GLOBAL KNIFE BLOCK ONLY RECIPES

Steps:

• To make the pastry, sift the flour into a large bowl, then stir in the mustard powder, cayenne and 1 tsp salt. Grate the butter into the flour, dipping the end of the block in flour from time to time to prevent it from clumping. Stir the flour and butter together using a table knife, then pour in 120ml ice cold water, mix and bring together to form a dough. Flatten the dough into a disc, wrap in cling film and chill in the fridge for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, make the filling. Cook the potatoes in a pan of salted water until tender, then drain and steam dry for a few mins before mashing and leaving to cool. Melt the butter in a frying pan until foaming. Add the onions and a pinch of salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, over a medium heat until they’re completely soft and starting to caramelise. Add to a bowl with the potato. Once cool, stir in the thyme leaves, mustard, cheese and gherkins or pickled onions, and season to taste. Set aside.
• Line a baking tray with baking parchment. On a lightly floured surface, roll the pastry out into a large rectangle around 3mm thick. Cut the pastry into eight rectangles, then divide the filling equally between them, squashing it into a sausage shape down the long length of one side of each rectangle, leaving a 5cm gap at each end. Brush the exposed pastry with a little egg, then fold in the short sides of the rectangle and roll the empty half of pastry over the filling so that it is completely encased. Press the edge to seal it, then crimp the two shorter ends with a fork. Repeat with each roll, then transfer to the lined baking tray and chill in the fridge for 20 mins. Can be frozen at this point.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Take the rolls out of the fridge, brush all over with the beaten egg, then scatter with the nigella seeds. Bake on the top shelf of the oven for 40 mins or until deeply golden and crisp. Serve hot or cold with your choice of sauce.

Steps:

• To make the ice cream, whisk the egg whites in a bowl with an electric whisk until stiff. In another bowl, whisk the yolks, icing sugar and vanilla seeds until pale and billowy. In a third bowl, whip the double cream until holding its shape.
• Fold the yolk mixture into the cream, then fold in the egg whites. Pour into a 900g loaf tin lined with a sheet of baking parchment bigger than you’ll need – this will help you later. Freeze for 2 hrs.
• Remove the ice cream from the freezer and tin when it feels set but soft. Use a spatula to shape the mixture into a rough sausage shape, then use the parchment to roll the mixture tightly together into a cylinder about 35cm in length.
• Twist the ends of the baking parchment like a cracker and return to the freezer for a further 1 hr.
• To make the jam, first put a saucer in the freezer. Put the strawberries, lemon juice and sugar in a heavy- based saucepan over a high heat. Bring to the boil, stirring occasionally. Boil rapidly for 5 mins, then take off the heat.
• Put 1/4 tsp of the jam onto the cold saucer – if it wrinkles when pushed with your finger, the jam is ready. If it’s still runny, return it to the heat and boil again for another 2-3 mins, then test again. Once the jam is set, leave it to cool.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line a 24 x 32cm Swiss roll tin with baking parchment (with plenty of excess) and grease well. Whisk the eggs and sugar together with an electric hand whisk for 2-3 mins or until thickened and pale.
• Fold the flour, baking powder and vanilla extract into the egg mixture with a large metal spoon until there are no pockets of flour visible.
• Gently tip the mixture into your prepared Swiss roll tin and bake in the oven for 15 mins or until lightly golden and springy to the touch.
• Remove from the oven, allow to cool for 1-2 mins or until cool enough to handle, then carefully roll up the sponge while it’s still warm (keeping the baking parchment attached). Leave to cool completely in its rolled-up shape.
• Uncurl the sponge and spread the jam on the inside. Working quickly, unwrap the ice cream and put it on top of the jam. Roll the cake up around it.
• Wrap the Arctic roll in a new sheet of baking parchment and a layer of foil too. Return to the freezer for a further 20-30mins, then unwrap, slice and serve immediately.