The Recipe Box {Simple Cheese Biscuits}

I have dozens recipes written on scraps of paper and on the back of old envelopes. Culinary ephemera floating about the kitchen counters, fallen behind the microwave, open any cookbook on my shelf and I can almost guarantee that some such slip will fall out from its pages, a scribbled soup or slice recipe. Something that I have seen or heard of and that sparked a gastronomic interest, or enjoyed at another’s place and asked for the recipe. In a hope to tame these pieces I am endeavouring on a new series of posts called the Recipe Box. A place to keep my most loved scribbles. The old envelopes that I search for repeatedly and hope hasn’t been accidentally picked up in a frenzied clean up.




Remember Cheds. Crunchy, melt in the mouth kind of tasted like really salty cheese biscuity goodness. I haven't had one since I was a child but I remember them fondly, especially topped with butter. Oh my how yummy they are spread thick with butter. Have look at the packet you will find that there is actually very little cheese in them and a heck of a lot of other stuff that I seriously question whether it needs to be in a biscuit. My Simple Cheese Biscuits are in fact super simple and have only five ingredients and a majority of that is actually real cheese and butter. So no need to smother extra on top, unless that is what you are into. I won't judge.

Really quick to whip up in the food processor, then a matter of rolling, slicing and baking for 15 minutes. The recipe states plain flour but I have made them before with spelt flour with excellent results. I am sure you could replace with gluten-free flour if you needed. The boys enjoy one or two at morning tea with their fruit. I find them absolutely delicious with a dollop of tomato relish. Anyway you eat them it will be hard to stop at just one. This is ok because this recipe makes about 50, depending on how thickly you cut them. I like to bake half and keep the other half in the freezer for later. If you exercise self-control they will keep in an air tight container for about a week. 

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Simple Cheese Biscuits 

Ingredients
100g butter, cubed
1 1/3 cup plain flour
100g cheddar or tasty cheese, grated
1 egg
1 heaped tablespoon Dijon mustard

Preheat oven to 130C. Line a tray with baking paper.
Place butter and flour in food processor. Mix until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Add cheese and mix again until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add egg and mustard. Mix until it the dough comes together as a ball (this may seem like it will never happen. But trust me, keep that motor going and then when you least expect it Dough Ball!)
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead lightly until it all comes together. Using your hands roll the dough into a long sausage shape, about 4cm thick. At this point you could cut the roll in half, wrap one half and place in the freezer*.
With a floured knife, cut the roll into rounds about 1cm wide (no need to be too exact).
Place on the tray; allow room for a little spreading. Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden.
The less you bake them for the chewier they are. So if you would like a crunchy biscuit bake for a little longer. Allow to cool and the enjoy.
*The dough will last a good month in the freezer. If baking from frozen just allow the roll of dough to soften slightly at room temperature then slice and bake as usual.