Cheese twists from scratch !

It was last week that I went to volunteer in lil A's nursery again and this time a mini mobile zoo was visiting his nursery . I didnt had any idea why they called parents for, as it was just something coming to school ,usually parents are called when they go outside . But since my afternoons are free I always volunteer whenever they ask parents help.when I went in that day to my surprise I was asked to do some baking with kids .Their plan was dividing kids into 4-5 batches and while few of them went to see animals kept in a hall, some of them were left for playing and some for baking with me and some for face painting ! They gave me some pastry sheets,cheese,pesto sauce ,few rolling pins and a bunch of kids ! I was asked to help them bake cheese twists or straws and the the kids have do everything expect the oven part !

It was fun baking with them.I divided the pastry dough into small balls and gave each of them a small one,they rolled it,spread pesto ,sprinkled cheese and then twisted it. Batch by batch all 24 of them did it .I popped it in the oven for them and they all ate what they cooked and they loved it.

Since my boy loved it a lot I thought I will make this at home for him as well. These days since we come home after his nursery very late,I always take something to nibble for him and his friends while playing . I baked this yesterday afternoon, by the time i finished baking it ,it was 3 and I had only 10 minutes to take them out and click it before I pack them in a snack box ...phew ! Somehow I managed to click few pics and before I went :)

Like I mentioned in the title I made puff pastry from scratch.I watched the youtube video here for puff pastry recipe and it came out really well.In the picture above you can see how flaky it is.Here I easily get a readymade puff pastry sheet from supermarkets ,I just wanted to try it one time to see how it turns out :)

Ingredients

For pastry

Plain flour/maida - 125 gm

Butter - 125 gm

Salt - a pinch

Water - 100 ml

Beaten egg - for egg wash

For filling

Parmasan cheese grated - 1/2 cup

Bacon slices -3 (optional)

Pesto sauce/dijon mustard - to spread (optional)

Salt and Pepper

Method

1.Melt 20 gms of butter in a saucepan.

2.Sift the flour and add pinch of salt.Add melted butter,water and make it a smooth dough.

3.Roll the dough into a rectangle and place the butter in the middle and roll out gently to a sheet.

4.Fold the sheet one time and refrigerate for 10- 20 minutesand repeat the process atleast 6 times.(watch the video)

5.Sprinkle the cheese on the sheet and gently press it down.

6.Spread pesto sauce and cut into stripes.

7.If using bacon cut them into strips and place on top of the pastry stripes.

8 .Twist the stripes and place them in a baking tray and give it an egg wash.

9.Bake them in preheated oven at 200 degree centigrade for 20 - 25 mintes until the pastry is golden brown.

Note - Adding bacon slices and dejon mustard is adapted from a TV show