Filo Parcels With Mince Meat Food

BRIE & CRANBERRY FILO PARCELS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and line two baking trays with baking parchment. Unravel a sheet of filo pastry onto a chopping board, covering the rest of the filo with a damp tea towel so it doesn't dry out. Brush the filo sheet liberally with some of the melted butter, then cut into three strips lengthways.
• Spoon ½ tsp cranberry sauce over the top right-hand corner of each pastry strip and place a piece of brie on top. Fold the pastry over the filling to create a triangle, then continue to fold the pastry over itself down the length of the strip. Brush with more butter to seal, then sprinkle over the poppy seeds and place on the lined baking tray. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. The parcels can be covered and chilled in the fridge for up to a day or frozen for up to three months.
• Bake for 15-20 mins (or 20-25 mins from frozen) until deep golden brown. Leave to stand for 5 mins before serving with some extra cranberry sauce.

CHICKEN, MOZZARELLA & PESTO FILO PARCELS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and put a baking tray in to heat.
• Grind together the oil, basil and pine nuts in a pestle and mortar to make a rough pesto. If you don't have a pestle and mortar, chop the basil and nuts very finely and mix with the oil. Season.
• Put the chicken, tomatoes and mozzarella in a bowl and stir in the pesto. Season well.
• Pile up the filo pastry on a board, then cut in half to make two squares (each with four pastry layers). Set one pile aside and with the other pile, twist each sheet around slightly to make a star outline.
• Spoon half the mixture on to one of the piles of pastry. Brush a little melted butter around the base, then gather up the outsides and scrunch them together. Brush half the remaining butter over the top. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make another filo parcel.
• Transfer the parcels to the preheated baking tray and bake in the oven for about 25 mins until golden. Serve with green vegetables or salad.

CHRISTMAS FILO MINCE PIES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. First, make the mincemeat. Tip all of the ingredients into a large saucepan and cook over a low-medium heat for 10 mins, stirring frequently until sticky and combined. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Lightly brush the holes of a 12-hole muffin tin with melted butter. Cut the filo sheets into quarters to make small squares, then use one square each to line the holes. Brush with more butter, then top with a second filo square, turning it to form a cross shape. Fill each pastry case with a heaped tablespoon of mincemeat, then loosely fold the overhanging filo towards the middles.
• Shred any leftover filo into small, thin strips and top each pie with filo nests. Brush the exposed pastry with melted butter, then bake for 25 mins until golden brown. Leave to cool completely in the tin, then dust with icing sugar before serving.