Cheese Straws

A must for holiday baking. Though instead of the cookie press, I just roll the dough into small balls and flatten with a fork or I roll the dough flat, and cut with a pizza cutter into strips.



1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco Sauce

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

In a food processor, add the butter, cheese, flour, salt, and cayenne and process until a smooth dough is formed. Scoop it into a cookie press, fitted with a flat ridged tip. Pipe the dough in 2-inch strips onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. (Alternatively, refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes and roll on a lightly floured surface into a 1/4-inch thick rectangle. Cut into smaller rectangles, about 2 by 3-inches, with a pizza wheel or sharp knife.)

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to racks to cool.

--Adapted from Paula Deen