I never bake, I never make pastry, and I never handle sugar.
However, yesterday I managed to make some Mince Pies. The urge got to me, and I threw caution to the winds.
I bought the pastry, I bought the mincemeat, and I bought two new sets of cutters; circular and star-shaped. The only bit I really did was to 'assemble', but even so I'm quite proud of myself.
Verdict: Well, the pastry was a bit hard, and the filling much too sweet. So, 4/10 (I'm being generous).
However for enthusiasm, expectation, appearance, and seasonal effort, I give myself 10/10.
Well done but don't give up the day job. Hard pastry is caused by you mauling it with your hot hands and fingers.
ReplyDeleteWe did eat one each, but I think the others may go to ground.
DeleteOr a birthday treat for Billy?
DeleteI don't think dogs are allowed such delights.
Delete9/10 for effort. Perhaps leave pastry making to Lady M though?
ReplyDeleteAfter tasting mine she promised to make some of her own (from Scratch) which are superb.
DeleteThey may not get a Hollywood handshake, but they look very festive.
ReplyDeleteThey score well for good looks; shame about the taste.
DeleteI agree shop bought mincemeat can be terribly sweet. A grated cooking apple helps.
ReplyDeleteThey do look the business though.
My wife always puts grated apple into her mincemeat mix. Delicious.
DeleteThey look marvellous!! I make my own pastry and mincemeat so they're OK in taste. However the final result always looks rustic. The bases are always out of shape by the time they're pressed into the tin and the tops are an unrecognisable design.
ReplyDeleteWell done. They all get eaten whatever they look like, or taste like.
They looked good, but tasted awful. We'll replace them from M & S this morning.
DeleteWell done Crozier! Fresh mince pies baked at home are normally better than shop-bought ones. As your Latin teacher used to say: "Bonum conatus".
ReplyDeleteMincepious horribilis.
DeleteWell done Cro, they look great, but next time make your own filling. Shop bought is far too sweet and while you're at it, make your own pastry too!
ReplyDeleteI've learned my lesson.
DeleteThey do look very good. What a shame they didn't taste nice.
ReplyDeleteIt's years since I've made pastry and mincemeat from scratch, but made a few sausage rolls yesterday, using local supermarket ready rolled flaky pastry, which is excellent. With the left over pastry I made a mincemeat roll using Waitrose mincemeat (with a drop of brandy added!). It was delicious eaten hot, straight from the oven.
I wonder if flaky pastry would have been better, it certainly would have been lighter!
DeleteI hope the smell in the house was 10/10.
ReplyDeleteThey look very much like holiday treats.
ReplyDeleteI do not bake either...never. For pie crust, the "buttery/flaky" crust found at the grocery store is always great. Occasionally I make a meat pie, and this crust is excellent.
Yes, I think I should have bought 'flaky'. Next time! (if there is one).
DeleteThey do 'look' good...
ReplyDelete