Wednesday 14 December 2011

Easy Mince Pies


I have not put our Christmas tree this year, Normally the tree is up and decorated the next day after Sinterklass feest on December 6th.
But this year as Mom is not there anymore, one doesn't feel like doing all this, last weekend when Shyama came home she asked hmmmmmmmm were is the christmas tree and I was like well I didn't had time to do it.
Didn't make a cake too this year like earlier years.
I know next year it will be better as they say always the first year is the most difficult .....

But then I coudn't resist to make these Mince pies for my blog today afternoon while I had nothing to do and it was too cold to go out, I was telling in my facebook, that I am making a mince pie but not because of the festive mood but just only for my blog.

I used good quality shop made Vegetarian Mince meat as I don't like the thought of suet etc in them.
And this recipe is so easy to make that I was really surprised and I was like I should make this recipe from now on every year.
I like a well filled pie so i added more filling.






Recipe Spurce: BBC Food by Ainsley Harriott.
Ingredients


140g/5oz cold butter, diced
225g/8oz plain flour
50g/2oz ground almonds
50g/2oz  caster sugar
1 orange, zest only
pinch of salt
1 egg yolk
1-2 tsp cold water
280g/10oz good quality mincemeat
1 egg, beaten
icing sugar for dusting


Preparation method


1.Preheat oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.

2.Rub the butter into the flour and add the almonds, caster sugar, orange rind and salt until the mixture is a bit crumbly.

3.Combine mixture with the egg yolk and 1-2 teaspoons of water until it forms soft dough, then put it into a plastic bag and chill for 20 - 30 minutes.

4.Roll out the pastry to a thickness of 2-3mm(0.1in) and cut out about 18 rounds measuring 7.5cm(3in) with a pastry cutter.

5.Place in lightly greased patty tins and spoon the mincemeat evenly into the pies.

6.Re-roll the leftover pastry and cut out round lids, stars or other festive shapes to fit on top of the mincemeat.

7.Lightly brush the pastry tops with the beaten egg and bake in the oven for 12 - 15 minutes until golden.

8.Remove from oven and leave for a few minutes before removing from tins and cooling on a wire rack.

9.Dust with icing sugar.



26 comments:

Angie's Recipes said...

They look so tempting! I might have to just make some mincemeat for those pretty tartlets.

Nupur said...

never thought Mince pies were so easy to make.. Thanks for sharing :)

Love the presentation and step by step description..

Gloria Baker said...

Look lovely Final always I wanted make mince pies, are so nice:)

Jaya M said...

Fin,
You know what I am the only one eating mince pie in my family..tried making it just once..didnt came out good so always end up getting the boxed ones from M&S ..yours look so delicious..hugs and smiles

Anh said...

lovely! I love mince pie!

Home Cooked Oriya Food said...

looks lovely!
I know what you mean in the 1st few years.. time will heal! Best Wishes...

Sushma said...

i loved the shape. thanks for sharing the recipe.

Mama's World said...

Very nice!! especially when its baked.. ur like wow!!
:-)
http://gharkhana.blogspot.com/

Cakelaw said...

Oooh, lovely - I do like a mince pie. I am not making them this year.

Bong Mom said...

Looks so good. What is Vegetarian MinceMeat ?

M D said...

Mince pies look extremely tempting! Yum yum!

Spandana said...

I never made pies before... these look so delicious that I regret not making them :-)
I cant wait to try them... they are a treat :-)

Finla said...

Bong Mom traditional mincemeat is made with meat and suet and the vegetarian ones are without them.

Laavanya said...

I think making mini pies using a muffin tin is a great idea.. can't wait to try that out sometime.

Santosh Bangar said...

pies are cut and delicious
1st time here do visit my blog

Priya Suresh said...

Damn cute pies,looks elegant and absolutely divine..

Sarah said...

these look awesome! interesting recipe... sugar and almonds in a mincemeat pie... are these savoury or slightly sweet?

Finla said...

Sarah this is sweet one.

Miri said...

For the longest time I thought mince pies were savoury and didnt know that mince meat referred to dried fruit! Lovely pies and yes Mom would be happy you baked a bit :)

Chitra said...

Lovely pies.looks delicious :)

Ivy said...

These look so beautiful. I love the shape of these pies and then why only fill them with mincemeat?

Sushma Mallya said...

it looks so good, perfectly done..

Dee said...

Lovely recipe....I am a bit confused about the minced meat bit..you dont have to cook it separately?

cheers,
D
www.dayeetasworld.blogspot.com

Finla said...

Dayeeta I used pre made minch which we can buy from the shop.

Gayathri NG said...

Fabulous pies n cute shapes perfectly done...

Maria♥ said...

Those mince pies are so pretty!

Maria
x