Mince pie making

Apparently I have stars on the brain these days. I made mince pies today for the first Christmas party of the season tonight. This is how my mum always makes hers. Teeny tiny, with stars on top, perfect and moist little bite size pieces. Her special touch is lemon zest in the pastry. Yum yum.

There's no getting away from it, it's a fiddly business cutting the rich pastry but it was made easier this year by rolling it between two sheets of wax paper. 

 

I can't buy mince pies ready made locally and in a way I'm glad.  Making them reminds me of my Mum and how she makes several batches of these and freezes them every year.  I won't be home for Christmas this year, but carrying on my family's holiday traditions (no matter how small) feels very comforting and makes me feel closer to them. 

Happy weekend!

Comments

[Kimberly]

Such beautiful little pies, Lina! (I came over here from your photos of them on flickr.) Do you make you own mincemeat, or buy it?

[jodie]

Such sweet looking little pies. The stars on top are just perfect

[dottycookie]

We've been making tiny bite sized mince pies recently too. I find I no longer like the huge ones, and really dislike most shop bought ones - just a waste of calories!

I do like your stars.

[Petit Filoux]

They look delicious!

[Lina]

Thanks Kimberly. I'm not enough of a purist (=I'm far too lazy)to make my own mincemeat, luckily I've been able to buy it here in Canada.

[Lina]

Bite sized is perfect, too much pastry makes them too dry I find!

[Lina]

Thank you, they were delicious indeed!

[Lina]

Aren't they cute? I think people make them with stars on a lot in the UK.

[driftwood]

carrying on family traditions is what I love about Christmas, and that is the best way to make mince pies xxx we make them like that too, and my daughter used to call them star cakes, I was really sad when she learnt to call them mince pies xxxx

[Imene]

Baking is something that children really remember as they grow up. Maybe I should overcome my fear and start baking too.
I love the bite size pies. Great idea!

[Julie (little cotton rabbits)]

they are beautiful (you take such gorgeous photos too). It is lovely to have family traditions, especially when they make you feel closer to those you love x

[Nina - Tabiboo]

Those mince pies look divine - 'tis the season to get jolly!

Have a good one,

Nina xxxxxxxx

[Teresa]

Those look lovely!

[Jane Weston]

My father (being from England) brought the tradition of making mincemeat and pies with him. It is a very fond memory and even though I can very easily buy mince pies at Sainsburys, I love the process of making my own. (I put little stars on top too!)

[dagmar]

So pretty! Could anybody send me a receipe for both mincemeat and the pastry, please? Here where I live I cant buy it. Thank you!

[Lina]

Dagmer, this recipe for mince pies seems to be very popular (and quite similar to my mum's recipe: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/startoppedmincepies_90618.shtml
As for mincemeat - I have never made my own but I'm sure you could google a good recipe!

[Margo]

Oh, this is where I saw this darling mini pies decorated with stars and a dusting of powdered sugar. I was telling a friend about them over the weekend, and she wanted to give them a try. So glad to know whose blog I need to send her to.

[Susan from Missouri]

Such sweet pie!! I may have to try to make them, too. Just lovely. Working at a library, I would like to share a book - I have given it as gifts so many times. It is a Christmas book that tells a story, but there are no words, so there is no language or age barrier. It is called: A Small Miracle by Peter Collington. Perhaps your library will have it for you to take a peek. In anycase, blessings for a happy Christmas and warm and happy 2010.

[Susan]

I forgot to add... allrecipes.com is a super source for recipes. There is an ingredient search where you can select ingredients that you do want or don't want in your recipes. I find the review very helpful, too. You can also select the size of font size before printing out a recipes incase you don't want to wear your reading glasses when you cook or bake. I love making pies! happy baking!