Cheddar & Herb Cheese Straws

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C). Set two oven racks in the center of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the cheese, flour, salt, red pepper flakes and herbs. Pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Cut the butter into ½-in (13-mm) chunks and add to the flour/cheese mixture. Pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, with some pea-size clumps of butter within. Add the heavy cream and pulse until the mixture starts to clump together into a mass.
4. Lightly flour a work surface and dump the dough on top. Dust the top of the dough with flour and use your hands to shape into a rectangle about 1-in (2.5-cm) high. Cut the rectangle in half.
5. Dust the work surface with more flour and roll each block of dough into an a 8 x 10-in (20 x 25-cm) rectangle about ⅛-in (3-mm) thick (turn the dough as you go and add more flour as necessary so it doesn't stick). Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, trim the edges straight without sacrificing too much dough, then cut the dough into thin strips about ¼-in (6-mm) wide. Transfer the strips to the prepared baking sheets, leaving about a ¼-inch of space between them. Bake the straws for 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly golden on top and a rich golden color on the bottom, rotating the pans from top to bottom and front to back midway through. Remove from the pans from the oven and set on a rack to cool. Carefully transfer the cheese straws to a plate and serve.