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.