Paula Deens Zesty Cheese Straws Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Make sure cheese and butter are room temperature.
• In a mixing bowl, cream the butter until light and fluffy.
• Add the cheese and mix until blended.
• Add the flour, salt and red pepper (I used 1/2 tsp) this is when you would add dried herbs if using, mix to form a dough.
• Refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up the dough, then place it in a cookie press, fitted with a ridged tip.
• Pipe the dough in 2 inch strips onto a lightly greased cookie sheet.
• Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Remove to racks to cool.
• **Updated**.
• I've discovered these are very tastey using dried herbs also.
• I've made them with dill but can see me making them with thyme and sage before too long.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In large bowl, beat butter and cheese until well blended at medium speed.
• Add flour and cayenne pepper, and beat in well, for 5 minutes, or until VERY creamy.
• Put mixture into pastry bag or cookie press that is fitted with a star tip.
• Pipe 5-inch long strips about 1-inch apart from each other onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake ONE COOKIE SHEET AT A TIME, 18-20 minutes until lightly golden.
• Put the pastry bag/cookie press into the fridge or freezer while each tray is cooking. Otherwise, the butter and cheese gets too soft, and you get cheese "crackers" instead of straws!
• Cool each tray for 5 minutes, (I prepare the next tray while they are cooling) then move the cooled straws to a wire rack.
• Keeps well in air-tight containers.