Old North State

Presenting my new favorite kitchen item - a North Carolina-shaped cookie/biscuit/carb cutter gifted to me by my dear pal Shelby.





Shelby found this at a shop in D.C.'s Eastern Market called Hill's Kitchen. Isn't it awesome? To commemorate its total awesomeness, I used it to make Cheese Bannocks, a Scottish recipe I found on the back of an Arrowhead Mills oat flour package given to us by a friend who cleaned out their pantry while moving out of their DC apartment. (Yes, what a random explaination that was.)

Cheese bannocks are like a heartier version of the ubiquitous Southern wedding/funeral/church refreshments known as Cheese Straws. They are yummy. Want to make them? Here's how.

Bannocks de Fromage

1 cup oats
1 cup oat flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp mustard powder
1/4 cup softened butter
1 cup of grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup warm water

Preheat oven to 400ºF
Mix the oats, flour, salt and spices well.
Cut in the softened butter
Stir in the cheese.
Add 1/2 cup warm water and mix, kneading when the dough gets stiff.
Divide the dough in two and roll each half into circles that are 1/4 inch thick
Transfer to a lightly greased baking tray.
Cut each circle into 4 wedges (or use an awesome NC-shaped cookie cutter)
(Here I sprinkled some with paprika b/c that's the Cheese straw way.)
Bake for 20 min.

Enjoy your wee delicious bannocks!!!