Pão de Queijo

Golden, chewy cheese breads — crisp outside, stretchy inside — made from cassava starch and Minas cheese. Ingredients: tapioca starch, milk, oil, eggs, Minas cheese (or Parmesan), salt. Recipe: 1) Scald milk and oil; pour over starch and stir. 2) Cool slightly; beat in eggs and cheese to a soft dough. 3) Roll small balls. 4) Bake at 200°C until puffed and golden. Serve: warm, with coffee, any time of day. History: from Minas Gerais, where cassava starch replaced wheat in colonial kitchens; now Brazil's favorite snack, baked fresh across the country.