Mustard and Walnut Cheese Crackers St. Paul Pioneer Press
A friend gave me this recipe years ago, and I've been making these savory treats ever since. The hot-spicy cheese crackers are the perfect thing to munch on while sipping wine or beer. Because the technique is the same as making icebox cookies -- shape the dough into a roll and refrigerate -- you can make a few batches and keep them in the refrigerator, ready to slice and bake whenever someone comes over or if you need a quick hostess gift. Makes 4 dozen. . 1 stick unsalted butter . 1/2 teaspoon baking powder . 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper . 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder . 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne . 1/2 pound sharp cheddar, cut into small chunks . 1 tablespoon prepared mustard . 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce . 1-1/2 cups walnuts halves or large pieces To make dough: Cut butter into slices about 1/2 inch wide. Set aside. Sift together flour, baking powder, pepper, mustard powder and cayenne. Set aside. Place cheddar chunks in food processor fitted with metal blade. Process for 20 seconds. Add sifted dry ingredients. Pulse 8 times to mix. Add butter and prepared mustard. Process, adding Tabasco sauce through feed tube. Continue processing until ingredients are well mixed. (Note: Dough will be thick and sticky.) To shape and chill: Lightly flour work surface. Shape dough into log that is 13 inches long and 2 inches in diameter. Flatten ends. Wrap dough in plastic. Refrigerate for several hours. To bake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap dough. Place on cutting board. Using very sharp knife, cut slices 1/4 inch thick. Place 1 inch apart on unlined and unbuttered cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until crackers are lightly colored. (Note: Do not overbake. During baking, reverse sheets top to bottom and front to back.) Immediately remove from cookie sheets. Place on cooling rack or paper bag. Cool completely. Store in airtight container. _______________________________________________ Cookinginthedark mailing list Cookinginthedark@acbradio.org http://acbradio.org/mailman/listinfo/cookinginthedark
