Fire Crackers

My Grandma used to make these all the time. Whenever I start missing her, I bake a batch and my kitchen smells just like hers used to. She called them "Cheese Dainties". A friend of hers, Edie Tate, gave her a recipe for them back in the 50s. About 20 years ago, she passed it on to me, typed on an index card with some special notes on the back about how Edie lived well into her 90s, loved to garden, and was a passionate cook. Edie and my Grandma had a lot in common.

I've passed this recipe on to my friends and family, too. I call them Fire Crackers and they're pretty much the same, but with an added kick of cayenne. Grandma said mixing the dough with your hands was best, but she never lived long enough to enjoy a KitchenAid mixer. If you have one, it saves loads of time.

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
2 sticks of butter, softened
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cayenne
More cayenne to sprinkle on top (don't leave this out!)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine flour, cheese, cereal, and butter in a large mixing bowl. Mix well and add in the salt and cayenne. Roll the dough into nickel-sized balls and place an inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. (I'm not being snobby about the parchment; it will keep the bottom of your crackers from getting too brown. Genius!)

Using a fork, gently flatten each ball. Sprinkle the tops of each cracker with a little cayenne. More if you're feeling adventurous. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack to cool. These crackers make great appetizers and go great with wine.