Party food - Cheese straws

It was a very good friends retirement party this weekend, and of course I was helping with the food. There were going to be 40 people so not a sit down dinner, and we decided that all the food should be able to be eaten from small plates with out the use of cutlery.  I will share several of the items I made this week as this is the time of year to be partying. The first thing I made was an old standby as it can be made ahead, presents well and tastes good, cheese straws.

Cheese straws ready to party

You could make your own puff pastry for this, but at the moment I really do not have the time or the patience for that, so I buy it.  Lat year I discovered the Presidents Choice brand, I really like this one as it is all butter and it comes in a sheet, so you do not have to roll it out which often destroys the layers and it saves time.

So open package spread out the pastry, or if you have the kind that comes in a lump roll it out until it is about 1/2 inch thick.  Brush on Dijon mustard, I watered it down slightly so that it spreads on easier and makes a thin film.

Pastry spread with mustard

Grate on top of this cheese, you can use almost any kind of cheese I used a mixture of Parmesan and white cheddar.

A good layer of cheese on the pastry

Fold in half then repeat with the mustard and cheese pressing the cheese into the pastry with your hands.

Cut the folded pastry into strips and place on parchment paper or silpat lined cookie sheets.

Ready for the oven

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes in a 400 oven. When golden brown put on a cooling rack.

The finished cheese straws.

I like to serve these standing up in a short glass vase or drinking glass, they make a nice nibble along with cheese, olives etc.