Wednesday, 24 December 2025

Christmas Eve

For the annual ramblings, scroll up to the 14 December entry

Quite a bit of baking hereabouts: yesterday we did a batch of mince pies, using some of Mary Berry’s tricks.  We cut the mincemeat with chopped apricots, which makes the filling a bit less cloying.  We added orange zest to the pastry, but decided this year to use the Good Housekeeping shortcrust rather than Mary’s much richer dough, which was a pain in the arse to roll last year.  Today we’ve knocked out a modest batch of sausage rolls, so we’re all set up for late lunch/afternoon tea tomorrow.

Incidentally, the Good Housekeeping basic cookery book - a present from Mum over 50 years ago - continues to serve us well.  I remember being amused to see a copy at the brocante in Ribaute some years ago.  I ought to have bought it:  my copy is starting to fall to bits, and the slip cover gave up years ago.

Well, I may post again before the end of the month, es sei denn I wish everyone all the best for the coming year.


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