CHEESE STICKS

Makes about 60

Ingredients

2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
¼ teaspoon ground red pepper
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
1 pound (or one package) frozen puff pastry, defrosted

Directions

1. Toss: In a small bowl, toss together cheese, red pepper and cumin seeds. Set aside.

2. Roll: On a lightly floured work surface, roll out puff pastry into a large rectangle. Position the rectangle vertically. Scatter the bottom two-thirds with half the cheese mixture. Cover with wax paper and press in cheese by rolling gently with a rolling pin. Set aside wax paper.

3. Fold: Fold the blank top third down and the embossed bottom third up, like a cheesy love letter.

4. Repeat: Roll out into a big rectangle again. Scatter the remaining cheese across the bottom two-thirds. Press in cheese, as before. Fold, as before. Roll into a big rectangle again.

5. Cut: Using a pizza cutter, cut the rectangle in half lengthwise. Set one half on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Turn it lengthwise. Starting at the bottom, cut the dough into ½-inch thick strips, stopping 1 inch short of the top edge. All the strips will remain attached to this top border, fringe style. Repeat with remaining dough.

6. Twist: Grasp each strip at the free end and twist. Rest the handle of a wooden spoon on the finished free ends, to prevent untwisting.

7. Freeze: Slide the pans of twisted cheese sticks into the freezer. Freeze at least 1 hour (or, later secured in a plastic container, up to 1 month).

8. Bake: Snap the frozen cheese twists off the backbone. Separate slightly on the parchment-lined pans and bake at 375 degrees until just crisp, 14-15 minutes. Cool on a rack. These make wonderfully crunchy hors d'oeuvres and get along well with soup.