Mince Pies Already!

[aquarius1984]

Had excuse enough to get cracking this week on some early Christmas treats, naturally had to get the Chefs working on the pastry and Paul filling them as we made some scoff for the weekend,

 

[aquarius1984]

1lb flour per mixer, 8oz Lard and water to mix.

 

[aquarius1984]

Love the retro junk look

 

[aquarius1984]

mixing

 

[aquarius1984]

rolling

 

[aquarius1984]

hands on

Paul sneaking around me as I cut the pastry out

 

[aquarius1984]

Trayed up

Paul did a fab job of filling with Mincemeat

 

[aquarius1984]

all filled expertly by Paul and awaiting the oven gas mark 7 or 220*c for 13 mins

 

[aquarius1984]

Would loved to have shown you the end result had the croud not munched them so quickly lol......

 

[frigilux]

Thanks for all the great photos. I have a question: What exactly is in mincemeat filling? I've heard that it was originally a mixture of meat and fruit, but that nowadays it's an all-fruit mixture.

 

[hoovermatic]

You're right it was originally a mixture containing meat and last Christmas I added some fillet of beef to my homemade mincemeat and I can confirm that it was to die for.

 

[toggleswitch2]

YUMMY!

Hey, hey hey hey, that scale has a pounds (weight) calibration!

Still odd to me that ingredients are weighed raher than by volume, but it makes sense in Europe to get aroud so many languages.

 

[kenb]

Those mince pies sure look good!

Steve, professional bakers and serious home bakers use scales even here in North America...

 

[beadsobleach]

Mincemeat

Looks wonderful, takes me back to my childhood in New England, my aunt would make mincemeat pies, still remember the aroma and taste, thanks

 

[aquarius1984]

Paul,

What is your recipe for homemade mincemeat?

I prefer the mixed fruit. peel, apple, unripe pear, cider (or maybe even a drop of Calvados LOL!) and mixed nuts variety - I dont really have a recipe just mix it as I feel.

Had I of time to make some up to mature this year I wouldnt of used the supermarket variant so it looks like that stuff will have to do this year.
Mind you it is far nicer than buying any of those ready made efforts as you can have the pastry any way you want it.

I dont think I could use steak in mine though!

Nor am I fond of those puff pastry things with sugar crystals glistening on top. Those incarnations remove the humble mince pie from its traditional roots I think.

Short crust all the way!

Whats your take on the whole subject of fruity Christmas goodies?
Rob

 

[hoovermatic]

I used Princess Delia's recipe and it was a bit good I can tell you. It is easy to make and keeps for so long that depending on ones penchant for mince pies, last for a few years. I can get you the one with steak in if you fancy it? I adore Christmas and all the goodies that it brings in the food department. I'm with you in the pastry department, prefer shortcrust to puff and avoid all the fussy M&S type varieties. Sadly this year Christmas will be cancelled for me as my partner died on Sept 27th following a burst appendix and subsequent problems. Am hoping to get away for a few weeks at the end of the year.

 

[filter-flo_rob]

Princess Delia!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah hah ... there's someone after my own heart! Her recipes are wonderful!

Rob.

http://www.deliaonline.com/

 

[hoovermatic]

Indeed, her complete cookery course bible is never far from hand!

 

[filter-flo_rob]

Doing a Delia, &c.

Hi Paul,

A very good friend of mine turned me on to her. I have several of her cookbooks, but unfortunately the video recordings of her are in a format that is different from your country.

One of the things I have learned from her is to weigh ingredients instead of measuring. This makes perfect sense as one cup of flour in hot humid weather weights more than one cup in cool dry weather. Her cookbooks are metric, but that doesn't matter as I've got a metric scale and metric measuring utensils as well.

Rob.

P.s. -- I LOVE anything made with mincemeat! Delia's Christmas cake is wonderful, and I love her Christmas cook book as well.

http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/the-classic-christmas-cake,1293,RC.html

 

[aquarius1984]

Delia a saint????

Something for a chuckle

 

[aquarius1984]

Chicken anyone?

not after she's mauled it to death

 

[aquarius1984]

I can imagine old Delia sat on a park bench with a bottle of white lightening too!

 

[jetcone]

I love cooking threads

Your pies remind me of my Mom's butter tarts must make those ASAP!!

Over here mincemeat traditionally had venison in it and it is good that way too!

Do you use COLD water for your short crust???

jon

 

[tlee618]

Jon, what are butter tarts?? sounds like something I would love!!!

 

[2drumsallergy]

Sorry to hear of your loss.

Hi Paul,
I am so sorry to read of your loss. My Mother almost lost her life to a burst appendix, I only just got her to hospital on time! She was very ill for a few weeks but thank God she came alright but I have a fair idea what you must have gone through with your partner.

I hope the new year is a better one for you.

Take care.
David