This was a baking exploit in aid of the little fella's birthday last year which involved a mad dash to the local Co-op when I realised that I had no cayenne and erm, had no Red Leicester either. I'd read about these on the web somewhere so thought I'd give them a whirl as they got rave reviews. I have to say they're not really what I expected them to be - I was imagining those little cheese savouries you get but these are sizable crispy cheese puffs full of air. They were nice, and people seemed to enjoy them but I am still in two minds about them. I'd probably make them again as they weren't hideous, they were quite successful they're just not quite to my taste somehow. Still, they looked pretty good!
The original recipe is Nigella's and as the lady herself says, if you don't have a star cutter then no need to panic, just use a round cutter.
Cheese Stars
Cheese Stars
Ingredients
50g self raising flour
pinch cayenne
25g softened butter
80g finely grated Red Leicester
20g freshly grated Parmesan
Method
Preheat the oven to gas mark 6/200c.
Mix all ingredients together - either in a bowl of food processor. You should not need any liquid to bind this. When it first comes together it will look crumbly but keep going and with a few kneads it will all come together.
Wrap the dough in clingfilm and let in rest in the fridge for 20mins.
Dust a surface with flour and roll out to about 2.5mm. Cut out the stars (re-rolling as necessary) and put on a non-stick or greased tray into the preheated oven for about 8-10mins. Transfer to a wire cooling rack. The biscuits will continue to crisp whilst they are cooling on a rack.
50g self raising flour
pinch cayenne
25g softened butter
80g finely grated Red Leicester
20g freshly grated Parmesan
Method
Preheat the oven to gas mark 6/200c.
Mix all ingredients together - either in a bowl of food processor. You should not need any liquid to bind this. When it first comes together it will look crumbly but keep going and with a few kneads it will all come together.
Wrap the dough in clingfilm and let in rest in the fridge for 20mins.
Dust a surface with flour and roll out to about 2.5mm. Cut out the stars (re-rolling as necessary) and put on a non-stick or greased tray into the preheated oven for about 8-10mins. Transfer to a wire cooling rack. The biscuits will continue to crisp whilst they are cooling on a rack.
Nigella says the dough need not rest in the fridge but I always find doughs more manageable after a spell in the fridge as I have warm hands!
If you do try these, please let me know what you thought of them!
If you do try these, please let me know what you thought of them!
love & kisses
Mrs M x
mmmmmm guess what I'm going to buy this afternoon from the supermarket :-) luckily I already have the star cutters (in various sizes as well I will have you know ;-) :-D
ReplyDeleteLx
Good luck, let me know how you get on!
ReplyDelete(and ooh get you with your variety of stars!)