients except for the milk in a food processor. Pulse in 5 second intervals until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk and process until dough ball forms.
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Place dough on a well floured board and roll out into an 8 x 12 inch rectangle. Dough will be about an eight of an inch thick.
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Cut into strips ¼ to ½ inch wide, using a pizza cutter or sharp knife. Dip knife in flour to ensure clean cuts. I use my pasta bike to make the cuts.
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Place on a parchment lined baking sheet about one inch apart.
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Bake at 350° F for 12 minutes or until ends are slightly browned.
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Let sticks stand on the baking sheet a couple of minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
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To make cheese rounds roll out dough as described and cut with 1½ inch round cutter dusted in flour. You can freeze the sticks or rounds in a heavy-duty bag for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature thirty minutes before serving.
