Okay, so I’ve been seeing “tiptree mincemeat” all over the place, and I finally decided to give it a try. I’ve always been a bit intimidated by mincemeat, I don’t know why, It just looked hard. So, let me tell you about my journey.
First, I grabbed a jar of the Tiptree stuff. I’d heard good things, and the label looked kinda fancy, So, I figured it was a safe bet. I mean, you got to pick one at some point, right?
The First Encounter
I opened the jar, and…wow. It’s a lot darker and richer looking than I expected. I mean, I had no idea it would look like that. Kinda like a super-dense fruitcake filling. The smell was intense, all those spices and fruits hitting you at once. I took a tiny little spoonful, just to taste, and it was…interesting. Sweet, obviously, but also tangy, and you could really taste the citrus and the, well, I guess it’s the suet?
Baking Adventures (or Misadventures)
I decided to be brave and make some mini mince pies. I mean, its the season for it! I found a simple recipe online for the pastry – I’m not a pastry whiz, so I went with the “easy” version. I rolled out the dough (after a few tries, let’s be honest), cut out the circles, and lined my little muffin tins.
Then came the filling. I carefully spooned the mincemeat into each pastry case, trying not to overfill them. It was a bit sticky, but manageable. I topped each one with a little pastry star (because, why not?), brushed them with some egg wash, and popped them in the oven.
The Result
- The Smell: While they were baking, the whole kitchen smelled amazing. Like Christmas in a jar, seriously.
- The Look: They came out golden brown, and the filling was bubbling slightly. So far, so good.
- The Taste: Okay, here’s the verdict. They were… good! Really good, actually. The pastry was nice and flaky, and the mincemeat was just the right balance of sweet and spiced. The Tiptree stuff definitely lived up to the hype.
I shared some with my neighbors, and they loved them too. Even my kids, who are usually super picky, gobbled them down. So, I’m calling this a win! I’m officially no longer intimidated by mincemeat, and I’m already planning my next batch. Maybe I’ll try a bigger pie next time… or maybe just more mini ones, because they’re so cute.
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