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Guy W
i want to make my own mince pies this year but not sure about the pastry
Answer
N.B. This pastry is baked at 190°C for 15 minutes approximately. If your oven is inclined to be hot, then reduce the temperature to 180°C.
It can be baked a little longer, but after 15 minutes or so can scorch rapidly, so needs careful watching by the minute, which with a glass oven door, is of course no problem.
I prefer to dust my mince pies with icing sugar on a wire rack, before they are put on the platter. You may prefer to dust the plate too. Fresh holly leaves for decoration can look very attractive too with a dusting of icing sugar.
Preheat oven to 190°C, gas No. 5 or 375°F
Pre butter 24 patty tins. A similar muffin tray might be suitable as long as it was not too deep. I use 2 half dozen patty trays and 1 full dozen patty tray. This way you can freeze 2 half dozens (raw or cooked) and pop them in the oven quickly if someone calls in at short notice. It is well worth buying spare tins just for mince pies for every Christmas.
Ingredients - Almond Shortcrust Pastry
10 oz plain flour
6 oz butter
3 oz icing sugar
1 oz ground almonds
1 egg yolk
3 tablespoons milk
The grated rind of a half a lemon - use the other half in the mincemeat mix.
Pastry Method by Hand
Before making the pastry sift the flour into a large bowl and cube the butter. Separate the egg from the white and reserve the white for a topping variant. In a cup, mix the egg yolk with 2 tablespoons of the milk.
With your fingertips, rub the cubed butter into the sifted flour and ground almonds. Make sure the butter is just up to room temperature so you won't have to overwork the pastry. Add the icing sugar and grated lemon rind. Mix lightly.
Now add the egg yolk with 2 tablespoon of the milk mixture to the flour mix and form into a dough. If needed dribble on another 1 tablespoon of milk until you get a rough dough bind. The gluten in all flours varies so you will need to judge your flour. Much depends on the size of your egg yolk too.
Next turn the dough onto a floured work surface and just knead very lightly a few turns so it all joins together and the cracks disappear. Turn the mixing bowl upside down to cover the pastry and leave for about 10 minutes whilst you jazz up the bought mincemeat. This allows the pastry to rest.
Processor Method
I mostly make this delicate almond shortcrust by hand. On occasion I do whiz the dry ingredients in a food processor then I tip the dry mixed contents into a large bowl and add the wet ingredients manually, binding first with a knife and then with my hand. I find this works best for me rather than overworking the paste in the processor.
Mincemeat Mix
For your Christmas mince pies, buy a 1lb pot of good quality mincemeat and add these extra ingredients below to reduce commercial sweetness. This will easily put your mincemeat into the luxury category. I use Robertson's Mincemeat. I've tried others including many so called luxury mincemeats, but I still like either homemade matured mincemeat or extras added to Robertson's brand mincemeat.
Do remember that if you make totally homemade mincemeat you must leave it for at least a week or two to macerate and mature. Starting with a pot of prepared mincemeat and titivating it up as I do here, speeds up the process.
Use added extras from your store cupboard. I think the most essential added extra is a medium cooking or a large eating apple either coarsely grated or chopped fine. This very basic extra will always cut the sickly sweetness of bought mincemeat. To enhance this even more, use a zester to remove the rind of a half or full lemon and if you have an orange nearby use the rind of that too. You can be flexible. No orange or lemon - don't fret over it. Mix the apple and grated rinds into the mincemeat.
Now add the luxury extras.
Next take about 1 tablespoon of blanched almonds, walnuts, pecans or hazelnuts and chop the nuts into small bits. Any of these nuts work well, but do avoid using peanuts or cheap nut mixes, which are primarily peanuts. Take 2 tablespoons of natural red glace cherries and cut each into 5 or 6 pieces.
Don't worry if you are short on the ingredients anything extra you add makes for variety. You can also add 3 or 4 chopped apricots or figs if you wish.
If you especially like tart tastes then you could instead omit the cherries and may prefer adding about 3 or 4 cranberries to each pie as you assemble the pies. Try some experiments based on your own taste preferences. For example although I like dessert dates, I don't like them in my mince pies!
Now add 1 tablespoon of brandy, rum or sherry to zap up your bowl of 'luxury' mincemeat. (I was going to type 2 tablespoons, but I know some of you won't be able to resist adding an extra tablespoon!) Add more than two to this already moist mix and it really all will be too wet. But some juicy wetness can be absorbed as we will use a teaspoon of ground almonds on each
N.B. This pastry is baked at 190°C for 15 minutes approximately. If your oven is inclined to be hot, then reduce the temperature to 180°C.
