There's something about a cheese straw - for me they're the type of snack I never crave, but once I eat one the packet is finished soon after!
For a recent baby shower I offered to bring cheese straws as my baked contribution and it was the first time I'd made them. I followed this super-simple recipe which I found online and they turned out beautifully!!
They took hardly any time at all to make, and keep in a tupperware for a good few days, a perfect afternoon snack!
To make yours you will need:
150g cold lard
150g cold butter
450g plain flour
150g parmesan, finely grated
½ tsp mustard powder
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
1 egg, beaten
1. Grate the lard and butter into a large bowl, and then add the flour. Rub in the fat until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs, then stir in all but 2 tbsp cheese, the mustard powder and nutmeg.
2. Add just enough iced water to bring it together into a firm dough, then wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.
3. Pre-heat the oven to 200C. Roll out the pastry to ½cm thick, then brush with egg and sprinkle with the remaining parmesan. Cut into rectangular strips and arrange on a lightly greased baking tray.
4. Bake for about 15–20 minutes minutes until golden brown, then cool briefly on a rack to firm up!
5. Enjoy!