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Thursday 10 December 2020

Christmas : It Must Be Time For A Mince Pie !


The History Of Mince Pies

A mince pie is a fruit-based mincemeat sweet pie of British origin that is traditionally served during the Christmas season. Its ingredients are traceable to the 13th century, when returning European crusaders brought with them Middle Eastern recipes containing meats, fruits and spices.

Mince Pies, like Christmas Puddings, were originally filled with meat, such as lamb, rather than the dried fruits and spices mix as they are today. They were also first made in an oval shape to represent the manger that Jesus slept in as a baby, with the top representing his swaddling clothes. Sometimes they even had a 'pastry baby Jesus' on the top!

During the Stuart and Georgian times, in the UK, mince pies were a status symbol at Christmas. Very rich people liked to show off at their Christmas parties by having pies made in different shapes (like stars, crescents, hearts, tears, and flowers); the fancy shaped pies could often fit together a bit like a jigsaw! They also looked like the 'knot gardens' that were popular during those periods. Having pies like this meant you were rich and could afford to employ the best, and most expensive, pastry cooks.

Now they are normally made in a round shape and are eaten hot or cold. Many like to eat them hot with some ice cream, although having them with double (heavy) cream can be nice!

A custom from the middle ages says that if you eat a mince pie on every day from Christmas to Twelfth Night (evening of the 5th January) you will have happiness for the next twelve months!

On Christmas Eve, children in the UK often leave out mince pies with brandy or some similar drink for Father Christmas, and a carrot for the reindeer.
Above words from here and here

Now here is a variety of Mince Pie Recipe Suggestions

Easy Mince Pie Recipe, see here BUT 30 carbs per pie (not low carb)

Low Carb Mince Pies at The Low Carb Kitchen see here JUST 4 carbs per pie

Mince Pies, Made The Low Carb Way from a popular 2016 post see here 4 carbs per pie

Low Carb Mince Pie Anyone, a recipe suggestion from 2015 see here

Of course you may have your own favourite recipe, or perhaps be someone who doesn't like mince pies! If you do not like mince pies you may like a cupcake with orange frosting, more details on this post here


Dear reader, this blog offers a wide variety of recipe/food ideas, not all may be suitable for YOU. If you may have any food likes / dislikes, allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan

46 comments:

Tom said...

...this is something that I've NEVER had, so why start now?

Susan Kane said...

Oh, mince pie! I grew up making it! Here is my view of that:

https://thecontemplativecat.blogspot.com/2019/11/memories-will-stay.html

Hootin Anni said...

My mother made these for Christmas each year. I haven't had a mince meat pie in decades!

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

Mince pie always reminds me of Nanny. Thank you for the lower carb versions.

Lowcarb team member said...

Susan Kane said...
Oh, mince pie! I grew up making it! Here is my view of that:

https://thecontemplativecat.blogspot.com/2019/11/memories-will-stay.html

Hello Susan
Many thanks for the link.

All the best Jan

Christine said...

Now I am craving one, with ice cream, yum.

Martha said...

I remember my mother also talking about mince pie, I think she even made it, but I don't think I ever tried it.

Pom Pom said...

That's a great explanation of mince pies! Thank you! I shall try to like them.

Jenn Jilks said...

My dad used to make these!

Carla from The River said...

Thank you for sharing, I did not know the tradition. My mom was talking during our Thanksgiving about making a mince pie. :-)

My name is Erika. said...

I haven't had a mince pie in forever. Now I am thinking I should make one. Thanks for info, it was a fascinating read.

Emma Springfield said...

Oh I will definitely try this one. My mother made mince pies every year at Christmas. No one else liked them but they were soooooo good.

Jeff said...

I have enjoyed minced pies, but mostly the fillings I have had came from a jar.

https://fromarockyhillside.com

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

My grandmother made them from scratch every year when I was growing up. Now they have the mince ingredients in a jar (in the states).

baili said...

it comes to mind automatically that such pies or all kinds of fast foods were invented to facilitate armies or crusaders
it was nice to learn about mince pie dear Jan

custom about mince pie during Christmas season sounds amazing :)
blessings to you and family!

