The sweet smell of Christmas Baking!
Ever since I was a little girl I have made Christmas Mince Pies. We use a home made pastry recipe and jars of Robertson's Fruit Mince. I have about 12 flat pastry pie trays, that make the perfect size mouthful of crumbly pastry and delicious warm Christmas mince.
I always make the pastry first and put it into the fridge for an hour or so to firm, just a little. Then using a very old Tupperware shape cutter, cut out a round shape for the base and a star for the top. Mine went missing on our return from the USA so I had to use Mom's this year.
This year was wonderful, as all three children for the very first time were completely involved. I rolled out the pastry and cut the shapes. Elizabeth filled them with fruit mince. Sarah put the tops on them and Matthew painted them with egg white and was in charge of getting them into and out of the oven. Also the photography!
The house fills with warm Christmas smells, we all pinch pieces of raw pastry to eat, a Christmas CD echoes through the house and we laugh and chat. This year our production team was so efficient that we managed to make 10 dozen - yes 120 mince pies in just over 1 hour. It was wonderful. Of course, we only ended up with 9 dozen after all the tasting that occurred, just to make sure they were well cooked!
Below is the recipe for you if you want to give this special family favourite of ours a go!
Christmas Mince Pies.
2 cups flour
225g butter or margarine
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 Tablespoons cold water
1 Tablespoon vinegar
Yolk of an egg
(Keep the white for painting the tops)
Rub in butter with flour and salt, beat egg yolk, vinegar and water together.
Add to dry ingredients and make a dough.
Wrap and place in fridge for about an hour until firm.
Roll out on floured surface, cut out shapes with cookie cutter, and place in flat cookie/muffin tin.
Fill with fruit mince, use water to seal tops and paint with egg white.
Bake at 220 degrees (200 fan-forced) for 10-15mins or golden brown.
Enjoy with your family and friends.
1 comment:
Thank goodness you have printed the receipe as I can't find mine,now unfortunately I have to make some otherwise I will be in trouble, or I might just come up and eat YOURS !!!!
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