Christmas Dinner Sausage Roll Food

CHRISTMAS DINNER SAUSAGE ROLL

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. Line a large baking tray with baking parchment. Unroll the pastry and cut in half lengthways. Spread the cranberry sauce down the middle of each half, leaving a 1-2cm border at each side.
• Combine the mince with the stuffing mix and 1 tbsp water, then season. Spoon the mixture over the cranberry sauce, pressing down slightly, then lay the chipolatas on top in a line across the middle of each pastry half. Brush some of the egg along one edge of each pastry half, then fold up and over the filling, and press to seal to make two long sausage rolls. Turn them so the seams are underneath. Cut both into eight pieces (you should have 16 in total), then transfer to the tray. Brush with the remaining egg, then press a sage leaf on top of each roll. At this stage, you can freeze the rolls on the tray. Transfer to a container to keep frozen for up to two months.
• Bake for 25-30 mins until golden (or 35-40 mins from frozen). Serve warm with gravy for dunking. Will keep chilled in an airtight container for up to three days.

CHRISTMAS SAUSAGES

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the cranberry sauce, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, mustard, honey, salt and orange zest. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring, until everything is combined. Bring to a low simmer and allow it to bubble gently until slightly thickened, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add the sausages to the pan and stir. Allow the sausages to warm through, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a chafing dish or warming dish. Serve with toothpicks on the side.

PIGS IN BLANKETS-BACON AND SAUSAGE ROLLS FOR CHRISTMAS TRIMMINGS

Steps:

• To Prepare:.
• Cut each rasher of bacon in half and stretch them with a knife; run the back of a knife along the length of each rasher of bacon to flatten and stretch them slightly - this stops them shrinking during cooking.
• Wrap one half rasher of bacon around each sausage, making sure that the seal is underneath the bacon/sausage roll. Skewer with a cocktail stick if neccessary.
• Cover them with cling film or place them in a sealed container and store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook or place them in the freezer and defrost them in the refrigerator on Christmas Eve.
• To Cook:.
• Place on a lightly greased oven tray and roast in a pre-heated oven, 200C/400F/gas Mark 5, for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the bacon is cooked and crisp.
• Set to one side and keep warm until needed.
• These can be cooked ahead of time and reheated in the oven alongside the turkey or roast potatoes for about 5 minutes.
• Serve alongside the roast turkey - I always allow 2 per person.
• If you skewer thse with a cocktail stick, they make great appetisers too! Serve with cranberry sauce as a dip.
• NOTE: If you can only get the normal size chipolata sausages, gently squeeze them in two or three places - see my photos - to make 3 or 4 smaller sausages from 1 longer one; 6 normal sized sausages will yield between 18 and 24 smaller sausages!

CARAMELISED ONION & THYME SAUSAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Squeeze the meat from the sausages into a bowl and mix with the chutney, mustard and thyme. Unravel the pastry and roll out until one side measures 43cm. Arrange the sausagemeat down the centre of the pastry. Use the egg to brush along the bottom of the pastry. Bring the pastry around the meat, and seal the edges with a fork, then cut into eight. Brush with a little more egg and sprinkle with the poppy seeds. Transfer to a lined baking sheet and cook for 25 mins or until golden.

SUPER SAUSAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Roll out the pastry to a 35 x 30cm rectangle on a surface lightly dusted with flour. Trim the edges neatly, then cut in half lengthways to form two long strips. Spread with a thin layer of the apple sauce, pickle or chutney, leaving a border along the edges.
• Tip the sausagemeat into a large bowl, add 3 tbsp cold water and squash together. Divide the mixture in two and mould each half into a cylindrical shape. Put each portion of meat into the middle of a pastry strip, leaving a border at either side. Brush the pastry border and the top of the sausage mix with the beaten egg. Fold one edge of the pastry over the meat and roll to encase, then use a fork to press the pastry edges together. Cut the sausage rolls into 5cm lengths and arrange on a lined baking tray. Chill for 20 mins. Can be made a day ahead or frozen for up to one month; to bake from frozen, add an extra 10 mins to the cooking time.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Brush the sausage rolls with the rest of the beaten egg and sprinkle with the sesame seeds or nigella seeds (if using). Bake for 30-35 mins until the pastry is deep golden. Transfer the sausage rolls to a wire rack and leave to cool for 10 mins.