Pieces of Eight / Cheese Cookies

Submitted by Eleanor Batson.

Pieces of Eight/Cheese Cookies –  my grandmother would make these and send them to us every Christmas when we lived in Germany!

Ingredients

• 8 oz sharp or extra sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 stick butter or margarine
• 1/2 teas. salt
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper – maybe less if it is for kids
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1 and 1/2 cups rice crispy cereal
• 1/2 cup toasted and chopped pecans
• Paprika for dusting only

Directions

1. Grate the cheese (do not use pre grated cheese to save time – it has a nonstick filler in it – it will not stick together!) and butter into a bowl along with all the other ingredients.
2. Let all ingredients come to room temperature, then mix together.
3. Roll into small balls (approx 1 tsp) and place on cookie sheet –  press thumb into each cookie .
4. Sprinkle with paprika for color.
5. Bake 15-20 minutes at 325 degrees.
6. Cool completely before scarfing them down – they need to crisp up!

Image courtesy of methoxyroxy on Flickr.com.