Well yesterday's tea was another herbal infusion, this time with goji berries, these are said to make you live to 200 which sounds crazy but the tea was pretty nice and yummy.
I know another thing that is very yummy....and it's not christmas without them....they go together like a cup of tea and a biscuit. Mulled wine and mince pies! In England it's easy, you go to Tesco, buy mince pies or a jar of mincemeat (note:mincemeat is not meat, it's a mixture of raisins, sultanas, brandy, and suet) and a pre made bottle of mulled wine, heat up and hey presto all ready. In the Bahamas however there are no mince pies and no mincemeat.
So, inspired by the brilliant tv programme The Great British Bake Off, I decided to have a go and make some. The result? Yummy lovely mince pies :)
Yummy plates of mince pies all ready for our mulled wine and mince pie soirée on Sunday!
They got the seal of approval from the taste testers (Jason and Brian), and after Jason said they were yummy I decided that was the best time to tell him I had used his 12 yr old whisky to soak the fruit in as I didn't have any brandy hehe!
This morning was a great time for a Christmassy breakfast, mince pie and a cup of tea (English breakfast in case your wondering).
So, as they are so yummy, and if you are ever on an island at Christmas time, or anywhere where people haven't yet discovered this sweet necessity at christmas and want to make some here is the recipe that I made up as I went along due to only having some ingredients!
Home made mincemeat recipe
( note: I don't measure, so just pour and mix away whatever you think or have available, improvisation is fine!)
Ingredients:
Mixed dried fruit of whatever you have: raisins,cranberries
Ground cinnamon and cloves if you have them
Softened butter (enough to coat them)
Some sugar, brown or if not white is fine
Grated zest of lemon, grated zest of orange
Juice of one orange
Fruit juice ( enough for the mixture to be moist)
Alcohol: I used 12yr old whisky as that is what I found in the cupboard, but traditionally you use brandy, or sherry, or you an use dark rum, really, anything you have. Amount: I used about one measure but I didn't measure so I just poured a bit, mixed it in, then poured a bit more for good luck! (Also, seen as its christmas you can also pour some into a glass and reward yourself for your hard efforts so far)
Mix all together, put into jars and leave for at least one day to allow the flavours to soak in, but you can leave it for 3 days or more.
That's it (and it smells amazing)
The mince pies
Heat oven to 375F
Make short crust pastry ( very easy)
1 cup of Butter, 2 cups plain flour, Pinch salt, Small amount of cold water
Rub butter into dry ingredients with hands, lifting to get the air in, pour small bits of cold water in to make a dough, kneed lightly, then roll out onto floured surface. If you don't have cookie cutters, like me, just use lids, glasses or whatever is round and is the right size. 2 sizes, a smaller one for the top.
In a bun tin, put the base in.then a spoonful of mincemeat. Dampen edges with milk them seal with a lid. Dampen top with milk. Make to small slits on lid with knife.
That's it, then put in the oven until golden brown. I have no idea how long as my oven here takes ages, should be around 20-25 mins.
Then invite friends over and eat with a cup of tea or some mulled wine!!
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