Twisted Cheese Sticks Recipe

Here's a recipe I am entering in the "day of" cheese competition at the county fair:

Ingredients

2 cups flour, plus more for dusting

1 teaspoon  salt

¼ teaspoon chili powder

¼ teaspoon smoked paprika

2 tablespoons water

¼ pound sharp California cheddar cheese, grated and warmed to room temperature

¼ pound California mozzarella cheese, grated and warmed to room temperature

6 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, shredded

1 stick of butter + 3 tablespoons, warmed to room temperature

1 ½ tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon powdered garlic

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

Grate cheeses in separate containers (do not mix) and set aside.

Mix together cheddar cheese, 1 tablespoon water and half the butter and set aside.

Mix together mozzarella cheese, 1 tablespoon water and half the butter and set aside.

Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl until well combined.  Divide dry ingredients in half. In the first half, add in the cheddar cheese/butter mixture and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine the second half of dry ingredients with the mozzarella/butter mixture.

On a lightly floured surface roll out the cheddar cheese dough into a rectangle, about 1/8 inch thick.

Melt remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and mix in olive oil and powered garlic. Divide in half. With a pastry brush, brush the top of the cheddar cheese dough with half of the olive oil spread.

On another lightly floured surface roll out the mozzarella cheese dough into a rectangle of about the same size and thickness and place over cheddar cheese rectangle.

With a greased pizza cutter, cut the dough into 1 inch strips. Twist each strip and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Brush lightly with remaining olive oil spread. Top with parmesan cheese.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the edges just barely begin to brown.