Cheese Straws

I made these the other day for a dinner party and they were a total hit!  They were so easy to make, everyone loved them, not to mention they look so pretty! 

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1 ½ cups (about 6 ounces) grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
4 tablespoons (½ stick or 2 ounces) unsalted butter
¾ cup flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (I like heat so I added about 1 and ½ tbsp)
1 tablespoon half-and-half (I used 2 tbsp of 2%milk)
optional: rosemary

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. In a food processor, combine the cheese, butter, flour, salt and red pepper in five 5-second pulses until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the half-and-half and process until the dough forms a ball, about 10 seconds.

3. On a lightly floured surface, using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough into an 8- by 10-inch rectangle that is 1/8-inch thick. With a sharp knife (or a pizza or pastry wheel), cut the dough into thin strips, each 1/4- to 1/3-inch wide.

4. Bake the straws on the middle rack for 12 to 15 minutes

Full recipe at SmittenKitchen