Mince pies and when to eat them…

Mince pies are one of the few bakes that I still like to do, so homemade for me every time. But not until December. However, I think you should eat and enjoy any sort you like at any time you like.

AGAA4

I used to always wait till December but now if I want a mince pie I will have it. The season is quite short anyway. I don't deny myself an odd treat at my age.

Exactly. There is no rule in life that one can only eat certain things at a certain time.
For me it is open season on things like mince pies, Christmas (fruit) cake and hot cross buns.

We love mince pies but I think I will hold off buying them till mid November or maybe until we go near a M&S as their puff pastry ones are our favourites

Spice101

AGAA4

I used to always wait till December but now if I want a mince pie I will have it. The season is quite short anyway. I don't deny myself an odd treat at my age.

Exactly. There is no rule in life that one can only eat certain things at a certain time.
For me it is open season on things like mince pies, Christmas (fruit) cake and hot cross buns.

There is no rule, of course. But I do think that it spoils the enjoyment of each festival being different and the excitment of looking forward to certain customs, decorations, and specific foods.

As for fruit and veg, it makes total sense to eat in season as far as poss. So much better for the environment, minimum transport, etc, and it actually tastes wonderful. Give me British strawberries and cream in June, and then basta.

I don’t much care for shop mince pies - too much thick pastry. So I rarely buy them, and certainly not yet.

I make my own*, first batch usually on 1st December - with carols playing - King’s College choir - and very likely a tot of mulled wine too. ? ?
Last year I made 4 dozen before 1st Dec, though, for Gdcs’ school Christmas fair at the end of November.

*Main reason I don’t make any until then is that dh and I would be scoffing even more! ?? Once they’re cool enough, dh will put away several of the little trad ones in no time.

I start buying and eating them as soon as they’re available. A well known brand with butter shortcrust pastry and brandy in the fruit is my favourite.

Does anyoe make their own mincemeat?

My MIL used to. But I do pick good quality mince, with mostly fruit and less sugar, and cut with apple and a bit of brandy.

It's a bit like seasons- I do not want sun and Summer all round. I love variety, and times which feel so so special, for a variety of reasons. Traditions, decorations, weather, temperature and colours, and ... foods.

I only eat mince pies at Christmas, but I do cheat and indulge my love of Aldi or Lidl mini stollen as soon as they come in store. I excuse myself (I do know there's no need for excuses ) by saying we never had stollen when I was a child so I'm not breaking tradition.

Last year even though I’d bought a few different boxes I didn’t eat any. Just don’t know how that happened. Family managed to eat every one. Christmas cake on the other hand I think I consumed the majority of it.

I'm not keen on them so DH gets any that come into our house. I'm sure I saw them in Sainsbury's but resisted for him.

I still make my version of mincemeat , no suet , and some with veg suet

DH does our grocery shop and no doubt he will bring a box home as soon as he spots them - they will replace the hot crossed buns he still buys every week probably.

Fleurpepper

It's a bit like seasons- I do not want sun and Summer all round. I love variety, and times which feel so so special, for a variety of reasons. Traditions, decorations, weather, temperature and colours, and ... foods.

I'm with you.
Things aren't special if they're available all year and I like the way certain food traditions mark the seasons.
But guess we're all different.

Last night from M&S. very nice they were too.

Oh Rosie51 you’ve just reminded me of the utter deliciousness of Lidl Stöllen bites!

I made mincemeat once, it was in the cold pantry being 'fed' and stirred as per the recipe, unfortunately I had to try a spoonful too regularly, it never made it to mince pies.

Blossoming

Oh Rosie51 you’ve just reminded me of the utter deliciousness of Lidl Stöllen bites!

Don't tell anyone but we're on our second box already, and there's only been the two of us here ??

I don`t like shop bought mince pies, meaning the ones in little fancy boxes of about 6, but Curtis`s in town bake their own in the shop and I love them, eat `em all year round actually.

DH would certainty eat copious amounts of them all year round, the reason I have never attempted to make my own!

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202210/medium-135654-20221019-163346.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202210/medium-590329-20221019-163516.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202210/medium-575812-20221019-164125.jpg

I've got arthritis in my thumbs (too much knitting!).
My husband, who has cut his left hand (with a screwdriver) said he's help me make some mince pies.
This is the result, with orange cream cheese. ?
They look better in the photo actually.
They do taste good though

I love mince pies but we can't buy them here. My husband makes his own mincemeat and pies which are delicious. He won't make the pies until nearer Christmas though grrr

I bet they look 'tidier' than ours

I try to avoid buying them, because I love 'em, but they give me terrible heartburn.