Very Easy Mini Egg and Bacon Pies

Now these are very easy to make you could make them bigger, but I think they are nice this size which is about 3 bites depending on the size of your mouth.

These went down a treat at the party the other day, with people commenting how tasty they are.

It is nice to get compliments for your food when you have worked hard to prepare it.

One lady even asked me if I catered for parties professionally ! In another life I may have, had I not been put of studying cooking at Emily MacPherson in Melbourne as a teenager.

This recipe is for 12 pies. You can multiple as much as you want. Also as it has so few ingredients you would probably have most of them in your fridge and freezer you can make them at a drop of a hat.

I used the smaller tray, but you could use a larger tray and double the recipe.

Also once cooled they can be frozen for another time.

Egg and Bacon Pies

1 sheet puff pastry,cut into 12 squares, 3 large or 4 small eggs beaten with a couple of grinds of black pepper, 3 rashers bacon, rind removed and chopped into 1 cm pieces

Preheat oven to 220.c.

Place the pastry squares into each hole. If your tray is not non stick I would spray the tray with a little oil to make it easier to get the pies out after baking.

Divide the bacon between each pie. Top with egg. Bake 15 minutes or until pastry is golden and the filling is set.

Remove from the oven and as soon as you can remove pies from the tray and cool on a cake rack.

Eat and enjoy.

Nuts with the Flavours of Asia

Why do these nuts have the flavours of Asia, because they are sweet, spicy and salty. Now this is an easy way to make some mixed nuts very tasty and very morish.

They are easy to make, but be warned when you taste them, especially when they are warm, you will have a hard time stopping yourself from eating them all.

You can alter and adapt this recipe as much as you want, but you must have the sugar and salt which gives you the lovely contrast of flavours. One moment you are tasty sweet flavours then it becomes salty and in between you will get a burst of spicy.

Now this is the basic recipe but adjust it to your tastes. It is best to taste after everything has been added, which will give you the true flavour.

Sweet and Spicy Nuts

500 gms mixed nuts (without salt is better as you can adjust the amount while making these)

2 tsps flaked salt. 1 - 2 dessertspoons brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, (or a pinch of chilli flakes) 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 2-3 tbsps olive oil

Heat oil in a frypan - beware don't make it too hot or it will burn everything. Add nuts, toss until all coated in oil. Add spices stir 1 minute, then add sugar keep stirring until sugar has melted and coated the nuts. Remove from heat, taste the nuts, adjust flavourings to your tastes. If adding more salt or sugar return frypan over low heat so the salt/sugar can melt over nuts. When cool store in an airtight container.

As I said beware these are addictive.