Sparkling Strawberry Sangria & Cheddar Cheese “Cookie” Stars
Sparkling Strawberry Sangria with Lime and Basil:
Makes one generous pitcher full: about 10 to 12 cocktails
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen
Ingredients:
• 2 Pints of fresh strawberries
• 1/2 cup agave
• 1 bottle dry white wine
• 1 bottle sparkling rose wine (I used prosecco)
• 1 orange, thinly sliced (or two peaches)
• 1 lime, thinly sliced
• 6 to 12 ounces sparkling water
• Basil leaves (or mint leaves if you prefer)
Instructions:
1. Reserve a few smaller whole strawberries for garnish then hull, slice and macerate the rest using one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of sugar (if your strawberries are amazing like mine were, you can cut some of the sugar). Let strawberries and sugar marinate for an hour.
2. Combine all the ingredients except the basil, sparkling wine and sparkling water, mixing with a wood spoon and mashing up a few of the strawberries in the liquid. Refrigerate for 4 to 8 hours (or overnight) prior to serving.
3. Before serving add in the bottle of chilled sparkling wine and sparkling water to taste (recipe calls for 12 oz but I only used about 6 oz). Stir in 1/4 C chopped fresh basil (I love a chiffonade “chop” here but tearing the leaves is also beautiful and rustic). Mix and serve cold or over ice with a fresh strawberry garnish.
Cheese Stars or Straws:
Makes approx. 35 mixed size stars (I used a mix of 1.5″, 2.5″ and 3″ star cookie cutters)
adapted from the Lee Brothers
1 1/2 cups (about 6 ounces) grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese (I used white cheddar)
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened and cut into 4 pieces
3/4 cup flour 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (note: these are spicy! cut the pepper if you prefer less hotness)
1 tablespoon cream or half-and-half
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a food processor, combine the cheese, butter, flour, salt and red pepper in five 5-second pulses until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the half-and-half and process until the dough forms a ball, about 10 seconds.
3. Using parchment paper, plastic wrap and a rolling pin, place the dough on the parchment paper and cover it with plastic wrap. Roll the dough through the plastic into an 8- by 10-inch rectangle that is 1/8-inch thick. With a sharp knife (or a pizza or pastry wheel), cut the dough into thin 8-inch strips, each 1/4- to 1/3-inch wide (dipping the knife in flour after every few inches ensures a clean cut). If using cookie cutters, cut out shapes using star cutters. Chill dough for 5 minutes in the freezer between cutting and baking to reserve shape, then re arrange on sheet, leaving at least 1/4-inch between them.
4. Bake the stars on the middle rack for 10 to 12 minutes. If making straws, 12 to 15 minutes… or until the edges are barely browned. Remove from the oven let cool.
5. Serve at room temperature.
**My favorite note on this recipe** 'Cheese stars will keep in the refrigerator, in a sealed container, for two days… but, they will not even last an hour at your party!’
