Chef John Recipe ⊶ Severed-Finger Cheese Sticks

This would make quite an eye-catching appetizer tray for your upcoming Halloween party. Come on, what kid wouldn't think you were the coolest parent ever, if you made some of these? Be sure to tear the cheese sticks in half as irregularly as possible, as this really gives it that stomach-turning realism. You can use ketchup instead of hot sauce, if desired.

Ingredients

• 6 string cheese sticks
• 12 almond slices
• 2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce, or to taste

Cooking Directions

1. Round off the ends of each cheese stick with a paring knife to resemble a fingertip. Roughly tear each cheese stick in half to form two torn-off "fingers".
2. Shave off a piece of each cheese "fingertip" to form a nail bed; place an almond slice on the "nail bed" to form a "fingernail".
3. Cut a few shallow lines in center of each "finger" to form knuckle marks.
4. Pour several drops of hot sauce into small pools of "blood" on a serving plate. Dip torn ends of the cheese fingers into "blood" to resemble bloody fingers. Lay each "finger" in its own pool of "blood".

Nutrition Facts

• calories86.6
• carbohydrateContent0.8 g
• cholesterolContent20 mg
• fatContent6.5 g
• fiberContent0.1 g
• proteinContent7.2 g
• saturatedFatContent3.5 g
• sodiumContent363.2 mg
• sugarContent0.1 g