Butter Puff Pizza Pie/Slice

April is a birthday month for us - Mr P., his auntie, my sister, three friends and various ring-ins :-)  We had a birthday gathering on Good Friday for Mr P. on our back deck.  The first gathering here in I don't know how long - 'cos, you know - Covid ...  It was wonderful.  Wine and food and hugs.  It was a fabulous feeling.

And next weekend is the Anzac Day long weekend, which commemorates all Australian and New Zealand soldiers.  It has become a huge thing in recent years, bringing us all together.  I will be baking many Anzac biscuits for the morning service :-)  But for now, I present to you my pizza pie/slice, doing duty at two birthday teas this month (with more to come).  

golden crispy savoury seedy ...

ingredients:

2 sheets butter puff pastry, thawed

3 Tbs Mersey Valley spreadable vintage cheddar cheese, or similar soft cheese

2 Tbs cornflake crumbs or panko breadcrumbs

150g./5.5 oz ham, diced 

1/2 cup mixed olives, pitted and chopped

3-4 wedges artichoke hearts, chopped

1/3 cup semi-dried tomato strips, chopped into wee pieces

2 Tbs fresh herbs, chopped - parsley and chives are my fave

a good sprinkling of dried oregano

black pepper, to taste

2 Tbs milk for glazing

several Tbs of white and black sesame seeds, and poppy seeds 

Method:

Heat the oven to 190C/375F

Line a baking tray with baking paper

Place one piece of butter puff pastry on the paper

Spread the soft cheese over the pastry

Sprinkle the cornflake crumbs or panko over the soft cheese

Then layer on the ham, olives, artichoke hearts, and dried tomato 

On go the herbs and black pepper

Cover with the other piece of pastry

Crimp the edges, and brush the whole shebang with the milk

Cast on your seeds and cut into squares with a ravioli cutter or knife

And ... bake! (for 25-30 mins.) till golden brown on top

I put the oven fan on for the last 5 minutes as I have a senile, doddery gas stove - this helps finish off the baking and crisp up the top layer

Eat warm or cold or however you fancy

Notes:

I used the tomato strips without oil; and I put the remainder in a jar, cover with good EV olive oil and into the fridge it goes ...

I keep bags of chopped parsley and chives in the freezer; so handy to just tip some out when needed

Always buy the butter puff if you can; it's worth the expense (butter, not palm oil) and saves the orangutans!

P.S. Today is the anniversary of Shakespeare's death in 1616.  Just in case you were interested ...

ingredients gathered

chop the artichoke hearts

place the pastry on the baking paper-lined tray

scatter on the chopped goodies

ready for the oven

golden and delicious after 25-30 mins. @190C

and over to Princess Pia's for her birthday arvo tea

and here's Mr P, in his new birthday cap!

I searched online for quite a long time to find him this Harris Tweed cap!  Did you know that Harris Tweed is like an appellation for cheese or wine?  It is protected by an Act of Parliament in Britain.  It has to be handwoven at the home of the weaver, and made in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.  Mr P. loves it!

  

© Sherry M.