It can be baked a little longer, but after 15 minutes or so can scorch rapidly, so needs careful watching by the minute, which with a glass oven door, is of course no problem.
I prefer to dust my mince pies with icing sugar on a wire rack, before they are put on the platter. You may prefer to dust the plate too. Fresh holly leaves for decoration can look very attractive too with a dusting of icing sugar.
Preheat oven to 190°C, gas No. 5 or 375°F
Pre butter 24 patty tins. A similar muffin tray might be suitable as long as it was not too deep. I use 2 half dozen patty trays and 1 full dozen patty tray. This way you can freeze 2 half dozens (raw or cooked) and pop them in the oven quickly if someone calls in at short notice. It is well worth buying spare tins just for mince pies for every Christmas.
Ingredients - Almond Shortcrust Pastry
10 oz plain flour
6 oz butter
3 oz icing sugar
1 oz ground almonds
1 egg yolk
3 tablespoons milk
The grated rind of a half a lemon - use the other half in the mincemeat mix.
Pastry Method by Hand
Before making the pastry sift the flour into a large bowl and cube the butter. Separate the egg from the white and reserve the white for a topping variant. In a cup, mix the egg yolk with 2 tablespoons of the milk.
With your fingertips, rub the cubed butter into the sifted flour and ground almonds. Make sure the butter is just up to room temperature so you won't have to overwork the pastry. Add the icing sugar and grated lemon rind. Mix lightly.
Now add the egg yolk with 2 tablespoon of the milk mixture to the flour mix and form into a dough. If needed dribble on another 1 tablespoon of milk until you get a rough dough bind. The gluten in all flours varies so you will need to judge your flour. Much depends on the size of your egg yolk too.
Next turn the dough onto a floured work surface and just knead very lightly a few turns so it all joins together and the cracks disappear. Turn the mixing bowl upside down to cover the pastry and leave for about 10 minutes whilst you jazz up the bought mincemeat. This allows the pastry to rest.
Processor Method
I mostly make this delicate almond shortcrust by hand. On occasion I do whiz the dry ingredients in a food processor then I tip the dry mixed contents into a large bowl and add the wet ingredients manually, binding first with a knife and then with my hand. I find this works best for me rather than overworking the paste in the processor.
Mincemeat Mix
For your Christmas mince pies, buy a 1lb pot of good quality mincemeat and add these extra ingredients below to reduce commercial sweetness. This will easily put your mincemeat into the luxury category. I use Robertson's Mincemeat. I've tried others including many so called luxury mincemeats, but I still like either homemade matured mincemeat or extras added to Robertson's brand mincemeat.
Do remember that if you make totally homemade mincemeat you must leave it for at least a week or two to macerate and mature. Starting with a pot of prepared mincemeat and titivating it up as I do here, speeds up the process.
Use added extras from your store cupboard. I think the most essential added extra is a medium cooking or a large eating apple either coarsely grated or chopped fine. This very basic extra will always cut the sickly sweetness of bought mincemeat. To enhance this even more, use a zester to remove the rind of a half or full lemon and if you have an orange nearby use the rind of that too. You can be flexible. No orange or lemon - don't fret over it. Mix the apple and grated rinds into the mincemeat.
Now add the luxury extras.
Next take about 1 tablespoon of blanched almonds, walnuts, pecans or hazelnuts and chop the nuts into small bits. Any of these nuts work well, but do avoid using peanuts or cheap nut mixes, which are primarily peanuts. Take 2 tablespoons of natural red glace cherries and cut each into 5 or 6 pieces.
Don't worry if you are short on the ingredients anything extra you add makes for variety. You can also add 3 or 4 chopped apricots or figs if you wish.
If you especially like tart tastes then you could instead omit the cherries and may prefer adding about 3 or 4 cranberries to each pie as you assemble the pies. Try some experiments based on your own taste preferences. For example although I like dessert dates, I don't like them in my mince pies!
Now add 1 tablespoon of brandy, rum or sherry to zap up your bowl of 'luxury' mincemeat. (I was going to type 2 tablespoons, but I know some of you won't be able to resist adding an extra tablespoon!) Add more than two to this already moist mix and it really all will be too wet. But some juicy wetness can be absorbed as we will use a teaspoon of ground almonds on each
How can i get my custom earth-sheltered Luxury housein Mesa ,AZ sold fast?
kishgarner
Hi ,
I have a luxury property in MESA,AZ .It is a custom earth sheltered home and majority of it is underground.It is horse property .But the realtors are not very much interested in marketing it and getting it sold as it is a rare kind of house in AZ.
