Picnic PERFECT

Fill a hamper or cool bag and head for the great outdoors

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Cheese and date sausage rolls
A twist on the classic, filled with rich Stilton, tangy Cheddar and sweet dates.

MAKES 8

PREP 20 mins, plus chilling

COOK 25 mins

* 1tsp fennel seeds

* ¼tsp peppercorns
* 1tbsp cooking oil
* 1 onion, thinly sliced
* 400g sausage meat
* 1 small handful parsley, roughly chopped
* 100g Stilton, crumbled
* 50g Cheddar, grated
* 50g dates, pitted and chopped
* 320g ready-rolled sheet puff pastry
* 1tbsp English mustard
* 1 medium free-range egg, beaten
* 1tsp nigella seeds

Dry-fry the fennel seeds until aromatic. Using a pestle and mortar, crush them along with the peppercorns. Heat the oil in the pan and gently fry the onion until golden. Cool before adding to a mixing bowl with the sausage meat, parsley, cheese, dates and crushed fennel/pepper. Mix until combined.

On a lightly floured surface, unroll the pastry, then brush with mustard. Shape the filling in a sausage down the length of the pastry, 3cm from the edge.

Brush the pastry border with beaten egg and fold over the pastry, sealing the pastry edges together, then crimp with a fork. Move to a board, brush with egg and sprinkle with nigella seeds. Chill for at least 30 mins.

Heat the oven to 180C Fan/Gas 6 with a lined tray inside. Using a sharp knife, cut the roll into 8. Move to the hot tray and bake for 25 mins until golden.

Fennel and apple coleslaw

Our dressing is made with a lower-calorie version of mayo, where you whizz hard-boiled eggs with less oil.

SERVES 8

READY IN 20 mins

* 1 red onion, thinly sliced
* 1tbsp white wine vinegar
* 1 green apple, cored and cut into matchsticks