Yield: 16 Sausage Rolls

Adapted from Food Wishes

This is a great appetizer for any occasion. Recipe is simplified by using purchased sausage, adding mushrooms, fresh thyme and Worcestershire sauce.

• 2TBS butter
• 4oz button mushrooms, finely chopped
• 1TBS Worcestershire sauce
• 1TBS fresh thyme
• 1lb sweet Italian sausage, uncased
• 1sheet prepared puff pastry
• 1large egg beaten with a tsp of water
• sesame seeds to garnish

Heat oven to 375°F and line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Melt the butter in a large frying pan and fry the mushrooms until soft. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the Worcestershire sauce, thyme and sausage meat and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix with a fork until thoroughly combined.

Divide the mixture in two and tightly roll each half in plastic wrap to form logs the length of the puff pastry. Set aside in the refrigerator.

From a package of puff pastry, break the sheet along the seams into 3 pieces. Set the pieces on a sheet of parchment.

Split one of the pieces in half lengthwise and use the halves to make the other two pieces wider. Put some egg wash at the seams and press to make two wider pieces.

Sprinkle with flour and cover with another sheet of parchment and roll to merge the seams to form two single sheets. Roll width wise to widen the sheets. This makes them fit around the meat better.

Remove the top sheet of parchment and press the long edges to thin the pastry. Place the sausage logs onto one edge of the pastry sheets and roll up the pastry to form a log. Egg wash the last inch before finished rolling to seal the seam.

Place back on parchment and place in freezer for 10 minutes to stiffen dough.

Lightly flour board and paint each log with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Cut each log into 8 pieces.

Place on a Silpat lined baking sheet. Press the top of each to slightly flatten to prevent them from falling over and bake in a 375°F oven until sausage rolls are golden-brown, about 30 minutes. Make sure the pastry has cooked through.

Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.