Italian Cheese Straws

These Italian Cheese Straws are simple to make and are a delicious holiday appetizer! Pair them with a few 
other festive treats and a couple bottles of wine, and you've got everything you need for the perfect holiday party!

I am honored, and so, so excited, to share with you that I have been selected by CK Mondavi to be one of their first ever CK Mondavi Ambassadors! I had the opportunity to meet the CK Mondavi team earlier this year at the Food Wine Conference in Orlando. I also sat down one on one with Janice Mondavi, wife of a third-generation owner of the family owned C. Mondavi & Family wine company. We talked about the business, the rich history of their company, and most importantly, we talked about family. I instantly felt a connection to Janice and couldn't be more proud to be working with CK Mondavi now.

Family connections are so important and one of the ways I show my love to my family is through food. I think a lot of you can relate! Whether I'm making a big Sunday dinner or a quick weeknight meal, I love to make my family happy through food. During the holidays that's even more present, and we also see many friends during this time of year. I enjoy hosting my girlfriends each year for a fun "girls night in" Christmas party. We eat, drink, and laugh a lot. Today I'm sharing with you an easy recipe for delicious Italian Cheese Straws, perfect for your holiday parties, as well as some other simple ideas for snacking.

Entertaining doesn't have to be difficult, and you don't need to spend hours crafting the perfect cheese plate. It's all about the personal touches! If you've got a few different types of cheese, crackers, nuts and fruit, then you are all set in my book. I also like to add some summer sausage or little slices of meat to accompany the cheese and crackers. This way you've got something for everyone!

Just in time for your holiday entertaining, look for CK Mondavi’s special holiday promotions on their wine bottles in stores now through January 31, 2017. You can receive $1 off PRÉSIDENT® Brie, $1 off RONDELÉ® BY PRÉSIDENT®  and $1 off any crackers now through January 31, 2017! 

You can also enter to win a wine country weekend in Napa by texting CKMONDAVI to 31279! (The deadline to enter is 12/31/16)

I found that the CK Mondavi Chardonnay paired perfectly with my Italian Cheese Straws and entertaining platter. The Chardonnay is medium-bodied with a hint of oak, and has aromas of lemon and citrus combined with flavors of apple and pear that lead to a delightfully crisp finish. It's refreshing on its own, but is also the perfect accompaniment to hearty cheeses and much more. My other favorite is the Blonde Five. It's a light wine with aromas of honeysuckle and pear, and has flavors of baked apple, honey and lemon zest. It's so refreshing! 

How do you entertain during the holidays? Do you have favorite holiday entertaining recipes? Share with me in the comments below! 

Italian Cheese Straws
Author: Sarah Bates | The Chef Next Door
Makes 16 - 20 appetizers
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Ingredients:
2 sheets (1 box) frozen puff pastry, defrosted
1 egg
1 cup grated Romano cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh parsley 
Salt and black pepper

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats and set aside.

On a lightly floured board, roll out each sheet of puff pastry until it's about 10 x 12 inches. Beat the egg with 1 tablespoon of water and brush the entire surface of both pastries. Sprinkle each sheet evenly with the cheeses and parsley. Sprinkle salt and pepper on both. Using the rolling pin, carefully roll it over the toppings to press them into the puff pastry. 

Cut each sheet crosswise with a pizza cutter into 8 or 10 strips, depending on how big you prefer them. Twist each strip and lay them on the prepared baking sheets. 

Bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned and puffed up. Turn each straw over and bake them for another 2-3 minutes, being careful not to overbake. Allow the cheese straws to cool and serve them at room temperature.

Bon Appétit!

I'm honored to be a CK Mondavi Ambassador and I thank them for sponsoring this post! I was compensated for developing a holiday entertaining recipe, however all opinions, as always, are my own.

Learn more about CK Mondavi and find other delicious recipes by following them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube!