Piggy Puffs Recipes

PIGS IN A BLANKET

Steps:

• Set the pastry sheets out to thaw. Heat the oven to 400°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Beat the egg in a small bowl with a fork.
• Sprinkle the flour on the work surface. Unfold 1 pastry sheet on the work surface. Roll the pastry sheet into a 10x14-inch rectangle. Trim a bit off the edges to make sure they're straight. Cut the rectangle into 7 (2x10-inch) strips. Stack the strips on top of each other, making sure to match up the edges.
• With the long side facing you, cut off and discard about 1-inch from the left and right ends of the stack on the diagonal (make sure both cuts are slanted in the same direction). Then, cut the stack crosswise, using the same diagonal cuts, into 3 (about 3-inch long) sections (yielding 21 pieces of pastry). Repeat with the remaining pastry sheet, making 42 pieces in all.
• Place 1 piece of pastry on the work surface, with a pointed end facing you. Place 1 sausage crosswise across the center of the pastry. Brush the pointed end farthest from you with the egg. Starting at the end closest to you, roll the pastry around the sausage and press to seal. Repeat with the remaining sausages and pastry. Place the wrapped sausages onto the baking sheets. Brush with the remaining egg.
• Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown. Serve with your favorite hot dog condiments.
• For additional flavor and texture, after brushing the unbaked pastries with the egg, sprinkle with sesame seeds, poppy seeds and/or sea salt or finely shredded Cheddar cheese, then bake as shown. Or try brushing on some sweet pickle relish, it bakes up like little pickle chips on the outside!
• Ingredient Note: The number of cocktail smoked sausages in a 14 ounce package may vary, so don't worry if the pieces of pastry and the number of sausages don't match exactly.

PIGGY PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F, roll out the pastry to ¼-inch thickness and divide into 8 squares.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the bacon and fry gently until it is lightly coloured, and then add the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring.
• Gradually add the milk little by little, stirring all the time, until the mixture boils and thickens.
• Cook for 1 minute and then add the pepper and nutmeg.
• Place a spoonful of this mixture on the pastry squares, dampen the edges with a little beaten egg and fold over to form triangles.
• Press the edges well together and knock up the edges with the back of a knife.
• Put the parcels on a lightly greased baking sheet, brush the top of each with a little beaten egg and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and risen.
• Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool.

PIGS IN A PUFF PASTRY BLANKET

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Lightly dust a work surface with flour and roll out the puff pastry to about 1/8-inch thick.
• Cut the dough into small triangles 2 inches wide along one side.
• Brush the sausage pieces with the mustard.
• Place a sausage along one edge of the puff pastry and roll it around the sausage.
• Brush with some of the egg wash and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Repeat with all the sausages and puff pastry triangles.
• Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes.
• Serve warm.
• Makes about 24 appetizers.