better-than-bought sausage rolls

I have a  weakness for pastry - especially sausage rolls. So nothing annoys me more than when I resist the urge, buy them, and look inside at the meat and think, hmm what is that hard gristly thing, is that animal or vegetable and are those black things herbs? Ughh filth. So I made it a bit of a mission this week to try and make them myself. This easy recipe is the result of my weeks testing, and makes sausage rolls that are pretty healthy and so delicious. Best of all you know what's in them.

Ingredients 

500g quality sausage/pork/chicken or veal mince. (I used pork) 

1 cup of fresh breadcrumbs (day old bread) 

1cup of milk (soak breadcrumbs in milk) 

3 eggs

1tbs finely chopped sage 

1tbs finely chopped basil 

1tbs finely chopped thyme  

1 carrot  (grated)

1 zucchini (grated)

1 small apple (grated, keeps mixture moist)

1 brown onion (grated)

Salt and pepper

4 sheets of puff pastry 

1 tbs sesame seeds

Tomato sauce, to lather on top 

Notes: 
Use paper towel to squeeze out excess moisture from veggies, otherwise mixture is too runny.

If using dried herbs only add 1tsp

Method

1/ Preheat the oven to a hot 180-220°C (depending on oven strength) and line a few trays with baking paper

2/ Combine all the ingredients (minus 1 egg and pastry) then blend together in a food processor

3/ Slice each pastry sheet in half so you have 8 rectangles and place on a lightly floured surface. Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions and spoon evenly down the center of each pastry rectangle

4/ Fold one edge of the pastry over the filling, stretching it slightly as you go. Fold the other pastry edge over the top to overlap and form a seam and press down gently to seal. Turn the rolls over and place on the baking trays (seam side is down)

5/ Cut each roll into 4 or 5 segments and make a small slits in the top (because they burst otherwise and it's not pretty). Cover with glad wrap and put in the fridge for 30 minutes

6/ Remove from fridge. Brush the tops with the lightly whisked remaining egg, sprinkle with sesame seeds and bake for around 30 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through