Cheesy Leek Bacon Puff Food

CHEESY LEEK & BACON PUFF

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil in a frying pan and fry the bacon for 3-4 mins until it begins to crisp. Tip onto a plate lined with kitchen paper. Add the remaining olive oil to the pan with the butter and allow to melt before adding the leeks and thyme. Season and cook for 3-4 mins until softened. Place in a bowl with the crisp bacon and cheese, and allow to cool.
• Whisk the egg in a small bowl with 1 tsp water, to make an egg wash. Cut one-third off the pastry and, on a lightly-fl oured surface, roll out to make a 15cm x 30cm rectangle, and place on a baking sheet. This will form the base of the tart. Pile the leek mixture in the middle of the base, leaving a 2cm surround. Roll the remaining pastry into a larger rectangle which will cover the leek mixture easily. Brush the edges of the pastry base with egg wash, then carefully lay over the larger rectangle and smooth the surface to get rid of any trapped air. Cut away excess pastry to form a tidy edge and glaze with egg wash. With the back of a fork, press to seal the edges. Chill for 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Brush the top of the pastry with more egg wash and season the top before baking. Cook for 10 mins, then reduce the heat to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and cook for 25-30 mins until puffed up and golden brown. Serve either hot or at room temperature.
• To make ahead, freeze at end of stage 2 for up to a month, or refrigerate for up to a day.

LEEK, CHEESE & BACON TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat the oil in a frying pan, then gently fry the leeks until soft, about 5 mins. Cool. Unroll the pastry onto a baking sheet. Spread the soft cheese over the pastry to within 3cm of the edges. Scatter over the leeks, bacon and grated emmental.
• Flip the edges of the pastry over the filling. Bake for 20 mins until golden.

POTATO, CARAMELIZED LEEK, AND BACON-STUFFED PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Caramelize the leeks by cooking them in 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper in a large skillet over medium heat for 10 minutes.
• Roll out the puff pastry into a 20 by 10-inch rectangle, move the pastry to a baking sheet and start by layering the potato slices on one half of the rectangle (we are going to fold the other empty half over and on top in order to seal it up, sort of like a calzone). Season the potatoes with salt and pepper, then add the crumbled bacon and leeks. Top with the Parmesan and seal up the puff pastry square, then crimp the edges. Brush the top of the puff pastry with the egg and cut 3 slits in the top of the puff pastry to allow the steam to escape.
• Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown and puffed. Serve warm.

CHEESY BACON AND LEEK TOAST

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Set aside 1 1/2 teaspoons of the drippings. Add the leek to the skillet with the bacon and cook until softened, 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Combine the milk, 1 tablespoon butter and the mustard powder in a medium saucepan over medium heat and stir until the butter melts. Gradually add the cheese; whisk until melted and smooth but do not boil. (The sauce may look separated.) Add the egg yolks and cook, whisking, until slightly thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the Worcestershire sauce; season with salt and pepper.
• Toast the bread and spread with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter; cut in half. Top with the bacon-leek mixture, then cover with the cheese sauce. Toss the watercress with the vinegar and the reserved drippings (rewarm if needed); season with salt and pepper. Serve with the toast.

BACON AND CHEDDAR PINWHEELS

Steps:

• The day before you intend to make the pinwheels, set the puff pastry in the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
• If using leeks, have ready a large bowl full of cold water, and cut each leek in half lengthwise. Transfer to the bowl and begin removing any excess sand or grit from the inner layers. Pat dry and transfer to a cutting board. Begin slicing the leeks into thin rounds, white and light green parts only. Discard the dark green areas and the roots. Set aside until ready to use.If using an onion, finely dice and set aside until ready to use.
• Have ready a plate lined with paper towels. Saute the bacon in a saute pan over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, or until crispy. Remove from the pan and set aside on a plate. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the leeks or onions to the saute pan, cooking in the leftover bacon grease. Saute 2 minutes for leeks, or 5 minutes for onions. Set aside to cool.
• In a small bowl, combine 1 egg and the water, and whisk to combine. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add cream cheese and mayonnaise and beat at a medium-high speed until completely smooth. If you don't have a stand mixer, use a handheld mixer and medium-sized mixing bowl.
• Add bacon, leeks (or onions), cheddar, chives, pepper, and salt and mix on low to combine. Set aside until ready to use.
• On a large floured board, sprinkle one sheet of puff pastry with the flour and roll out into a rectangle about 9"x13".
• Spread half of the cream cheese mixture onto the pastry sheet using an offset spatula or a knife, leaving an empty space about 1" wide on one of the ends for the egg wash. Using a pastry brush, brush the empty space lightly with the egg wash.
• Working from short-end to short-end, tightly roll the pastry toward egg wash end (just as you would cinnamon rolls) and pinch at the seam. Transfer roll to the refrigerator and repeat with the second pastry sheet. Transfer the second roll to the refrigerator, and allow the rolls to chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400° and have ready a baking sheet lined with either parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• Remove from the refrigerator and transfer to the floured work surface. Use a sharp, serrated knife to cut the roll into 1/2"-3/4" pieces, and discard of the ends.
• Set pinwheels on a baking sheet, spacing them each about 2" apart, and bake for 15 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown. Allow to cool slightly and serve.

CHEESE & BACON TURNOVERS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Unravel the pastry on the sheet of baking parchment it comes with, and cut into six squares. Mix the soft cheese with the mustard, if using, and a good grinding of black pepper. Divide between the middles of the pastry squares, and smooth over in a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite side.
• Lay a bacon rasher over the soft cheese, then scatter over the cheese. Brush the two exposed corners of pastry with beaten egg, and fold over the top of the filling to join together. Brush the tops with more egg, then slide the baking parchment on to a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 mins until the cheese has melted and the pastry is golden.
• Transfer to a cooling rack for 5-10 mins before serving warm. Will keep chilled in an airtight container for two-three days.

CHEESY LEEKS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Tip the leeks into a steamer basket and steam for 6-8 mins until bright green and just becoming tender.
• Meanwhile, heat the butter and flour together in a saucepan, stirring until you have a thick paste. Add the milk, a splash at a time, stirring continuously until all the milk has been added. Cook for 2-3 mins more until the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Stir in most of the Yeo valley Organic mature cheddar, the mustard and some seasoning.
• Fold the steamed leeks into the cheese sauce, then tip everything into an ovenproof baking dish. Scatter over the breadcrumbs, thyme and remaining cheese, then bake for 20 mins until golden, crisp on top and bubbling at the edges. Leave to stand for 5 mins before serving.

CHEESY LEEK & BACON PASTA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Add the leeks and 2 tbsp water, and cook for about 10 mins until very soft. Add the bacon, turn up the heat and fry until cooked.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta following pack instructions. Drain and reserve a mug of the cooking water.
• Spoon cheese into the leek and bacon mix, adding some of the reserved cooking water. Season and stir gently over a low heat until melted. Toss through the cooked pasta, adding a little more cooking water, if needed, to help the sauce coat the pasta.