Cheese Sticks

Finely grate the cheese.

Finely grate the lemon zest as well (avoiding the white pith).

Thoroughly mix together the softened butter, cheese, lemon zest, and salt.

Add the milk and stir to combine.

Mix the flour with the baking powder. Add the flour to the cheese mixture in portions, stirring with a spoon each time. Then shape the dough into a ball and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Roll the dough out into a circle about 30 cm in diameter (about 0.5–1 cm thick).

Trim the edges to form a rectangle.

Cut the dough into two rows of strips, each about 1.5 cm wide.

Twist each strip into a spiral with your fingers, gently stretching it lengthwise at the same time. Gather the scraps back into a ball, roll out again, and repeat.

Roll each piece in sesame seeds.

Place the pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in an oven preheated to 180°C for 15–20 minutes, or until lightly golden.

Let the finished sticks cool completely.

Right out of the oven, the cheese sticks may still be soft, but after a few hours — or by the next day — they will be fully crispy.