Cheesy Cracker Melts Food

CHEESY RITZ CRACKER MELTS

Steps:

• Top crackers with cheese and then the walnuts or pecans.
• Place on microwaveable plate.
• Microwave on high for 10 seconds or until cheese is melted.
• Enjoy!

KIDS CAN MAKE: HEALTHY CHEESY CRACKERS

Steps:

• Whisk together the egg white, vinegar and 3 tablespoons water in a small bowl; set aside. Refrigerate the egg yolk in a small bowl, covered, until ready to use.
• Pulse the flour, salt, mustard, paprika and turmeric in a food processor to combine. Add the butter, Cheddar and Parmesan, and pulse until the butter is completely broken up. Pour in the egg white mixture, and pulse until the dough comes together in a ball. (It's OK if it's a little wet.)
• Place the dough on a large piece of plastic wrap, and pat it into a 1/2-inch-thick square. Wrap it up, and refrigerate to chill and firm up the dough, about 1 hour.
• Position 2 oven racks at the top and bottom thirds of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
• Roll the dough out on a large piece of parchment (to keep it from sticking to the counter) into a 10-inch square about 1/8 inch thick. (Dust the dough with flour if you find it too sticky.) Trim the edges to straighten the square, then cut it into 1-inch squares (a pizza cutter works great).
• Whisk 2 teaspoons water into the egg yolk. Brush the mixture over the tops of each cracker. Sprinkle each with the tiniest pinch of salt.
• Bake the crackers, 2 baking sheets at a time, until they are deep golden brown on the bottom, about 20 minutes, rotating the sheets about halfway through. Let the crackers cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
• Store the crackers at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days, or freeze them for up to 1 week.

GIANT CHEESE-STUFFED CRACKER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the bowl of a food processor and pulse until combined. Add 8 tablespoons of butter and oil and pulse until fine crumbs form. Add 1/2 cup cold water and pulse until the dough comes together.
• Dust a piece of parchment with flour. Turn the dough out onto the parchment and roll into an 1/8-inch-thick round. Use the top of a 9-inch fluted tart pan to stamp out a circle. Transfer the parchment and circle to a baking sheet. Dust another piece of parchment with flour, gather the dough scraps, roll and stamp out as before. Transfer the parchment and dough to another baking sheet.
• Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a small microwave-safe dish and microwave in 30 second intervals. Brush each piece of dough with butter. Use the flat end of a 12-inch skewer to poke holes all over each round. Sprinkle each with salt. Bake for 10 minutes and then brush the dough with egg white. Continue to bake until the crackers are crisp and the edges begin to turn golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes more. Let cool completely on the baking sheet, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the Cheddar, cream cheese, Parmesan, paprika and cayenne to a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the cheese is melted, smooth and orange, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the sauce to a bowl and let cool at room temperature, about 20 minutes.
• Place one cracker onto a serving platter. Spread the cheese sauce over top of the cracker (the cheese should be about 3/4-inch-thick). Top with the second cracker and smooth the edges of the cheese with your finger or an offset spatula. Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour. Slice and serve cold with carrot sticks and celery.