Tuesday 7 June 2011

My very well-loved Cheese and Bacon Straws

Everyone I make these for loves them.  It can be made without the bacon, but it makes for a nice twist.   Brilliant for parties or as a snack.  They freeze well too, so you could make up a nice big batch and get them out as you need them.

Cheese and Bacon Straws

300g wholemeal flour
150g butter diced (I like to use salted)
150g extra mature cheese grated
50ml water
1 teaspoon mustard
100g bacon (as fatless as possible is best)
1 egg yolk.

Preheat the oven to 200c.

Put the flour and the butter into a bowl and rub together until it goes like bread crumbs then add the cheese and stir it in.

Stir the mustard into the water well and slowly add the water bit by bit until the mixture starts to bind and turn into a dough.

Roll the dough flat about half a cm thick.  Place the slices of bacon evenly over half of the pastry then fold over so to 'sandwich' the bacon.  Roll out again until a little thinner than 3/4 of cm.

Using a sharp knife (because of the bacon)  cut into straw shapes.  You can make long ones or short ones, whatever you fancy.

Place them on the baking tray and then glaze with an egg yolk  -  I like to use only an egg yolk because I like the colour it gives.

Place in the oven for 12 minutes.  Allow to cool on a cooling rack for a couple of minutes and then enjoy.  They are super yummy when warm out the oven!

Experiment with a cheese you really like.  I find a really strong cheddar is the best bet though.