Southern Cheese Straws & French 78

Southern Cheese Straws

• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• ½ teaspoon each of paprika, cayenne and salt
• 1 pound grated sharp cheddar cheese

Cut room-temperature butter into flour in the bowl of a food processor or electric mixer.

Blend and add spices until mixed.

Add cheese and process until smooth.

Chill dough for at least 30 minutes.

Cut into 3-4 inch straws or press into cookie press.

Bake 30 minutes on greased cookie sheet until just browning on the bottom.

French 78

• 1 ounce Bourbon
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• ½ ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice
• Champagne
• Lemon peel

Shake everything but the champagne in a cocktail shaker with ice, strain into a flute glass.

Top with champagne and garnish with lemon peel.