Sunday 12 December 2010

Traditional Holiday dessert in the UK


Mince Meat Pies

Mince pies have been eaten as part of the traditional British Christmas since as the 16th century. Then they were made of meat but are now made with sweet mincemeat: a mixture of dried fruit, sugar, spices and brandy(brandy is optional). Home made mincemeat is quick and easy to make:

8oz flour
Pinch of salt
4oz butter cubed
2-3 tbsp cold water
mince meat go here for recipe
powder sugar.

Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean bowl.
Rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs, working as
quickly as possible to prevent the dough becoming warm.
Add the water to the mixture and using a cold knife stir until the dough binds together, add more cold water a
teaspoon at a time if the mixture is too dry.
Wrap the dough in Saran wrap/Clingfilm and chill for a minimum of 15 minutes, up to 30 minutes.The dough can
also be made in a food processor by mixing the flour, butter and salt in the bowl of the processor on a pulse setting.
When the mixture resembles breadcrumbs, add the water, slowly, through the funnel until the dough comes together
in a ball. Wrap in Saran wrap/ Clingfilm and chill as above.
Dust a work surface lightly with a little flour and roll out two thirds
of the pastry to 1/8"/3mm thick. Cut circles
3"/7.5cm of pastry to line the cups pf a standard muffin or bun tray, don't worry if the pastry doesn't come to the
top.
Fill the pastry lined tins 2/3 full/ approx 1 heaped tsp with mincemeat.
Roll out the remaining pastry to the same thickness and cut smaller circles to fit as lids on the tarts or to be decorative, cut stars or other fancy shapes.
Dampen the edges of the tart bases with a little cold water and press the lids on. Make a small hole in the surface of
each pie with a small sharp knife to allow the steam to escape (you can omit this is using stars).
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 mins or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the powder sugar.


At first we were hesitant to give this dessert a try but it has become one of my favorites at Christmas time. Husband and kids can't get past the word meat in this dessert to give it a try:)





Honestly, I have never made this recipe because quite frankly it is easier to buy it in the store. I am not a baker by nature. If you do give it a try let me know how you do:)

Be sure to link up your blog to the NO ORDINARY BLOG HOP and share you journey. Tracy, Lynda and I look forward to following you and reading your posts. Click the button at the top of the post.

19 comments:

  1. Thanks for the mince meat Pie education! These look great :) I can't say I have had them before!
    Clicked a vote for you today and hope you are having a blessed Sunday! :)

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  2. LOL! I'm in the same category as your husband and kids, but my dad loves the stuff. It is so interesting hearing about the different Christmas traditions in England.

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  3. Stopping in to say "Hi" :) Clicked a vote for you today :) Have a great Monday and week. We are done on Friday with our homeschool classes. How about you? Do you take a Christmas break also?

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  4. Hi Maureen,
    If you like raisins you will like mince meat pies just have to get past the word meat:)

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  5. Hi Tracy,
    We were suppose to be done but with my youngest being ill for 2 weeks we are so far behind on the things I wanted to accomplish. So we will probably go until the 23rd:(. Then take the week between Christmas and New Year off.:)

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  6. It looks as though I forgot to leave a comment yesterday. I voted for you then and today. I have tried mince meat pie, store bought and homemade, and can say that it is a different taste. My mom liked the store bought ones, but said mine needed some work. lol It is a good thing there is something out there for everyone.

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  7. Hi Lynda maybe you can try this recipe:) There is some taste differences among the store bought mince meat pies. Some I like better than others

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  8. Oh yes with English inlaws we have the most delightful Fruit Mince Pies (I leave out the meat as it turns meoff too) from DH's Grandmother YUM!

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  9. I haven't had mincemeat pie in years! My aunt made the best ever. Thanks for a post that takes me back to some happy memories!

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  10. HI Kylie and Renee,
    Glad this post brought back memories for each of you. i will miss them once we head back to the states (will be a few years) maybe I should learned to bake them after all:)

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  11. thanks for stopping by my blog and I love this ,im going to try make my own:-)

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  12. I am always up to trying new recipes. This one may have to be cooked soon! Thanks for sharing. Stopping by from the Hip Homeschool Hop!

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  13. Thank you for the CHRISTmas card, Anna-Marie. It is just beautiful. I voted for you. =)

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  14. Hi Bronwyn and Joy,
    Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Have a Great Christmas

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  15. Your welcome Lynda, did you get the crackers yet?

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  16. HI Anna-Marie!
    Saying Hi and I clicked votes for you today! Thank you also for the nice Christmas Card you sent! I forgot to tell you I received it along with the fun crackers :) Have a blessed day! My hubby's sick now and I'm hoping no one gets sick between now and Christmas!

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  17. Mincemeat pie has been a tradition in my family my whole life. We tease the new family additions that they can't stay if they don't like mincemeat (most of them don't like it anyway). I was beginning to think we were the only people on the planet that ate mincemeat!

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  18. Hi Donna,
    Thanks for stopping by. If people can get past the meat and just try it they will be surprised at how good it is. especially topped with double cream:)

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  19. Hello from England! Just to add to all this, that over here, we just tend to call them 'mince pies' and they are, as said, a mainstay of the British Christmas. I also eat mine hot with cream, it's the only way really! :) It's a very rich, acquired taste I think, and you don't want to eat TOO many! (Three little ones is my very limit)

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