Mince pies etc....

[Anna]

My wife has this rather old fashioned recipe, where you soak the fruit for three days in brandy before making mince pies or even Christmas pudding!!

Mary Berry says to soak the dried fruit in sherry (not brandy) for three days for Christmas cake. (Does anyone make their own mincemeat any more?)

One of my brothers once sent me a Fortnum's hamper for Christmas, I recall the Christmas pud was a lot lighter in texture and rather nice.

[Ferretfancy]

.

www.bidforwine.co.uk/auctions/show/22404

Thanks vinteuil, but I missed a bid ! Incidentally it's described as a flagon, but I think it was called a dimple bottle.

[Ferretfancy]

Meanwhile...


...back to mince pies.

Here's the answer: Aldi and Lidl mince pies beat Fortnum & Mason's in Which? taste test

OG

I bet they were subjected to an ageing test before being dropped from a height of twenty feet onto a concrete floor, scoring 67%

[BBMmk2]

Anna, Mrs.BBM does as does my mum!! :) 86 years young!!

[Barbirollians]

Always make your own mince pies - too much pastry in shop bought no matter how good they are .

Made mincemeat once - very nice but seemed to make far too much .

[BBMmk2]

STOP PRESS!!

Mrs BBM has been told that mr Kipling's mince pies withy brandy sauce inside, is a rather exceedingly good pie(

[Padraig]

STOP PRESS!!

Mrs BBM has been told that mr Kipling's mince pies withy brandy sauce inside, is a rather exceedingly good pie(

Beware Bbm! those store bought pies could lead on to "powder and store bought hair", and before you know it you'll be singing the blues!

But, moving on to "etc", I can report that two home made Christmas cakes have appeared, one yesterday and one today which is still wafting its magical aroma around and about. All credit to my good wife, though I did a bit of mixing.

Edit for Anna's attention. Never mind those television experts; when the cakes cool they are treated at intervals to infusions of sherry by way of small punctures in the top surface. That's what my wife does and she knows.

[Flosshilde]

Mine get liberally doused with brandy (is 'doused' right? it seems to imply that they are on fire, in which case dousing them with brandy wouldn't be a good idea).

[Barbirollians]

STOP PRESS!!

Mrs BBM has been told that mr Kipling's mince pies withy brandy sauce inside, is a rather exceedingly good pie(

The daily Telegraph did a major taste test of mince pies the other year and as I recall they came pretty close to last !

[Nick Armstrong]

The daily Telegraph did a major taste test of mince pies the other year and as I recall they came pretty close to last !

And they reported recently on the latest WHICH? test - Aldi and Lidl top!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/10462989/Cheap-and-cheerful-Discount-chain-Aldi-trumps-Fortnum-and-Mason-in-mince-pie-taste-test.html

Mr Kipling - nowhere....

[BBMmk2]

Beware Bbm! those store bought pies could lead on to "powder and store bought hair", and before you know it you'll be singing the blues!

But, moving on to "etc", I can report that two home made Christmas cakes have appeared, one yesterday and one today which is still wafting its magical aroma around and about. All credit to my good wife, though I did a bit of mixing.

Edit for Anna's attention. Never mind those television experts; when the cakes cool they are treated at intervals to infusions of sherry by way of small punctures in the top surface. That's what my wife does and she knows.

Sherry? Brandy Mrs BBM does!! :) Our cat goes wild when MrsBBM opens the bottle!! :)

[Nick Armstrong]

Brandy Mrs BBM does!! :)

Good Yoda impression, Bbm!

Our cat goes wild when MrsBBM opens the bottle!! :)

And you, naturally, remain totally calm....

[amateur51]

Good Yoda impression, Bbm!




And you, naturally, remain totally calm....

Top post - Caliban & Bbm, what a combo

[Barbirollians]

And they reported recently on the latest WHICH? test - Aldi and Lidl top!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/10462989/Cheap-and-cheerful-Discount-chain-Aldi-trumps-Fortnum-and-Mason-in-mince-pie-taste-test.html

Mr Kipling - nowhere....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/8966093/The-proof-of-mince-pies-is-in-the-eating.html

[amateur51]

As a type II diabetic, I MUST STOP reading this thread