Advent Calendar - Day 21 - Mincing Words
Photo © Rob Jones
OK so I admit it, I have a thing about Mince Pies. Pies generally to be honest. But obviously at this time of year, it’s Mince Pies.
They always have to be shop bought. Mainly because, even though they were part of the Christmas baking process at home, they never really turned out very well. I think maybe because there was never enough filling.
Mince Pies appear to be limited to the English speaking world. I haven’t seen anything similar on my travels in Europe, which is ironic because most of the ingredients seem to have come to this country along with the returning European crusaders, although the prospect of ranks of men in gleaming armour, stopping at a roadside hostelry for some mead and a mince pie is hard to picture.
They brought the recipes back because they contained Christian symbolism - the meat, fruit, spices - representing the gifts brought by the wise men. Some say 12 ingredients to represent the 12 Apostles.
Originally they were rectangular - to represent the manger, and were topped with a little pastry effigy of the baby Jesus.
Early pies contained meat - and were called Mutton Pie, Shrid Pie and Christmas Pie. There’s one 1615 recipe that calls for a whole leg of Mutton plus Suet, Pepper and Salt, Cloves, Mace, Currants, Raisins, Prunes, Dates and Orange Peel.
The Roundheads in the Civil War thought they were a bit showy, and they were banned. They were seen as an abomination. Along with Rosemary and Bay, Plums and Spice-broths. One writer described it as “an Invention of the Scarlet Whore of Babylon.”
The Victorians rebranded them as a sweet, including lots and lots of sugar.
And so it’s come to this. 6 Mince Pies for a pound in almost every supermarket.
There is one urban myth that suggests it’s illegal to eat them on Christmas Day itself. Fake News.
Personally I like the middle ages tradition of eating one Mince Pie every day from Christmas to Twelfth Night. You’ll then have happiness for the next 12 month.
I’m willing to give it a go.
Fans should head on over to the Mince Pie Club for help and advice at this difficult time.
RJ
