Cheese Sticks

° Makes about 20 sticks

Like the Cinnamon-Sugar Sticks, these are made with packaged puff pastry. They are excellent served with soup or with cheese, and they make an unusual addition to your bread basket.

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry (about 8 ounces; ½ package)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ⅓ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the frozen pastry on a cookie sheet lined with nonstick aluminum foil and let sit at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes.

While the pastry is still partially frozen, unfold the dough (it will tend to crack at the seams) and rub half the melted butter over the surface. Combine the Parmesan cheese, paprika, salt, and cayenne in a small bowl and sprinkle half of this mixture over the butter, spreading it with your fingers to distribute it evenly. Turn the pastry over and repeat, using the remaining butter and cheese mixture. Cut the pastry into ten 1-inch-wide strips, then cut the strips in half crosswise to yield 20 sticks, each about 1 inch wide and 5 inches long. Work quickly, because the pastry is easier to handle while it is still partially frozen. Or, for a different look, slit about 3 inches from the center of each stick. Bring one end of the stick throughout the slit and pull it through to give it a braided and twisted look.

Arrange the sticks evenly on the prepared cookie sheet and bake for 12 to 25 minutes, until the sticks are dark brown. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely before serving.

Rubbing a little melted butter on packaged puff pastry makes it richer.