Pastry Snakes Recipes

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/ gas 7. Unroll the pastry and top with a couple of handfuls of parmesan, then fold in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll the pastry out to a thickness of 2mm. Cut into 1cm strips, then twist each strip several times to form a snake.
• Lay out the snakes on a baking sheet, then brush each one with egg and sprinkle with more cheese. To decorate, scatter over the seeds. Flatten one end of each snake and press in two peppercorns for eyes. Bake for 12-14 mins, or until golden. Leave to cool. Will keep for two days in an airtight container.

Steps:

• Unfold thawed frozen puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Cut into pieces just large enough to wrap around your food (see below) with a 1/2-inch overlap. Wrap, moisten the edge with water and pinch to seal.
• Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet, seam-side down. Whisk 1 egg with 2 tablespoons water; brush on the pastry and freeze until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bake until the pastry is puffed and golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Ideas:
• Bacon: Cook until crisp and drain; stack 3 slices.
• Chocolate bars
• Dill pickles
• Dried figs
• Goat Cheese: Use a thick slice; freeze 2 hours before wrapping.
• Jalapenos: Seed if desired.
• Mango chutney
• Marinated artichoke hearts: Drain and pat dry.
• Pears: Stack 3 slices.
• Portobello mushrooms: Remove the stems; scrape out the gills.
• Prosciutto: Stack 3 slices.
• Pitted Olives

Steps:

• Sift 225g plain flour into a large bowl, add 100g diced butter and rub in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Stir in a pinch of salt, then add 2-3 tbsp water and mix to a firm dough.
• Knead the dough briefly and gently on a floured surface.
• Wrap in cling film and chill while preparing the filling.

Steps:

• Roll the pastry to a 3mm-thick round on a lightly floured surface and cut a 24cm circle, using a plate as a guide. Lightly prick all over with a fork, place on a baking sheet, then cover and freeze while preparing the apples.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Peel, quarter and core the apples. Put the sugar in a flameproof 20cm ceramic tatin dish or a 20cm ovenproof heavy-based frying pan and place over a medium-high heat. Cook the sugar for 5-7 mins to a dark amber caramel syrup that's starting to smoke, then turn off the heat and stir in the 60g diced chilled butter.
• To assemble the tarte tatin, arrange the apple quarters very tightly in a circle around the edge of the dish first, rounded-side down, then fill in the middle in a similar fashion. Gently press with your hands to ensure there are no gaps. Brush the fruit with the melted butter.
• Bake in the oven for 30 mins, then remove and place the disc of frozen puff pastry on top - it will quickly defrost. Tuck the edges down the inside of the dish and, with a knife, prick a few holes in the pastry to allow steam to escape. Bake for a further 40-45 mins until the pastry is golden brown and crisp.
• Allow to cool to room temperature for 1 hr before running a knife around the edge of the dish and inverting it onto a large serving plate that is deep enough to contain the juices. Serve with crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream.