What was traditionally in mince pies?
Mince pies were first served in the early middle ages, and the pies were quite sizeable, filled with a mixture of finely minced meat, chopped up fruit and a preserving liquid. Mincemeat originally came about as a good way of preserving meat, without salting, curing, smoking or drying it.
Why are they called mincemeat tarts?
Mince pies are called mince pies because traditional recipes included mincemeat. Back in the day, mince pies were still a festive treat served around Christmas time but they were filled with mincemeat, dried fruits, and a load of spices.
What is the tradition of eating the 12 mince pies?
They became a popular treat around the festive period thanks to a tradition from the middle ages, which saw people eat a mince pie for 12 days from Christmas day to Twelfth Night. Doing this was believed to bring you happiness for the next 12 months.
When did they stop putting meat in mincemeat pie?
Mince meat pie was given many names including “shred pie,” “mutton pie,” and “Christmas pye,” and was particularly loved in England. But the Puritans brought a stop to the fun – upon gaining power in the mid-17th century, they abolished Christmas and censured mince meat pie along with other “idolatries” of Catholicism.
Why is it called Pig pie?
When Fig Newtons first arrived in the Philippines, some local bakers (I think) thought the manufacturer was out of whack; imagine, misspelling “pig” as “fig” and so they made their version and “correctly” called it pig pie, a pastry roll filled with a paste of what I suspect is made of dough, lard, fried onions and …
What is the significance of mince pies at Christmas?
Why do we eat mince pies at Christmas? Mince pies were originally made to celebrate Jesus. They were oblong in shape to represent the manger that Jesus slept in as a baby and have a ‘pastry baby Jesus’ carved into the pastry. Traditionally one mince pie is eaten for the Twelve days of Christmas.
Why are mince pies associated with Christmas?
Its ingredients are traceable to the 13th century, when returning European crusaders brought with them Middle Eastern recipes containing meats, fruits and spices; these contained the Christian symbolism of representing the gifts delivered to Jesus by the Biblical Magi.
Why did mince pies change from meat to fruit?
However, the modern mince pie is filled with a mixture of dried fruit and spices that is called ‘mincemeat’ but there is no meat in the mixture at all. When the pies were made to be oval shapes they would represent the crib and the fillings would represent the gifts that the wise men brought Jesus.
How to make mincemeat tarts in the oven?
Place all the ingredients except the pastry in a non-reactive bowl, cover with a cloth and let sit for 48 hours at room temperature, seal the edges together with a little water; brush the tops with an egg white beaten together with 1 tbsp. milk; bake in a preheated 220° C (425° F) oven for about 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.
What kind of pastry do you use for mince pies?
Shortcrust pastry (used in this recipe) is a traditional mince pie case, but some like puff pastry. You can make quick, flaky mince pies by substituting thawed, frozen puff pastry. Is It Illegal to Eat Mince Pies on Christmas Day?
How big of a tin do you need to make mince pies?
The number of pies will depend on the size of cup you use. Dust a work surface lightly with a little flour and roll out 2/3 of the pastry to 1/8-inch thick. Cut circles to line the cups of your tin, don’t worry if the pastry doesn’t come to the top. Fill the pastry lined tins 2/3 full with mincemeat.
What’s the best way to make mincemeat pie?
Cut out stars from the Pie Crust and cover the mincemeat with the pie crust decoration. Brush a whisked egg yolk over the stars. Bake in an oven pre-heated to 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until the pie crust is golden brown.
