Cheese Sticks

cheese sticks - i found these to be very interesting.  i saw them whipped up on a cooking show and thought 'hmmm....i'm going to keep this in mind'.  recently, i had the need to create a quick and easy finger food for a get together.  as i was online searching for that quick and easy - i was reunited with cheese sticks.  i found online that there are many different versions, recipes that call for 4 cuts of flour and one stick or more of butter to the one below that called for less than one cup of flour and 4 tablespoons of butter.  also, not having a cookie press, i needed a recipe that would allow an alternative roll out method.

i was intrigued to find out what these tasted like.  they somewhat remind me of cheddar bay biscuits, so i think with a little altering these could definitely go in that direction.  some reviews said they tasted like homemade cheez-its.  i really didn't get that, but maybe with a different recipe they would have a cheez-it flavor.

i'm a fan of really sharp cheese, so i chose the sharp cheddar vs the mild cheddar.



i used my food processor for the mixing (love that thing!). some recipes suggest a kitchen aid mixer.  i have one of those too (and love it!) but liked the quick processing of the processor for this type of dough.







pretty, picture perfect version:



rustic version:




and the final product:




i made two options.  one with crushed red pepper which the recipe called for and one without for those who prefer no heat.

6 oz of shredded cheese
4 tb of butter
1/2 tsp of salt
1/2 tsp of crushed red (or not)
3/4 cup of flour

combine in the food processor and then add

1 tb of cream (i used half and half)

the cream will bring it to a dough

flour your work area and turn the dough out.  roll with a rolling pin and slice with a pizza cutter.

bake at 350 for 12 to 15 minutes.

enjoy!

Little Things

sending you off on your thursday remembering.....

Apple Picking Days

it won't be long until our apples trees are bare from the community enjoying apples!

Lemon - Rosemary and Vanilla

saturday morning arrives and it's time for house chores and enjoying home. to me, a part of enjoying home is candles or something offering a wonderful scent throughout the home. i have this feeling there are many more out there like me. honestly, candles "warm" my home more so during the fall and winter. during the summer days, i thought this would be a nice alternative. simmering on the stove top - water, one lemon sliced, a few springs of rosemary (fresh from the garden...I wish the lemons were fresh from the garden too) and a few tablespoons of vanilla.

 


and....we see who is the boss around here on saturday mornings! happy weekend!


 

Sophmore Year!

when most parents are ready for the kids to head back to school i'm the one not so eager.  it's inevitable though, right?!  yesterday was paige's first day of her sophmore year.  i know that from high school forward time is going to go by much too fast.

i'm thankful for a daughter who is maturing into a beautiful young lady.  we are beyond blessed.