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At this time on a Sunday (10:04pm), I usually have a serious case of Sunday night blues – so serious, that I prolong sleep even if I’m dead tired just so I can soak up a few more precious hours of the weekend. But tonight is different. I’m going to go to bed before midnight instead of 2 am. I’m going to put my computer away after I finish this post instead of cruising around reading other food blogs and online shopping for the Kate Spade purse I don’t need. And I’m going to fall asleep to the soft hum of the fan and the methodical breathing of my hubby and puppy instead of the raucous voices of the Real Housewives.
Why the sudden change of heart?
Well, because it’s the week of Thanksgiving which means it’s a three day week! So really, instead of tomorrow being Monday, it’s actually Wednesday – or at least that’s the way I like to think of it. So tonight, I’m going to relax, unwind and try to forget the fact that the weekend is over and focus on Thanksgiving being just three short days away.
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the entire year. Family. Friends. Food. Drinks. What more could you ask for?
We always have “dinner” late in the afternoon, around three, preceded by an hour or so of chatter and appetizers. Why we feel the need to have appetizers before an enormous meal is beyond me, but that’s what we do and I love it. The appetizers vary from year to year, but the one thing that is mandatory each year are these little sausage rolls – no holiday is complete without them. And let me tell you. These are addictive little suckers.
My Mom got the recipe years ago from a Colin Cowie cookbook and we’ve been making them for holidays and parties ever since. We’ll even make a huge batch, wrap them in plastic and store them in the fridge to keep on hand for impromptu guests or pre-dinner snacks. Lifesaver.
Simple, yet elegant; buttery, but light. They’re filled with a mixture of bulk breakfast sausage, sage, onion, potato and a little red pepper flake for an extra kick. And while cooked potato may seem a little odd here, trust me, it aids in a lighter filling that lets you eat roll after roll without filling up — which could actually be a good or bad thing depending on how you feel about eating more and not less….
With a little help from store-bought puff pastry, these come together in just a few easy minutes. Although be sure to follow the recipe carefully, my Mom has given the recipe out countless times and somewhere along the line, everyone always manages to mess them up. One friend cooked the sausage before hand, one friend added in raw potato, and another filled and rolled them up the wrong way. So as long as you pay attention to the recipe directions, all will end well – and you want these to end well.
I promise these will be your new favorite appetizer — and if I’m wrong, please let me know what you’ve got up your sleeve Ethat’s better, becauase I’d love to try it out!
- 1 package puff pastry
- 1 pound bulk breakfast sausage (I use jimmy dean)
- ¾ cup minced onion
- ¾ cup chopped cooked potato
- 2 tablespoons fresh sage
- 1 teaspoon salt
- pinch of red pepper flake
- 1 egg + 1 tablespoon water mixed together
- Wortershire sauce for dipping
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Lightly roll out each puff pastry sheet with a rolling pin. You just want to extend the puff pastry a bit. Cut each into thirds, lengthwise, you should still be able to see the fold line to guide you.
- In a bowl mix together, sausage, onion, potato, sage, salt and red pepper flake. Transfer to a ziplock baggie, cut the tip off and pip the filling along the long edge of the dough. Should be about ½ inch of filling.
- Roll dough, jellyroll fashion, seal edges.
- Chill for 20 minutes or overnight.
- When ready to bake, cut into 1 inch pieces. Place on baking sheet (non-greased), brush with egg wash, and bake for about 20 minutes until pastry is golden brown.
- Serve with worteshire sauce.
Recipe adapted from Colin Cowie, can be found here
Ashley says
We follow the same timeline for Thanksgiving too – eat around 3 with appetizers before! These little rolls sound amazing – although I’d probably eat a few too many right before the big meal! haha
Nicole says
Oh, I ALWAYS eat too many before dinner!
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says
These rolls look mouthwatering and they’re such an original idea! Definitelty something I have to try soon!
Thanks for sharing and have a lovely week 😀
Nicole says
Thank you so much! You too!!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
Appetizers are many times my favorite part of the meal. I love just casually sitting around talking and eating. These little bites look pretty darn addictive! Eating one may just turn into eating two, three, or ten. 🙂
Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner says
I’ll eat anything having to do with puff pastry! Yummy. 🙂
You sound like me on Sunday nights, but you’re so right…no blues this past Sun night. In fact my mind was running in overtime with excitement for what the later half of the week will bring. Love this time of year…family, friends, food. Can’t get better than that.
Have a lovely Thanksgiving!
Nicole says
Isn’t nice to have a four day weekend to look forward to?!
J James says
For the cooked chopped potato do you use hash browns or like a boiled or bake potato?
Nicole says
I just boil up a couple of small potatoes (any kind will work) in a pot of simmering water, you could also bake the potato as well.
Vanessa says
Yum! My new favorite appetizer! 😋
Christine @ Cooking with Cakes says
FYI – Including this recipe in my Best of the Blogs: Christmas Recipes roundup today! keep an eye out 🙂
Lori says
I am just today going to make these sausage rolls. Can I freeze them? If so, do they need to thaw first before cooking. Thank you.
Nicole says
Yes! You can definitely freeze them. Just freeze the whole roll, and then when you pull them out from the freezer, let them thaw just a touch (the can still be semi frozen) and cook them as it says in the recipe. It might take a little bit longer, but they’ll still be perfect!
Caroline says
Thank you for this recipe! I followed it exactly and they turned out fabulous!! I brought them to a friends house for Christmas dinner as an app, and everyone loved them including her kids. They were so simple to make so I definitely make again. I am now browsing all your other recipes for other scrumptious ideas:)
Happy New Year!
Nicole says
So glad you liked these Caroline!!
Vicki says
Does the sausage cook complete in 20 minutes? And, the potatoes cook in 20 minutes? I haven’t tried this but don’t want to mess up the first time. I want to be sure you don’t cook the sausage/potato before placing it in the puff pastry.
Nicole says
Vicki, yes! The sausage will fully cook by the time the puff pastry is browned!