Cheesy Party Starters Food

CHEESY PARTY STARTERS

Steps:

• Preheat over to 350 degrees.
• Arrange Ritz crackers in rows on a cookie sheet.
• Top each cracker with a generous pinch of shredded cheese.
• Place a slice of olive on top of cheese. (Or anything topping you like).
• For a more Italian flare, place a slice of Pepperoni or cut up Salami on the cracker THEN top with mozzarella cheese. (A shake of Italian seasoning on top adds more flavor).
• Place in oven for 3-3 1/2 minutes or until cheese is completely melted.
• Arrange on a plate and serve. (The amount of crackers you make depends on how many people you want to feed. This recipe is easily doubled or tripled.).
• Note: These tasty snacks can be topped with almost anything you like. Roasted Red Peppers are delicious added to the Italian style with either the Pepperoni or Salami. Just MAKE SURE to put the slice of red pepper ON TOP of the cheese and not under it like the meat or the cracker can get soggy.).

CHEESE STARS

Steps:

• Unroll the pastry and sprinkle most of the cheese over one half of the sheet. Fold the pastry in half to cover the cheese and seal it in.
• Dust your rolling pin and work surface with a little flour and put your pastry sheet on it. Roll it out until doubled in size.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and line two baking sheets with baking parchment.
• Using cookie cutters, cut the pastry into shapes and put them on the prepared baking sheets. (Put the cutters on the dough close together so that less pastry is wasted. You can fold the trimmings back on themselves and re-roll to cut out more shapes.)
• Brush the shapes with milk and add a pinch of cheese and a sprinkling of your chosen topping, if using.
• Bake in the oven for 10-12 mins or until risen and golden, then transfer to a serving plate. Will keep in an airtight container for 3 days.