Valerie-Jael said...

Thanks for sharing! Valerie

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

I really enjoyed the history you shared about the origins of the mincemeat pies! How incredible those tables must have been with all the mincemeat creations on them from the finest pastry cooks! Thank you for sharing the links for mincemeat recipes. Always a delight to visit your blog, many blessings to you Jan!

Elephant's Child said...

It is years since I have made them. Given how much himself loves them you have put me to shame.

Joyful said...

We never really ate mince pies much when I was growing up but I do enjoy them on occasion. I buy them once in awhile to enjoy at this time of year. It's amazing the tradition goes back so far and has lasted through all these centuries.

Iris Flavia said...

I think it was 2017, at our Caravan Park in Madeley/Perth. A couple organized a Christmas party. With these pies, I thought of meat but they were sweet.
Yet, it was a wonderful evening, we sang Aussie Christmas songs and had a blast (as the mossies...).

Crafty Green Poet said...

Thanks for the historical tour of mince pies, very interesting!

Phil Slade said...

Not many can resist a mince pie with cream. Must admit, we are lazy and buy boxes of six for 39p. If we made our own we would probably eat more. That's our excuse.

aussie aNNie said...

Mmmm my mum, being of Russian born, used to make the best mince pies at Christmas with Brandy Sauce and a dab of icecream.... how I crave for one now. xx

Margaret D said...

Never made a mince pie but have made Shepherds pie...we don't have mince pies at Christmas and don't know of any one that does when I come to think of it..

Jo said...

I didn't like mince pies as a child and I've never tried one since but I'm going to bite the bullet and give one a go this year. I only discovered last year that I like Christmas cake so it could well turn out the same way.

linda said...

That's very interesting I didn't realise that mince pies had such a history. Everyone wants good luck right? so I need to eat one a day I think I'd better look at those low carb options, have a great weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

I have never tried minced pies, I think I prefer the fruit pies.
Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend!

Teresa said...

Se ve interesante. Besos.

Sara - Villa Emilia said...

💚🥧🎄🤗
Thank you very much for your comment, Jan!
I was extremely pleased to read Simo Häyhä is known in your country as well. :)
Stay safe!

Marco Luijken said...

Hello Jan,
That looks very well.
A nice idea to make for christmas.
You have made the recept and the post very cozy with the christmas details. Lovely!!

Many greetings, Marco

CJ Kennedy said...

I've never had mince pie.

Jules said...

I would be craving a mince pie right now, had I not just eaten one :)

Bill said...

My grandmother used to make her own mince pies and they were good.

pam nash said...

Hmmmmm - Christmas to Twelfth Night. I just might have to try one of your mince pie recipes!

carol l mckenna said...

Fascinating ~ looks yummy !

Live with love each moment,

A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Debbie said...

YuM!!! the pictures give me great ideas as to how to photograph my decorations!!

Divers and Sundry said...

I love mince pies!

Martha said...

Oh yes, I LOVE Mince Pie!

happyone said...

I've never had a mince meat pie but I do have a cake recipe with mince meat in it from my Grandmother. I make it every year at Christmas.

Victor S E Moubarak said...

COMPLAINT: Why can't we have mince pies all year round in supermarkets? Like turkeys? And drinks?

God bless.

Khaya Ronkainen said...

Yum, the Christmas mince pie! Back home in South Africa they are popular but no so much here in Finland. A nice write up on mince pies, by the way. You made me smile with this, "Very rich people liked to show off at their Christmas parties by having pies made in different shapes..."

Shari Burke said...

Bill has happy memories of his grandmother's mince pie. I never had it until a couple of years after we moved to Ireland, when a friend brought some to tea.

Jeanie said...

I have never made mince pie before and I don't know if it will happen this year -- but this looks like such a good recipe, it just might!

DVArtist said...

Wow I don't know how I missed this post. Yummmm minced meat anything and I am in.

Rose said...

Some of these sounds so good...

Magic Love Crow said...

My mom loves mince pie!!!