Pesto Pastry Star Food

PESTO PASTRY STARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to moderately hot (400°F - 205°C - Gas Mark 6).
• Combine butter and pesto in small bowl. Spread pesto mixture over pastry sheets, sprinkle with cheese.
• Using a 5.5 cm cutter, cut stars from pastry sheets, place onto lightly oiled oven trays.
• Bake, uncovered, for about 10 minutes or until puffed and browned, cool.

PESTO PASTRY STAR

Steps:

• Directions:
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking tray with parchment paper and dust lightly with flour.
• Cut two large circles out of your puff pastry sheets. Set one on the prepared baking sheet.
• Spread cream cheese over top of the puff pastry in one layer. On top of that, add the pesto. Then top with the second puff pastry circle.
• To make the pastry star, set a small glass upside down in the middle of the circle. Starting at the glass and cutting outward, divide the pastry into 4 equal quarters. Cut each quarter in half, then each eighth in half, to make 16 equal strips. Remove the glass. Twist strips twice, two at a time, in opposite directions. Pinch the ends together. Repeat with remaining strips to make a star shape.
• Bake for 20-15 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown.

PESTO EGG PUFF PASTRY SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat the butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Beat 6 of the eggs together in a bowl. When the butter has melted, add the beaten eggs, spinach and pesto, along with a pinch each of salt and pepper. Scramble the eggs until cooked through, about 2 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and fold in the fontina.
• Beat together the remaining egg and a splash of cold water in a small bowl to make an egg wash. Set aside.
• Lay out the two sheets of puff pastry and roll them into 9-by-10-inch rectangles. Cut each into six 3-by-5-inch rectangles. Divide the egg mixture among six of the puff pastry rectangles, leaving a 1-centimeter border around the edges. Fold the ham and place it on top of the eggs. Brush the borders with the egg wash and top each with another puff pastry rectangle. Using a fork, crimp the edges to seal. Transfer to a baking sheet. Brush the tops with the egg wash and sprinkle with the everything seasoning. Bake until golden, about 15 minutes.
• Serve hot or cold and enjoy.

PESTO CHICKEN PUFF PASTIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F or 180°C.
• Dice the chicken into half-inch cubes.
• Heat the oil in a skillet. Add the chicken and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked. Remove from the heat.
• Roll out the puff pastry sheets and cut each in half (cut the shortest distance through the middle so you are left with two short, fat rectangles not long thin ones).
• Add the pesto sauce and tomatoes to the chicken and stir to mix.
• Spoon equal amounts of the chicken mixture onto the pastry sheets, covering half of each sheet but leaving a gap at the edge to seal the pastry.
• Top the chicken mixture with the grated mozzarella cheese.
• Beat the egg. Brush egg around the inside edge of each pasty then fold the pastry over to seal. Crimp with a fork to reinforce the seal.
• Brush each pasty with the beaten egg.
• Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes (mine take closer to 20) until the pastry is golden.
• Serve hot and enjoy!

PHYLLO CHEESE STRAWS WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375º.
• In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, lightly beaten egg, parmesan, and salt. Stir to combine.
• Spoon mixture into a plastic zip-top bag. Set aside. To use as a pastry bag, cut corner off bag to make a 1/4-inch diameter opening.
• Lay out thawed phyllo dough.
• Working quickly to keep dough from drying out: brush top sheet with melted butter, pipe cheese filling along long edge of phyllo 1/2-inch from each end. Fold over ends to seal in filling and roll up straw. Repeat with remaining sheets of phyllo and place on a baking sheet.
• Bake until golden, about 10 minutes.
• Makes 20 straws.
• Serve warm with pesto for dipping.

PESTO CHEESE STRAW CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Unroll the two pastry sheets, keeping them on their baking parchment. Spread the pesto over one of the pastry sheets, then scatter over half of the grated cheese. Flip the second sheet of pastry on top and press to stick the two pastry sheets together. Remove the top layer of parchment.
• Cut out a Christmas tree shape - a large triangle with a little stump at the bottom, using as much of the pastry as possible. Cut a star shape out of the offcuts for the top of the tree. Reserve the rest of the offcuts. Lift the tree onto a large baking tray, brush with the beaten egg, then do the same with the star and press it on the tip. Scatter over the rest of the cheese and gently press to help it stick to the pastry.
• Cut vertical lines into the sides of the tree, about 1cm apart, leaving a 'trunk' of about 2cm up the middle. Twist the strips of pastry and stick them back down to the tray. Do this with all the pastry 'branches'. Cut the offcuts into straws, and arrange them on another baking tray. You can now wrap and chill the tree and offcuts for up to two days, freeze for two months, or bake straightaway.

PESTO ROLLS

Steps:

• Allow pastry to thaw and then flatten the sheet out.
• Brush the first third and the last third of the sheet with pesto - as much as you want.
• Roll both sides towards the centre, creating a swiss roll effect on each side.
• Slice the sheet into approx 12-16 bite size pieces, using a sharp knife.
• Freeze for a while prior to baking off for best results. Baking takes approx 8-10min.

SALMON WITH PUFF PASTRY AND PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut 4 pieces of puff pastry so that each is just larger than your salmon pieces.
• On a foil-lined baking sheet, place to four pieces of pastry and the four pieces of salmon.
• Be sure they are not touching.
• Sprinkle each piece of salmon with 1 Tablespoon to sliced almonds.
• Bake for 10 minutes or until pastry is golden brown.
• Remove pastry from oven and return salmon to oven for another 2-5 minutes or until cooked through.
• To serve, place a piece of puff pastry on a plate.
• Top with 1 tablespoon of pesto.
• Top pesto with 2 slices of tomato each.
• Top the tomatoes with the salmon and serve.