Southern Lemon Straws

In the south straws such as cheese straws tend to be very popular - while here in the north no one would probably even touch them at a party.  For Easter I am planning on having a "lemon luncheon", and since the food will be lemon themed I took time this weekend to try out a couple of recipes. So I took a spin on my traditional lemon cookie and combined it with the same concepts used to create cheese straws and the southern lemon straw was born. They are absolutely addicting!

Southern Lemon Straws
Ingredients 
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg; beaten
• 2-5 tablespoons lemon juice (I used organic); depending on taste
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1-2 tablespoon lemon zest; depending on taste
• 2.5 cups cake flour
• 3 ounces cream cheese; at room temperature
• a couple drops of yellow food color

Directions 
• Blend together butter and cream cheese. Add sugar and cream until fluffy. Combine egg, lemon juice, lemon zest and yellow food coloring with the butter mixture and mix until well combined. Sift flour and baking powder together; add to creamed mixture. Mix until well blended. Cover dough and place in your refrigerator and allow to chill for at least 15 minutes.
• Using your cookie press force 2 inch ribbon strips onto a baking sheet.
• Bake at 375 for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Place on a cooling rack and dust with powdered sugar. When cooled roll in powdered sugar.