Pecorino Cayenne Crackers

'Keep that Cayenne Pepper Around'

I've got a an old jar of cayenne pepper that my aunt gave me. I keep it with my other seasonings as a reminder of how my family used it...in almost everything. And talk about good for you!  Now, in this recipe for Pecorino Crackers, the amount of cayenne called for was just right...remember a little bit goes a long way!

                                          

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups grated pecorino Romano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup all-pourpose flour

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the cheese, salt, pepper, and cayenne in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Add the butter. Using a hand mixer, beat the cheese mixture and butter until combined. Add the flour 1/4 cup at a time, mixing only until incorporated and the mixture holds together.

Place tablespoon-sized balls of the dough on 1 or 2 parchment paper-lined baking sheets, tapping the dough down gently with your fingertips. Bake until just beginning to brown at the edges, about 15 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Transfer to a serving plate. 

Recipe From: Giada De Laurentiis