Parmesan+Jam+Bites+(Joan+Daniels)

From the Kansas City Star Fall of 2007
 * Parmesan Jam Bites**

Makes 30 pieces.

¾ cup plus 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese ¼ tsp. black pepper 8 tbsp. butter, softened 3 tbsp. apricot, raspberry or cherry jam

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, cheese and pepper. Mix in butter and stir until all ingredients are well incorporated. Form into a large ball of dough, cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator 15 minutes.

After dough is chilled, roll into ½-inch balls and place each on a baking sheet, about 1 inch apart. Flatten each ball slightly and, using the end of a wooden spoon, make a small indentation in the center of each round. Fill each imprint with about ¼ tsp. jam. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.


 * Joan’s notes:** I found that the “cookies” look much nicer if you make the indentation and then bake them and fill them with jam after they have baked. Right when they come from the oven, use the wooden spoon to redefine the indentations in the baked “cookies”. You can then freeze the “cookies” and fill them right before you use them. This makes a much nicer looking “cookie”.

Joan Daniels