Mince pie

From ArticleWorld

A mince pie is part of British cuisine and can be either a meat pie or a sweet pie. Mince pies can also be called mince tarts and they are generally eaten during the Christmas holidays or over the New Year.

Description of a mince pie

Mince pies can be made by using either a sweet short crust pastry or a puff pastry. Until Victorian times the mince meat pie would have consisted of some type of spiced meat combined with some dried fruit. The mince pie has come so far that the meat only mince meat pie is considered a historical throwback. The filling for a mincemeat pie is now dried fruit such as raisins, cherries, apricots, cinnamon, nutmeg, walnuts, and almonds. Sometimes alcohol is added to a mince pie. Mince pies can be served either hot or cold, but when they are served hot the top of the pie can have a bit of cream or brandy. To enhance the flavor of the mince pie butter or a slice of melted cheese is sometimes added.

Mince pie folklore

Folklore claims that mince pie is a favorite food of Father Christmas and that one of two mince pies should be left out near the foot of the chimney along with a glass of brandy. In addition, carrots are to be left for the reindeer as well. English tradition states that the mince pie batter needs to be stirred clockwise. If the batter is stirred counterclockwise then, there will be bad luck in the coming year. It is still against the law to eat a mince pie on Christmas day. Mince pie should also have a star on top of them in order to represent the Christmas star which helped find Jesus.