Jean Darling's Cheese Crispies

Photography Elizabeth Messina

The recipe in Granny's handwriting

My grandmother, Jean Darling, was such an incredible cook that I could make an entire cookbook of all of her great recipes.  This is another one that has stood the test of time.  She used to always make Cheese Crispies for her friends when they played bridge.  It was the perfect little snack to nibble on while playing cards.   The first time I made them or a catering event for was for Mary Bonner Baker and Hunter Perrin's wedding in 2005.  I just made them two weeks ago for a party in Montecito and they were a giant hit.  

If you like Cheese Pennies or Cheese Straws you will like these.  The great news is that you can make the dough in advance in and refrigerate it for up to two weeks or freeze it for up to three months.  Also, you can bake them off ahead of time and put them in an airtight container and they keep for a week (if they even last that long.)  

What makes me the happiest about this recipe is that my daughter, Melissa Madeline, makes them all the time.  We have some in our freezer now.  I wonder if Granny every imagined when she was making baking them that her great-granddaughter would be following in her footsteps.  Memories of those we love live on through food and I treasure everything she taught me.  

JEAN DARLING'S CHEESE CRISPIES


1 pound sharp cheddar cheese, grated
2 cups unbleached flour
2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 cup chopped roasted pecans, optional

Mix all the ingredients together.

Use wax paper to roll them back and forth into a log.  Wrap in wax paper or parchment paper and then plastic wrap.  Chill until firm.

Slice in 1/4-inch rounds.  Bake on a parchment lined baking sheet for 10-12 minutes at 370 degrees.

Cool on racks and place in an airtight container.  They will stay fresh for at least a week if they even last that long.

The dough can be made in advance and refrigerated for up to two weeks or frozen up to three months.



The full post, with photos about my grandmother, is here:  http://themailifiles.blogspot.com/2013/07/elinor-jean-darling-june-17-1921-may-14.html

And the story of how my grandparents met through food is here:
http://themailifiles.blogspot.com/2010/07/grandpa-merrills-favorite-banana-cake.html

My mom just made Granny's Popcorn Balls with my nephew, Mac, and his friend a few weeks ago.  So more than one great-grandchild is making her recipes!  The popcorn ball recipes is here:
https://themailifiles.blogspot.com/2009/09/popcorn-balls.html