Winner winner Chicken Dinner!

Well my Creamy Chicken and Leek with Camembert Pie is such a big hit.. I am very happy :) I gave the recipe to a work friend, who loves it. He took the recipe to some friends in NSW where they love it, so much that there's a local pub there making it! They gave it to their friends and so forth. A huge chain reaction of chicken pie goodness. I love making other people happy through food :)

Pastry snacks

I love pastry. But I'm also lazy and so I only really ever make my own pastry when it comes to making a Chocolate Tart or similar. Bless the stores for having frozen pastry!
I've been making a few pastry snacks here and there lately, always good for a work-lunch treat - even handier if you make a tonne of them in bulk and freeze. Viola! Ready to heat 'n' eat any-time snackies.


Sausage rolls are a big favourite of mine:
2 sheets of puff pastry thawed
500g sausage mince (you can use the stuff that comes in a tube that looks like dog/luncheon meat, or just squeeze the innards out of your favorite snag)
1 onion finely diced
1 large carrot grated
Grated zucchini would go well too I guess, never tried it to be honest
Salt/pepper to taste, and any other herbs or spices
1 egg beaten lightly

In a large bowl mix the sausage mince and vegies and spices.
Slice the pastry sheet in half down the middle, and using one half at a time - wet your hands and place some of the mixture (don't use too much or it will spill out) longways on one side of the pastry, so it kinda forms a tubular shape. Roll the pastry up so the ends meet and seal the edge. Place on a lined baking tray and brush with the egg. Repeat until all mixture is used. You can cut the sausage rolls before they are cooked, or after. It probably makes it easier to do it beforehand.
Cook at around 170-180C until golden brown.

My brother was in hospital the other week, and I know all too well about the poor quality of hospital food.. and I know my dear big brother loves my cooking :D I wanted to make him something.. something small, light, easy on the stomach for when and if he were to bring it back up.. I had some leftover savoury mince from the night before - full of vegies and yummy goodness - Mini meat pies :D
My patty cake tin failed me (ok, the first batch stuck horribly!) So I wondered what else I could use.. I took a chance and risked it. Using a large drinking glass to cut circles of puff pastry out, I spooned about a tablespoon of savoury mince onto the flat discs, and topped them with another circle of pastry. Sealed the edges with a fork, threw them in the oven and hoped for the best!

Apart from the 2 up the back - which are a treat for Chef.. They turned out quite well! Puffed nicely :)

I also made him some ham and cheese "puffs" - kinda like a Danish I guess - Ham and cheese folded up in some puff pastry and baked - pretty tasty :)

I made Frosty a quick snack to take to lunch one day - Pizza Puffs:
Keep in mind this was to do him over a few days at least, but he had some for dinner lastnight, a midnight snack, and lunch for work..
4 sheets of puff pastry
1 large can of pineapple, drained
500g shredded ham
Mozzarella cheese
1 cup tomato passata
Chili flakes

Starting with one sheet of pastry.. for obvious reasons.. Spoon on some passata sauce, sprinkle over some chili flakes, top with ham (not too much filling here or it wont seal and will be a big mess) cheese and pineapple.

Roll up the pastry from one side to the other, like a giant sausage roll, seal the end and slice as thick or as thin as you'd prefer.

Pop them onto a lined baking tray and bake at around 180C until golden brown.. and piping hot so that you burn your lip when you take a bite :P