Dede's Cheese Straws

Step 1: Position the oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 375F.

Step 2: Butter 2 baking sheets.

Step 3: To make the dough, in a small bowl, combine the flour, salt and cayenne and set aside.

Step 4: In a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the paddle, cream the cheese and butter on medium speed until smooth and well combined.

Step 5: Gradually add the flour mixture.

Step 6: Mix on low speed until smooth (The dough can also be made in the bowl of a large food processor: grate the cheese with the grating blade, then transfer the cheese to a bowl and insert the metal blade. Pulse the dry ingredients to combine, then add the butter and cheese. Process until smooth).

Step 7: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside to rest for about 15 minutes.

Step 8: To shape the dough, work it in your hands; it should be soft and pliable (like Play-Doh).

Step 9: Shape the dough into a cylinder and pack it into a cookie press fitted with the serrated ribbon disk.

Step 10: Holding the cookie press at an angle to one of the prepared baking sheets, press the trigger twice, dragging the press away to make a long straw the length of the baking sheet.

Step 11: Repeat until you’ve covered the sheet, spacing the ribbons of dough 1 inch apart.

Step 12: Using a butter knife or offset spatula, cut each ribbon into 1- to 2-inch pieces.

Step 13: Repeat with the remaining dough and the other baking sheet. (If your cookie press extrudes the dough in fits and spurts, simply pick up the dough and reuse.)

Step 14: Bake the cheese straws, rotating the baking sheets once, until lightly browned on the edges, about 20 minutes.

Step 15: Remove the baking sheets to a rack to cool slightly.

Step 16: Using an offset or slotted spatula, remove the individual cheese straws to cool completely.