It's been a very relaxing start to the year here at SSG Manor. I've been kicking back on the sofa reading on my Kindle and sipping beverages. Mr SSG has a bee in his bonnet about the Australian Cricket team (who doesn't) and is firing off a strong comment on a news website. 2011 may well be the year of Mr SSG: The Blog.
Speaking of Mr SSG.
He Shopped yesterday. After walking many 'man blocks' (his words) from his office, he finally got to the Ralph Lauren store at the QVB with my greige polo in his backpack.
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The lighting isn't accurate but this is greige in real life. |
Good work, Mr SSG!
As I wrote yesterday, NYE was a rather low key event for us. I did however make dinner. Sausage Rolls using the recipe in the AWW's The Complete Book of Modern Entertaining. It can be found in the section Tea Party: Country. For my country readers, the rest of the menu was lamingtons, buttermilk scones with strawberries and cream and a featherlight sponge. No beverage suggestions.
To make 48 mini sausage rolls (bite size), 750g of sausage mince is required. I don't know about you but I don't think I've seen sausage mince outside of sausage skins at any supermarket or butcher recently. I improvised with a 50:50 mix of lean beef and a pork/veal mince.
The dry ingredients are 1 cup of stale bread crumbs, 1 teaspoon herbs and a chopped onion. I upped the herbs to about 2 tablespoons and added salt, pepper and crushed garlic. I'm sure seasoning is what makes sausage mince, sausage mince.
So it doesn't look that appetizing at this stage, but at least I know what I'm getting in my sausage rolls. A beaten egg is also needed to bind the mixture together.
The AWW suggest piping the mince mixture onto the halved sheets of puff pastry. I don't own a piping bag and found it just as easy to mould the mince mixture along the middle of the pastry.
I decorated the top of my mini rolls with sesame seeds (for that patisserie in Balmain feel) and then glazed with a beaten egg.
30 minutes at 200C and here we are!
We nibbled our sausage rolls as we watched the BBC Proms.
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I love sauce with my sausage rolls, and lots of it. Best is a mixture of ketchup and barbecue sauce. |
The AWW sure know a good sausage roll recipe. I liked the flavour of and texture of the mince filling. Also, they weren't greasy at all. I used a low fat puff pastry.
In true nanna style, I let the rest of the sausage rolls cool under a netting cover. We've been snacking on the leftovers today and there aren't actually that many left....
It's a seriously hot day in Sydney today. Clear blue skies with bright and clear sunlight. A day for staying in until the sun sets.
In between eating sausage rolls, I've packed away our Christmas decorations.
And making more healthful drink choices.
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Champagne punch: 1/4 glass fruit juice, 1/4 glass ginger ale and then fill with bubbly. |
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The convenience of buying tickets online. Adult tickets are $19. |
It is long and complicated but the acting is brilliant and the music was perfect for New Year's morning.
This is one of my favourite scenes, Rhys Ifans in character as a very ... sexual(?) shock jock.

Happy New Year to you too! I think Perth is going to be a hiberating place this afternoon (and not just due to the lack of shopping).
ReplyDeleteYou can get sausage mince in Woolies, it's in the meat section in a weird dog food roll type looking thing. It seriously looks like those 'fresh' rolls of dog meat. Actually, it possibly is the same thing :S
ReplyDeleteI personally use a mixture of fine ground mince, generally beef and pork, similar to what you have done.
Sausage rolls look fantastic. I think there is only one acceptable beverage for the AWW menu. Champagne.
ReplyDeleteI have resorted to squeezing the mince out of gourmet sausages before to make sausage rolls. (We have to improvise in the country...) You can get some yummy results.
Take good care
AFW
xx
Those sausage rolls look amazing!
ReplyDeleteI saw The Boat That Rocked a while back - wasn't too bad at all!
Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteomg, those sausage rolls look delicious!! and a happy new year to you too!
ReplyDeletekileen
cuteandlittle.com
Hi girl...
ReplyDeleteSi in the spirit of being a better commenter...
Is that even a word?:)
I will say.
1. Your photos are sharp...
2. I love that you watermark every photo, it shows that you are a pro, and love YOUR work...
3. I like that your posts are long..and well written...
I tried my best:)
From your girl in Norway:)
Those sausage rolls look delish! Yum. What a nice way to ring in the New Year.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I love the image of Mr SSG marching many "man blocks" to shop. Gorgeous.
Y-U-M. Those sausage rolls look AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteHappy NY SSG!! I agree with A Farmer's Wife. Champagne all the way. What are you doing watering it down with fruit juice? Hmph. Ok. If you insist. Might help my waistline if I do likewise I guess. Leanne
ReplyDeleteDid I just post a comment? I tried to but it disappeared.
ReplyDeleteI think I said something like "Happy New Year" and "drink more champagne" (or words to that effect).
Cheers
Leanne
Leanne: champagne it is!
ReplyDeleteCorinne: thanks for stopping by.
Cait: Mr SSG is prone to the dramatic :-)
SP: thanks for the feedback.
Maria: Happy New Year!!
Miss Posy: The Boat that Rocked = best soundtrack ever.
SSG xxx
Hello SSG
ReplyDeleteI've been lurking for awhile and really enjoy reading your blog. Love the interesting mix of fashion, food, travel and Sydney life (my hometown).
I have not made sausage rolls for yonks, they look delish!
xx
Anne-Marie: hello :-) Hope I'm doing justice to the Sydney you remember.
ReplyDeleteSSG xxx