SAUSAGE ROLL

(Serves 16-20)

INGREDIENTS:

2tsp vegetable oil; 1 medium white onion, finely chopped; 1 garlic clove, crushed; 100g dried white breadcrumbs; 1tbsp fresh chopped thyme; 1tbsp fresh chopped sage; 1½tbsp tomato paste; 1tsp white pepper; ½tsp salt; 700g sausage meat (veggie or regular); 1 x 500g block puff pastry; 1 egg, beaten

METHOD:

1. Preheat the oven to 200ºC/180ºC fan/gas Mark 6, and line a large baking sheet with non-stick baking paper. 2. Heat the oil in a frying pan and gently soften the onion until translucent for about 12 minutes. Add garlic and cook for a further few minutes. Allow to cool. 3. Place breadcrumbs, thyme, sage, tomato paste and seasoning into a large bowl. Add cooked onion and garlic, stir well to combine, then add the sausage meat. Mix well, using your hands.

4. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry to a 30x35cm rectangle and place on to the baking tray. Cut away a length of pastry (approx 4cm) to use for the letters. Set aside onto the floured surface while you assemble the sausage roll.

5. Place the filling on to the surface next to the pastry and make a sausage shape that is the length of the longest part of the pastry, line up by eye, then place this on to the pastry.

6. Place the sausage mixture on one side of the pastry – along the longer side – leaving a space of about 5cm along the side. Brush egg over the strip of pastry, then fold the rest of the pastry over the filling and press gently over. Seal the pastry edge by crimping and pinching small sections with your thumb and finger. If you like, you can cut the ends off with a serrated knife to neaten either side.

7. Cut out the lettering (I chose Jubilee 2022) using letter cutters. Dipping the cutters in flour and using a lolly stick to push the pastry out makes the job easier. 8. Brush the sausage roll with egg wash. Attach the letters and glaze with more egg wash.

9. Bake for approx 45-50 minutes until pastry is crisp and dark golden and the filling is cooked through.

10. Decorate using sparklers, mini flags or whatever else you fancy!