Wine and Peppercorn Crackers

By akselden

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup (175 ml) unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup (75 ml) granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup (75 ml) brown sugar
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tsp (3 ml) salt
• 1 tsp (5 ml) baking powder
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) milk
• 1/4 cup (50 ml) dry red wine reduction'
• 2-1 /4 cups (550 ml) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp (3 ml) black peppercorns,
• roughly cracked
• 1-1/2 tsp (8 ml) finely chopped fresh
• rosemary (optional)

Preparation

Step 1

"In a small pot over high heat, reduce 1 cup (250 ml.) of dry red wine to 1/4 cup (50 mL).
1. In e large bowl, cream together butter and both sugars until completely blended. Blend cheese salt end baking powder into butter/sugar mixture.
2. Using a fork, mix in the egg and milk. When combined, mix in wine reduction until completely blended.
3. Mix in flow in thirds, to form a soft dough. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill for one hour or until firm like pastry.
4. While dough is still inside the bowl, press it out to about a 1" thickness. Scatter cracked peppercorns and chopped rosemary over dough. Knead briefly to work peppercorns and herbs into dough. Split dough into four pieces.
5. Cut about a 10" length of plastic wrap and place on work surface. Shape each of the pieces of dough into about a 2"-diameter cylinder. Place one piece in the middle of the plastic wrap. Covering with the wrap, roll the dough into a smooth 1-1/2 "diameter cylinder. To make a perfectly round cylinder, roll the dough up in the wrap and lift it up by twisting both ends of the wrap and spinning the dough in the wrap in a small circular motion (in skipping rope fashion). After spinning, the cylinders should be about 1-1/4" in diameter. Repeat for remaining three pieces of dough, Chill again until firm, about 30 minutes.
6. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
7. Slice cylinders into 1/4 "thick slices and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 20 to 22 minutes. Do not allow crackers to over brown.
Cool on racks. Makes about 3 dozen