Cheesy Stars Food

CHEESY STARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. In small bowl, stir together all ingredients except bread.
• Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Cut star shape from each bread slice with 3- or 4-inch star-shaped cookie cutter. Spread about 1 tablespoon cheese mixture on each bread star; place on cookie sheet.
• Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bottoms of bread stars are golden brown.

PARMESAN PUFF PASTRY STARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Dust a flat work surface lightly with flour. Unroll both puff pastry sheets and roll each one out to a rectangle of the same size. Brush one puff pastry sheet with a little water and sprinkle with 1/2 of the Parmesan cheese. Lay the second puff pastry sheet on top, brush with water, and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Using a large star cutter cut out about twelve 2 1/2 to 3 1/2-inch stars.
• Place stars on prepared baking sheet and chill in the fridge for 15 minutes (or 5 minutes in the freezer).
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffed up and golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

PET TREAT: CHOW CHOW CHEDDAR STARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine the powdered cheddar, honey, applesauce and egg in a large bowl. Add the rice flour and mix with a rubber spatula until combined. Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and roll out until 1/4 inch thick. Cut out stars with a 3-inch cookie cutter.
• Arrange the stars on the baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned on the bottom, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer the stars to a rack and let cool completely.

FLUFFY CHEDDAR BISCUITS

Steps:

• Arrange the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, stir the flour, sugar, baking powder, garlic powder, salt and paprika to combine. Add the 1/2 cup cubed butter and toss until each piece is coated completely in flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter or your hands to rub the butter into the flour, continuing to work the mixture until the butter is almost fully blended into the dough. There can still be a few larger pieces of butter, but none should be larger than a pea. If the butter feels soft or melty at any point, refrigerate the mixture in the bowl for 15 minutes before continuing.
• Stir in 1 1/2 cups/170 grams of the cheese into the flour mixture. Make a well in the center of the bowl. In a liquid measuring cup or in a small bowl with a spout, whisk the buttermilk and egg until well combined. Pour the mixture into the medium bowl and, using a wooden spoon, stir until the mixture is combined. Near the end, you may have to fold it over itself a few times in the bowl to make sure it's uniformly combined. (Resist the urge to use your hands so that the mixture doesn't get too soft or compressed.)
• Scoop the dough into 12 even portions (about 1/2 cup/80 grams each) onto the prepared sheet pan. Stagger the biscuits on the baking sheets. (You should have 6 biscuits per sheet pan.)
• Brush each biscuit with the melted butter (you won't use it all) and divide the remaining shredded cheese among the tops of the biscuits (about 2 teaspoons per biscuit).
• Transfer to the oven and bake the biscuits for 15 minutes, then brush each biscuit with butter again, and rotate the pans between the oven racks. Continue to bake until the biscuits are light golden and the cheese on top is deeply golden, 5 to 10 minutes more. The biscuits should spring back gently when touched in the center.
• Brush the finished biscuits generously with the remaining butter. Cool at least 10 minutes before serving warm (or cool completely and serve at room temperature).