Mince Pies

I've done no baking for twenty years. I've always been short of time so it has been easier to buy cakes and pastries than to make them myself. Now I have time! Isn't retirement wonderful? I've made a few cakes of late, particularly Bara Brith a Welsh tea loaf, which have been well received so decided to make my own mince pies this Christmas.

I had to get the recipe book out as I couldn't remember how to make pastry! Anyway I got the equipment and ingredients and followed instructions. Midway, I remembered I could have used the food processor but I'm glad I did it by hand, it's truly my own work. First batch came out of the oven and did not look pretty!

I'd put too much mincemeat in them and it had all bubbled out and got slightly burnt! Only slightly though they are still edible! At least the pastry is nice and light and thin! Second batch are better, only half of them boiled over! Now I have a dilemma, do I give these to visitors or do I eat them ALL myself and do another even better batch? I have a dozen friends coming around for a Christmas get together next Monday so do they get these mince pies with burnt bits or do they get version 3?

Elvie