Mince pies and festive treats

[Tenkaykev]

If you don't want to make one, look in your local Polish / eastern European shop. Failing that, Lidl do one as part of their Christmas range, although it's labelled as a poppy seed stollen. It's plenty decent enough for a shop bought one.

We're fortunate to have a wide variety of shops. Polish, Afghani, South African, etc. all just a walk or bus ride away. 😎

 

[numbnuts]

I buy two boxes of Polvorones for Christmas they are Spanish cake/biscuits
https://www.amazon.co.uk/El-Artesan...cd-a1c4-a4043aededf9&pd_rd_i=B00JF3BJGM&psc=1

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Ah, for me it's the taste of Christmas, being part Polish. That said, there's also a sponge cake type version where the poppy seed is mixed into the cake, and the whole is flavoured and iced with lemon. It's very nice.

I am part German, well, all of it really, but was brought up in Italy
I love German cakes, before internet I bought a few German cookery books when I visited.
I made the cake you mention, I thought it was lovely, but my colleagues at work weren't too keen.

Failing that, Lidl do one as part of their Christmas range

I'll have a look, thanks!

 

[Reynard]

I am part German, well, all of it really, but was brought up in Italy
I love German cakes, before internet I bought a few German cookery books when I visited.

Am also part German. I'm a bit bubble & squeak when it comes to ancestry

If you can get your mitts on a copy, I highly recommend "Das Bayerisches Kochbuch" - which has some lovely cakes and biscuits.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

If you can get your mitts on a copy, I highly recommend "Das Bayerisches Kochbuch" - which has some lovely cakes and biscuits.

Found a few on the Bay
Is it the blue one with a savory filled bread on the cover, or is it the white one with the pretzel and the white sausage on the cover?

 

[Reynard]

Found a few on the Bay
Is it the blue one with a savory filled bread on the cover, or is it the white one with the pretzel and the white sausage on the cover?

Mine's a bright blue one with a pork knuckle in a dish of sauerkraut on the cover! Mind you, there are at least thirty something editions, the original having been published in the 1930s.

It's by Maria Hoffman and Helmut Lydtin, published by Birken-Verlag, Munchen.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

They're in! (£2.99)

 

[MichaelW2]

My wife's Georgian christmas dish is chicken in walnuts. It's takes ages to prepare but is very good.
Honey walnut sweets are also a christmas thing.

 

[BrumJim]

I feel like a domestic goddess here. My son and I made the mincemeat in October. Hopefully there is enough for 3 years, as it gets better with age. And will be making mince pies merrily, as much as time allows, on the approach to Christmas and through the break using my own pastry, with the help of a food mixer.

Cake was also made in October (same team) and is now being fed reguarly with brandy. Might make my own marzipan coating this year, although drawing the line at making my own icing and apricot Jam.

Christmas pudding is a problem - I'm the only one in the family that enjoys it. I've got a home-made one in the cupboard that is a slightly scary number of years old, and another that is bought which is a year old.

 

[Reynard]

I feel like a domestic goddess here. My son and I made the mincemeat in October. Hopefully there is enough for 3 years, as it gets better with age. And will be making mince pies merrily, as much as time allows, on the approach to Christmas and through the break using my own pastry, with the help of a food mixer.

Cake was also made in October (same team) and is now being fed reguarly with brandy. Might make my own marzipan coating this year, although drawing the line at making my own icing and apricot Jam.

Christmas pudding is a problem - I'm the only one in the family that enjoys it. I've got a home-made one in the cupboard that is a slightly scary number of years old, and another that is bought which is a year old.

Christmas pudding keeps for ages. I buy them on clearance after the holidays and keep a stash. Mind, I adore Christmas pudding, so I might trot out one or two during the year as well. Not allowed to buy any this year as I have at least six. (I need to go check, how nuts is that!)

Last year's was a giant Tesco "Finest" one that had a BBE date of 2017. Must've been stupid sh*t cheap for me to buy a big one, as there's only two Humans here chez Casa Reynard. But it was still very nice nonetheless, and we really enjoyed it. I normally target the "serves four" jobbies.

My top tip for Christmas puddings that have been in storage, is at least a day before you want to use it, open the packaging, give the pudding a good old stab with a skewer, and pour some strong black tea over it. You can also add some brandy or rum or whatever to the tea as well. It will soak up the liquid, and when cooked, it will be lovely and moist as opposed to dry and chewy.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

No

You can't leave it hanging like that! What is it closer to?

They're in! (£2.99)

View attachment 793097

They do look good!

 

[Bonefish Blues]

I haven't had my mince pie yet. I don't want to peak too early.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Have to admit to have never eaten it! Is it like a panettone with marzipan in it?

No

You can't leave it hanging like that! What is it closer to?

Uhm .... Stollen it's a butter rich sweet bread loaf with loads of dried fruit, nuts, candied peel.
Mostly there is marzipan in the middle, sometimes you can get ones without marzipan.
I prefer it without marzipan.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Uhm .... Stollen it's a butter rich sweet bread loaf with loads of dried fruit, nuts, candied peel.
Mostly there is marzipan in the middle, sometimes you can get ones without marzipan.
I prefer it without marzipan.

Not a fan of marzipan either, I am going to try and find one without. Zum Deutschen thema, I am going to try and get some lebkuchen too.

 

[Webbo2]

Uhm .... Stollen it's a butter rich sweet bread loaf with loads of dried fruit, nuts, candied peel.
Mostly there is marzipan in the middle, sometimes you can get ones without marzipan.
I prefer it without marzipan.

Stollen is one of nicest Christmas cake things you can get. It would be a fantastic mid ride cafe cake with a coffee.