The details of the property are as follows:---
I have a custom home to be sold at 759 G which is appraised at 850 G. The home is a custom home,earth sheltered, made of steel and concrete , custom hardwood floor with granite tops in kitchen ,toilets , fountain showers in the toilets , all fans remote controlled,digital dimmers ,plasma TV and a lot of more , chisseled granite tops , custom sinks and a lot more ............You must see it in person to appreciate the features that it is having because it is very much difficult to cover all it's features in a few lines...
The house also has horse rights and has 1.25 Acre land along with it, the land in the neighbourhood is worth 300-350 G an Acre .
Apart from these there are indonesian artwork in the house .the other details of the property are as follows..
This is an unique home .When it was built the Maricopa County Officials sent Choppers to get it pictured !!!!!!!!!
It is unique of it's kind .It has plenty of amenities in it ...It is constructed of steel and concrete and also has a 42" Plasma TV in it that is for free for the buyer.
Since the house is mostly under the earth it is extremely energy efficient.The details of the home are described as follows:
This home is a very unique property.
It is extremely energy efficient
It is an earth sheltered home
It is constructed of concrete and steel
It has recently been extensively remodeled and it is completely new from the floors on up
The lot is 1 acre plus
This property has horse rights and has no HOA
The home is 3100 square feet. It is a 4 BR/ 2.5 B with a loft. There is a 2 car garage.
There is also a 12' * 12' storage shed in the rear of the property. The front and back entrances are completely remodeled with granite.
kitchen---There are brand new stainless steel appliances throughout the kitchen. The kitchen also includes maple custom cabinets, as well as African Chesnut hardwood floors. The kitchen has granite counter tops, bar top and back splashes. The kitchen also includes a built-in pantry.
Bathrooms--The half bath on the main floor has a solid granite vanity and vessel sink. The 2ND bathroom has marble floors and travertine throughout. The shower features a soothing waterfall shower head.
The Asian-Zen master bathroom is truly amazing as it hosts an underground Indonesian rock waterfall in addition to a 320 gallon soaking tub. The Black Alor stone has been said to improve circulation. In addition there are slate floors, granite counter tops and granite vessel sinks with stainless steel faucets.
The den holds an amazing granite fireplace. In addition you will find a 42" plasma screen T.V.
42" PLASMA TV IS FREE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A lot of other home improvement products are free
The property is landscape ready and comes with a $10,000.00 landscape allowance (with acceptable offer) which may be used towards the closing costs as well.
The one of a kind all-granite wrap around deck is a perfect place for entertaining or relaxing with the family.
It offers gorgeous mountain views and the perfect place to watch the sunset
INTERESTING FACTS:
This is truly a home ahead of its time. When it was being built in 1983 the local news channel sent helicopters to photograph and ran a story on it as it is was quite a head turner then and even more of one now due to the improvements and upgrades.
100% FINANCING IS AVAILABLE- the buyer will have an answer from the loan officer within 15 minutes and final paperwork is estimated to take no longer than 10-15 days.
Photos at [url]http://picasaweb.google.com/kishaloy.bhowmick/Eaarthhome[/url]
Also the property is located in the mountainside areas where there are a lot of custom luxury properties and it is just 10 mins away from the lakes...
Now can you guys suggest me ways in order to market the property .My company is transferring me to CA and this propoerty which has been my dream home is becoming a pain in the neck.
Can you suggest me anyway of showing it on Realty TV or something so that i can get rid of this asap.
The address is 1123 N 104th St ,Mesa,AZ
Answer
There is a reason realtors are not interested much in this property. As much as YOU seem to love it, this is a strange property, and probably won't bring at market what you think it will.
In our area, we have similar issues with earth homes, geodesic domes, or any other type of residence which varies substantially from 'conventional'. These types of homes need special buyers who also like the same things you like. Do not expect a quick sale, and do not expect offers at anywhere near full price.
As much as I hate to tell you this, your idea of a 'dream home' is YOURS, and not necessarily everyone else's dream. These are the chances you take when you elect to build a house which is 'out of the ordinary'.
There is a reason realtors are not interested much in this property. As much as YOU seem to love it, this is a strange property, and probably won't bring at market what you think it will.
In our area, we have similar issues with earth homes, geodesic domes, or any other type of residence which varies substantially from 'conventional'. These types of homes need special buyers who also like the same things you like. Do not expect a quick sale, and do not expect offers at anywhere near full price.
As much as I hate to tell you this, your idea of a 'dream home' is YOURS, and not necessarily everyone else's dream. These are the chances you take when you elect to build a house which is 'out of the ordinary'.
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Title Post: how do you make shortcrust pastry for mince pies?
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Rating: 98% based on 9457 ratings. 4,7 user reviews.
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Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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