The Conversation
We’re excited for the long weekend since it’s the perfect time for awesome staycations like a ski trip to the mountains or a beautiful drive to Napa. And if you’re anything like us, you probably need little snack to tide you over during the long drive.
After making a bunch of sweets like cookie dough brownie pops, crepe cake, and hot chocolate on a stick, we’re whipping up something savory today. Of course, there’s no better snack than the amazing Cheez-It, which you can make yourself in under an hour! With flavors like gruyere + black pepper, classic cheddar, and mozzarella + basil, just be sure not to finish the whole bag before you even get in the car!
Ingredients:
Classic Cheddar
-1 ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
– 1 cup all purpose flour
– 4 tbsp cold butter, chopped into small cubes
– ¼ tsp salt
– 4 tbsp cold water
Basil Mozzarella
– 1 ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
– 1 cup all purpose flour
– 1 tbsp dried basil
– 4 tbsp cold butter, chopped into small cubes
– ¼ tsp salt
– 4 tbsp cold water
Gruyere Black Pepper
-1 ½ cup shredded gruyere cheese
– 1 cup all purpose flour
– 1 tbsp black pepper
– 4 tbsp cold butter, chopped into small cubes
– ¼ tsp salt
– 4 tbsp cold water
Start off by preheating your oven to 375 degrees F.
Let’s start off with the classic cheddar Cheez-It. Place all ingredients except cold water into a food processor. Pulse until the dough is crumbly and has no large chunks.
Pour the dough in a medium sized mixing bowl and add 1 tbsp of cold water. Knead the dough so the water disperses. Repeat in 1 tbsp intervals until you’ve used all your cold water. By this time, your dough should be more doughy and not crumbly. If it still isn’t holding together, add 1 tbsp of cold water until it is more malleable. Using a rolling pin, flatten the dough so it’s about 1/16th inches thick. Cut out assorted shapes with cookie cutters! Use a toothpick to poke a hole through the center of each Cheez-it.
Bake in the oven for 12 minutes, or until the tops are lightly browned.
Repeat the process for the basil mozzarella and gruyere black pepper cheeze-its.
The black pepper adds a nice little kick to the gruyere.
Cheddar. So simple but so amazing.
We love how the basil mozzarella cheez-its taste like pizza in a cracker!
Rawr!!
Nanette is an all around food enthusiast who loves transforming basic everyday foods into something delicious, and of course, full of sprinkles. You can see more of her at www.nanettewong.com.
More From DIY Recipes
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.
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