Tomato & Parmesan Twister Bread Rolls
For the dough
1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for oiling
350g (12oz) strong plain bread flour, plus extra for dusting
1 tsp salt
7g sachet of easy blend dried yeast 1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp milk
For the filling
200g (7oz) Tomato Sauce (see page 214)
125g (4½oz) Pesto (see page 208)
75g (3oz) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
These bread rolls are easy to make and taste so much better than any you can buy in the shops. You can vary the fillings – try sun-dried tomato paste, tapenade, red onion marmalade, finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes or different cheeses – but go light on them or the fillings may burn while they are cooking. Turn the page for step-by-step pictures.
Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F), gas mark 6. Lightly oil two 12-hole muffin tins.
Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl with the salt and stir in the dried yeast. Make a well in the centre and pour in the olive oil and 300ml (11fl oz) lukewarm water. Mix to a smooth dough.
Turn the dough out on to a lightly floured work surface and knead for 5-10 minutes, pushing and stretching the dough until smooth and elastic. Alternatively, use a food mixer with the dough hook attached and set on a low speed.
Place the dough in a large, lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a clean tea towel and leave in a warm place for 1 hour until the dough has almost doubled in size.
Knock the risen dough back, punching it lightly to knock out large air bubbles and knead it briefly on a lightly floured work surface. With a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a large rectangle, approximately 55 x 35cm (22 x 14in). Using a palette knife, spread over the tomato sauce and then spread the pesto on top. Sprinkle over the Parmesan cheese. Then, starting from one of the long edges, gently roll the dough away from you into a long Swiss roll shape. Don’t worry if it sticks a little, just gently coax it up a bit at a time with floured fingers until it reaches the other side and then press the seam together to stick. »
Cut the roll into 4cm (1½in) thick slices and place in the tin, one in each muffin hole, with one of the cut sides facing down. Brush the tops lightly with the beaten egg mixture and leave them to rise in a warm place for another 10 minutes or until doubled in size.
Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes, swapping the tins on the shelves halfway through, until cooked through and golden brown. Leave the rolls in the muffin tins for a couple of minutes and then loosen them from the tins with a knife and slide out on to a wire rack. Serve warm or allow to cool completely.
To serve, pile the rolls into a bread basket and place on the table. These are best eaten warm on the day they are made, or you can freeze in an airtight container for 1 month. To thaw, wrap in foil and bake in the oven at 180°C (350°F), gas mark 4, for 8-10 minutes.
1. Roll the dough into a rectangle
2. Spread with fillings
3. Roll up the dough
4. Cut into slices and place in tin
Sticky Beef Skewers
These moreish skewers are shown in the picture on pages 58-9. For hassle-free canapés, most of the preparation can be done in advance. You can marinate the beef up to a day beforehand and store uncooked in an airtight container in the fridge. Soak the skewers in cold water for at least 30 minutes before use (this prevents them burning during cooking) and then skewer the beef up to 12 hours in advance.
2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
3 tbsp runny honey
1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp whole grain mustard
450g (1lb) sirloin steak, trimmed of any fat and cut into thin strips
Garlic and Chive Mayonnaise, to serve (see page 209)
Place the garlic in a large, shallow non-metallic dish and add the honey, sweet chilli sauce, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and mustard. Mix until well combined. Thread the sirloin strips on to twenty 10cm (4in) soaked bamboo skewers and add the marinade, turning to coat. Cover with cling film and chill in the fridge for at least 6 hours, or for up to 24 hours.
Preheat the grill to medium. Drain the beef skewers, reserving any remaining marinade, and arrange on a grill rack. Cook for 5-6 minutes until cooked through and well caramelised, turning once.
Meanwhile, place the reserved marinade in a small pan and allow it to simmer over a medium heat until it is thick and syrupy and reduced by half. Stir in any cooking juices from the grill pan and then brush the sauce over the cooked beef skewers.
Arrange the sticky beef skewers on a large warmed platter around a bowl of Garlic and Chive Mayonnaise, for dipping.
Sausage Rolls with Sesame Seeds
25g(1oz) butter
2 tbsp finely diced onion
3 eggs
450g (1 lb) good-quality sausage meat
2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
1 tbsp double cream
500g (1lb 2oz) ready-rolled puff pastry, thawed if frozen
plain flour, for dusting
2 tbsp sesame seeds
salt and freshly ground black pepper
This is classic party food! These are ideal to prepare in advance as they can be frozen uncooked for up to one month. Layer between sheets of non-stick baking paper in a plastic rigid container and secure with a lid before freezing. Even more convenient, they can be cooked straight from frozen – simply increase the cooking time by about 10 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F), gas mark 7. Melt the butter in a frying pan and sauté the onion over a medium heat for about 5 minutes until softened but not browned. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
Break two eggs into a food processor or liquidiser and add the sausage meat, sweet chilli sauce, basil and cream. Blend for 2 minutes until smooth, then scrape out into a bowl and stir in the cooked onions. Season with salt and