I love cheese! It's that simple!
I use to make cheese biscuits or straws ALL the time when I was growing up, and I would add more and more cheese each time to the point they were just slabs of cheese coated in flour and baked. I have to admit, this was even too much for me. It's amazing how we grow up and our priorities change, and the fact that we prefer a drier cheese straw to those if our youth. It's a crazy life.
These are so versatile, eat them before dinner, after dinner, during dinner, as a snack, at a pic'nic, on their own, with toppings, with dips, or just three at a time... It's so easy to mix these up, swap the mustard powder for curry powder, or fennel seeds or sumac or any of your favourite flavours!
I cheat a little by using my food processor, but I am not ashamed of that. I often make the whole amount and then freeze half the dough before rolling out, so they are ready to bring out when those unexpected parties happen, and I do love an unexpected party...
Ingredients. Makes plenty for a party
375g Plain Flour
225g Butter, cold and diced
150g Mature Cheddar Cheese, grated
50g Parmesan Cheese, grated
1 tsp English Mustard Powder
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
1 Egg Yolk (keep the white to glaze)
Poppy Seeds or other
Method
1. Add the flour, butter and salt to your food processor and pulse until you get fine breadcrumbs. Add the rest of the ingredients and pulse until you get a firm dough. Add a little water if needed. You may need to use your hands to bring it together on the work surface
2. Roll out in batches between two sheets of baking paper to about the thickness of a £1 coin and pop into the fridge, for a minimum of 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees (non fan)
3. Remove from the fridge when ready and cut into desired shapes. Round biscuits are nice for after dinner, straw shapes are nice generally. Glaze with the egg white if desired and sprinkle on some poppy seeds, or fennel seeds, or others that you may fancy
4. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes until nice and golden brown. Cool on a wire rack and try not to eat them all in one go...
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