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Dinner plans stressing you out? Puff pastry cheese straws are here for you. These crispy, flaky, cheesy twists require just two ingredients and a few minutes of your time, and yet they deliver big -- real big -- out on the buffet table.

Cheese straws are just two ingredients: cheese and puff pastry. Don't overthink it! You can make the strips as long or as short, as thick or as thin, as twisty or as delicate as you like. A little extra cheese will also not throw anything off. You can even prep the straws and stash them in the fridge for an hour or so until you're ready to bake them, which is handy if you're juggling lots of tasks just before dinner.

Cheese straws are really an equal-opportunity appetizer. They go just as well with a glass of wine or a pint of beer. They can stand on their own (literally -- you can serve them standing in a pretty cup!), but they're also great as part of a spread with things like pickles, deviled eggs, dips and other nibbles.

Puff Pastry Cheese Straws

Makes 16 to 20 long cheese straws

Ingredients:

2 sheets store-bought puff pastry, thawed

1 1/2 cups grated mixed hard cheese, like Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, aged cheddar, etc.

Equipment:

Parchment

Baking sheets

Rolling pin

Sharp paring knife or pizza cutter

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment and set aside.

2. Dust the counter with 1/4 cup of cheese.

3. Unfold or unroll 1 sheet of puff pastry over top. If the pastry isn't quite thawed, don't force it. Let it sit on the counter for about 10 minutes, and then try unrolling or unfolding again.

4. Top with another 1/4 cup of cheese.

5. Roll out to 1/8-inch thick. This presses the cheese into the pastry and also smooths out any seams or wrinkles.

6. Fold the pastry in half; top with another 1/4 cup of cheese.

7. Roll out again to 1/8-inch thick. The exact dimensions of the puff pastry don't matter. Aim for one side to be about 10 inches long to make longer puff pastry straws, or aim for 6 to 8 inches for shorter straws.

9. Using a sharp knife, cut the pastry into long strips roughly 1-inch wide. Again, dimensions don't really matter, but I like my long puff pastry straws to measure about 10 inches.

10. Transfer each strip to one of the baking sheets, spaced an inch or so apart. As you set them down, twist the ends in opposite directions to give the straws a spiraled look. If they start to untwist when you let go, gently press the ends into the parchment to make them stick.

11. Chill for at least 10 minutes or up to an hour. This helps firm up the straws and give them better puff in the oven. While they are chilling, prepare the rest of the straws using the second sheet of puff pastry and the remaining cheese.

12. Bake 15 to 25 minutes. Exact baking time will depend on the size of your straws. Begin checking shorter straws after about 15 minutes, and longer straws after 20 minutes. Remove from the oven once they are puffed and crispy, feel dry to the touch, and are deep golden.

13. Cool briefly on the baking sheet. Once the straws are firm enough to lift from the sheet without bending, transfer them to a cooling rack or serving plate. Bake the second tray of straws like the first.

14. Serve them straight from the oven, or let them cool and then keep them in an airtight container until ready to serve. Puff pastry straws are best served the same day they are made.

Recipe notes: Experiment with adding minced fresh herbs, spices or infused salt blends to the cheese straws. Sprinkle a teaspoon or two over the pastry along with the final addition of cheese.

(Emma Christensen is the former editor of TheKitchn.com, a nationally known blog for people who love food and home cooking. Submit any comments or questions to editorial@thekitchn.com.)