Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Cut each pita bread in half horizontally to make 2 rounds. (There will be 12 total rounds.)
In a small bowl, cream the butter with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon. Add the parsley, garlic, Essence, and salt and mix well. Spread about 1 1/2 teaspoons of the mixture across each pita round. Sprinkle the top of each evenly with 1 heaping tablespoon of the cheese.
Place the rounds on a cutting board and using a pizza wheel, cut each into 5 strips. Transfer to a large baking sheet and bake until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. (The strips will continue to crisp as they cool.)
Serve warm or at room temperature as hors d'oeuvres or snacks, or as accompaniments to soup or salad.
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme
Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Yield: 2/3 cup
Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch
Published by William and Morrow, 1993.
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