KosherEye.com
Adapted from Simply Southern: With a Dash of Southern Soul by the Margolin Hebrew Academy.
Cheese straws have been the old Southern standby cocktail snack as far back as anyone can remember. These should not be confused with breadsticks. There was not a lot of cheese available in the South in the 1800's and baking them on pastry was a way to preserve them. Since then, Southerners love to serve cheese straws to their guest and not just for cocktails, but to accompany a meal.
Ingredients:
2 sheets puff pastry, thawed
1 large egg
1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Spicy seasoning, pepper Jack cheese, pesto sauce, cayenne pepper, sesame seeds, or dried Italian dressing (optional)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface to an 18 x 12-inch rectangle.
Beat together egg and water. Brush one pastry sheet with egg wash. Combine Parmesan cheese and Cheddar cheese. Sprinkle evenly over pastry. Sprinkle with flavoring of choice.
Firmly press second pastry sheet on top. Roll with rolling pin to press together.
Trim edges until even. Cut pastry sheet into 1/3 to 1/2-inch wide strips. Twist each strip three times to form a spiral. Place on lightly greased baking sheet.
Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden browned. Transfer to a serving platter. Serve hot or room temperature.
Notes:
Yield: 6 servings
Recipes: Appetizers, Cheese Straws, Dairy, Kosher