Twisty Pesto Cheese Straws

How to make Twisty Pesto Cheese Straws

            Here's a quick & scrumptious recipe for your next party. I am glad I took the time to finally make these crispy, flaky, cheesy hors d'oeuvres from a Good Food magazine clipping (Dec 2013). I would love to customize this to the Indian palate, by adding a spicy alternative to pesto, next time. You can also easily turn this into something sweet for the young ones. The best part of it, is that its crisp on the outside, yet so soft when you bite into it. Kids just love these. Sharing this final recipe of the year, with my friends over at CCC# 39: December -- Week 5. 

Ingredients:

(makes around 25 pcs)

5-6 oz, cream cheese

2 tbsp basil pesto sauce

1 lb/490g sheet puff pastry (2 sheets of frozen pastry sheets)

a little flour, for dusting

1 egg, beaten

• Heat oven to 400°F. Tip the cream cheese and pesto into a bowl and mix well.
• Unroll the pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut in half lengthways. Spread the pesto mix over one half, place the other piece of pastry on top to create a sandwich, then cut in half lengthways to create 2 long rectangles. Divide each rectangle into short strips, about 1cm thick. Twist each pastry strip and place on a baking tray lined with parchment.
• Brush with egg and bake for 20 mins until risen and golden brown.