Mmmm Tasty

Yesterday morning I decided I wanted to make some mincmeat pies. I decided this at 11am and I have to be at work for 2pm so a bit of a challenge. But you know that way when you get a bee in your bonnet and you just have to go for it, well that was how it was. 

 I'm not usually very good at making pastry - they say that you are either good at pastry or sponges. Something to do with the temperature of your hands. Apparently you need cold hands to make good pastry, well my hands are of the hot variety.

 So I gathered all my ingredients - flour, butter, sugar, egg yolk, cold water and mincemeat

 Sifted flour into bowl

Added cut up butter to the flour and mixed into breadcrumbs -I cheated using my mixer. ;)

Then I added an egg yolk mixed with 2 teaspoons of cold water. Made it into a dough, wrapped it in clingfilm and put in fridge for 30 minutes.

Got mincemeat ready. Roll pastry out and using a pastry cutter cut pastry into rounds. Put these rounds into a bun tray and add the mincemeat. Make sure to cut enough pastry rounds for the tops of the pies.  I tried something different and made stars and reindeers for the tops.  Brush the top with egg wash. Pop them in the oven for 25 minutes.

And there you have it. How do you like my reindeers (Karen had a reindeer cutter which did the job brilliantly)

And there you have it and you know what - they were delicious if I do say so myself and the pastry was perfect. I may just make more of these at the weekend.

Oh, and I managed to finish making them and tidied the kitchen up in plenty of time for work.  
Success!!!!  :))