This is the first of a series of short videos about one of my favorites times of day –the cocktail hour. Whether it’s the prelude to a dinner or at a cocktail party, I think sharing a drink and snack is a great way to relax, catch up with old friends and meet new ones. This series doesn’t focus on the drinks themselves (there are lots of cocktail recipes on the site), but instead features simple, special food to serve with cocktails and set-up tips to help you enjoy your own party.
First, a recipe for a simple, addictively delicious cracker.
Recipe
Ingredients
4 oz freshly grated parmesan cheese
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 stick (2 oz) of unsalted butter
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped
2 tablespoons cold water
1 egg
flaky sea salt
Instructions
1. Put the cheese, flour, salt, pepper and rosemary into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment and pulse. Cut the butter into a few chunks, add it to the bowl and process until the mixture is the texture of damp cornmeal. Add the water and process again until the dough comes together.
2. Turn the dough out onto a board, knead it a few times until the texture is consistent and form it into a log about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
3. Chill for two hours (or longer). (You can also freeze the dough for future use.) Preheat the oven to 350F.
4. Take the dough log out of the fridge (freezer) and let it sit for about 10 minutes (1 hour) and then slice it into rounds about 1/4 inch thick.
5. Break the egg into a small bowl and beat with a fork or small whisk.
6. Place the rounds on an ungreased, unlined baking sheet. Brush each round lightly with egg and top with a rosemary leaf and a light sprinkle of the sea salt.
7. Bake for about 10 minutes until golden brown.
The crackers can be kept in an airtight container for about a week. They also freeze well.
