Pimento Cheese, Buttery Crackers and Celery Sticks

Ingredients

• 2 cup All-Purpose Flour (240g)
• 2 tsp Granulated Sugar
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 0.75 tsp Fine Sea Salt (For the dough)
• 0.5 cup Unsalted Butter (113g, cold and cut into small cubes)
• 4 tbsp Whole Milk (60ml, very cold)
• 1 tsp Flaky Sea Salt (For sprinkling)

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the Dough

   • In the bowl of a food processor, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and fine sea salt. Pulse 2-3 times to combine.
   • Add the cold, cubed butter to the flour mixture. Pulse 8-10 times, or until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
   • With the processor on low, slowly drizzle in the cold milk. Process just until the dough begins to clump together. Do not overmix.
2. 2

   Chill the Dough

   • Turn the dough out onto a clean surface, gather it into a ball, and flatten it into a 1-inch thick disk. Avoid kneading.
   • Wrap the disk tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 days. This step is crucial for flaky crackers.
3. 3

   Preheat and Prepare

   • Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of your oven and preheat to 400°F (200°C).
   • Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
4. 4

   Roll and Cut Crackers

   • Lightly flour a work surface and a rolling pin. Unwrap the chilled dough and roll it out as thinly as possible, aiming for about 1/16-inch thickness. Work quickly to keep the dough cold.
   • Using a 1.5-inch round cookie cutter or a sharp knife, cut out the crackers. Arrange them about 1/2-inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
   • Gather and re-roll the scraps once to cut more crackers.
   • Using a fork or a skewer, prick each cracker 2-3 times in the center. This prevents them from puffing up into bubbles while baking.
5. 5

   Bake the Crackers

   • Bake for 12-15 minutes, rotating the baking sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through the baking time.
   • The crackers are done when they are firm to the touch and golden brown around the edges. Watch them carefully in the last few minutes as they can burn quickly.
6. 6

   Finish and Cool

   • Immediately after removing the crackers from the oven, brush them lightly with the melted butter.
   • Sprinkle evenly with the flaky sea salt.
   • Let the crackers cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. They will become crispier as they cool.

Ingredients

• 1 bunch Celery (About 1 lb or 450g, yielding 8-10 stalks)
• 4 cups Cold Water (For soaking and crisping (optional))
• 2 cups Ice Cubes (To add to the water for extra crispness (optional))

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the celery: Separate the stalks from the bunch. Rinse each stalk thoroughly under cold running water to remove any dirt from the crevices. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel.

2. 2

   Trim the stalks: Using a sharp knife, trim off the tough, white base (about 1 inch) and the leafy tops from each stalk. The tender inner leaves can be saved for salads or garnishes.

3. 3

   Cut into sticks: Cut each trimmed stalk into 2 or 3 equal-length pieces, aiming for sticks that are about 4-5 inches long. For wider stalks, you can also slice them in half lengthwise to create thinner sticks.

4. 4

   Crisp the celery (optional but recommended): Fill a large bowl with 4 cups of cold water and 2 cups of ice cubes. Submerge the celery sticks in the ice water bath for 15-30 minutes. This step makes them exceptionally crisp and crunchy.

5. 5

   Serve: Drain the celery sticks well and pat them dry. Arrange them on a platter, in a glass, or alongside your favorite dips like hummus, peanut butter, or a yogurt-based ranch.