I’ve realized that I have a complete and utter addiction to mince pies. Luckily this addiction only comes to the fore in the run up to Christmas but during my recent trip to the UK, that’s all I wanted to do, eat mince pies and as many as I could lay my hands on. You can keep Christmas puddings, Christmas cake, satsumas, they’re all very nice but for me mince pies hail the festive season.
I didn’t realize I suffered from this addiction until last year. It was my first year in the US for Christmas and I really missed them. A friend brought out a pack of Waitrose mince pies, upon request, in October and I lovingly ate one a week from mid-November onwards. Luckily no one else in the family likes them, so I kept them all to myself.
This year, because of my trip back to the UK, I’m prepared. I have 36 mince pies sitting in my fridge ready for December, I can have one a day and then treat myself to a few extras in the final days before Christmas. (Apart from the fact that I’ve started early, I’ve just had one, writing the post was too much.) Come Christmas Eve, that’s it. I can’t eat any more, not until the next festive season begins.
That’s not enough though; I want to buy them in cafes when I grab my latte. I don’t want pumpkin cake or peppermint somethingorother. I’d like a nice mince pie.
Clearly in the past I didn’t realize how high my mince pie consumption was during the month of December. For someone who’s generally quite good about avoiding cakes and treats, come the Yuletide period, all bets are off and it’s more a case of how many can I scoff?
If you’ve never had them, they’re individual pies with mincemeat inside. The mincemeat is made from dried fruit, sugar, alcohol and spices mixed together and left to fester in a jar for many months to let all the flavors infuse. Just wonderful. They just say Christmas to me.
So that’s what I’ll be doing in December, treasuring my mince pie moments. If I look like I’ve put on a few extra pounds, please be polite and ignore them, I promise I’ll get rid of them in the New Year.
It’s true, funny how you don’t miss something until it’s gone.
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The Union Jack fish and chip shop on 17th Street sells them, as does the 7/11 on Yorktown and Brookhurts in HB (in fact, their back will covers all the delights from home including proper sausage rolls, bacon, meat pies etc).
Glad you have a stash of them to nibble on this season! That’s forward thinking.
Ah, another disgusting brit.
My husband made his Christmas cake ages ago, and it’s sitting festering in the cupboard. He also loves his mince pies which he imports into Belgium.
Hahaha! I made a “fresh” mince pie for Thanksgiving this year in order to practice before I head to England for Christmas– using fresh apples, but dried fruit soaked in brandy. It went over with a…..thud. It sure made the house smell nice, though!
Oh for a Tesco or even better an M&S mince pie. In fact I think my first son must be part mince pie as Marks and Spencers was next door to my work and I could not get enough of them.
My problem though is that British food to me does not taste as good so far from home. Maybe it is the lack of our Brit weather or maybe it is not the same without putting the kettle on (don’t even own one over here).
Whatever the reasons were you have made my mouth water and as I will be near the Union Jack soon (my favorite hair salon ‘Shanghai’ is next door) I without a doubt will be picking up some.
Maybe we shoould have a mince pie throwdown!
Oh no – I didn’t realise Americans don’t have mince pies! I’m only just recovering from hearing they don’t really eat Christmas pudding….
Ok now you have my mouth watering. Better get down to Cost Plus World Market to buy a jar of overpriced mincemeat, so I can make some. And yes, Nappy Valley – mincemeat and mince pies are really hard to get hold of. Crackers can be too. So if you see any – nab them PDQ!
British Dominion Club at the 22/Valley View has an assortment of Xmas goodies this time of year, including crackers and selection boxes. It’s membership only, but you can go for a visit 3 times before you’re required to join
Thanks for the tips Sue, I’d completely forgotten about that 7/11 in HB.
But, I have to agree with Corinne, buying them over here just isn’t the same as popping into Tescos.
Rachel, I insist that you find a Costa Coffee as soon as you arrive in the UK and have one of their mincemeat tarts!
sadly I am looking for fellow mince pie addicts – and finding them
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