BACON & MATURE CHEDDAR TWISTIES

Although these wouldn't be my ideal, as soon as I saw these 'twisties' on Lorraine Pascale's show 'Home Cooking Made Easy', I instantly knew how much the rest of the family would enjoy them. So, I whipped up a few and despite what I originally thought, they really were quite tasty! Super quick and easy too!  

Bacon and Mature Cheddar Cheese Twisties

Makes approx. 14

1 x 375g puff pastry

plain flour, for dusting

1 tbsp english mustard

100g mature cheddar cheese, grated

freshly ground black pepper

14 or so slices of good-quality thin bacon, prosciutto or pancetta

1 egg, lightly beaten

Line 1 large or 2 smaller baking trays with baking parchment

Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface into a large rectangle, about 5 mm thick. It should be as long as one slice of bacon and as wide as you can roll it

Spread the mustard over the pastry then sprinkle with the grated cheese and black pepper.

Line the strips of bacon on side by side, about 2 mm apart and use a sharp knife to cut between each piece

Pick up one strip and twist it 4 or 5 times so it looks like a curly straw then put it on the prepared baking tray. Repeat with the rest of the strips and arrange them slightly apart on the tray

Put the trays in the fridge for 15-20 mins or the freezer for 10 mins to firm up. Preheat the oven to 220°C. Remove the twists from the fridge and brush with the egg wash.

Put the baking trays in the oven and turn down to 200°C. Cook for about 20 minutes or until the pastry is well risen and golden brown.

Preheating the oven at a higher temperature compensates for any lost hot air when the oven is opened to put the twisties in. Otherwise, the oven temperature may drop to 180°C and it would not be hot enough to give the twisties that big blast of heat they need.