I have had a not too successful day.

Trex! Half Trex and half butter. You can't go wrong Jessity. Give it a try. I swear shortcrust is all about the ingredients.

Yorkshires I have no problem with, not sure whether it’s because I’m a Yorkshire lass, or it’s because as above I throw it together and don’t measure accurately. I do measure carefully everything else I make!

I can bake cakes, meringues are no problem, most things work perfectly.

But I cannot, just cannot, make shortcrust pastry

I have the same problem with Yorkshire puddings. The harder I try the worse they turn out!

I seem to get a dozen pies out of 8 oz of flour (shortcrust) if that's any help. (I'm sorry I'm still in ounces). And just under a lb of mincemeat.

Can’t help with measurement recommedations I’m afraid. I wouldn’t dare as I’m inevitably doomed to run out of mix just short of what I need.

I've got to make about 50 mince pies tomorrow. I know theres a thread somewhere but can someone tell me how much pastry and how much mincemeat I'll be needing? On checking the recipes I think I'll probably need for the pastry about 900g flour and for the filling around 600g mincemeat. But that only works out to about 12g of mincemeat per pie. Is that enough?

Delicious, thank you very much Gonegirl

Heat it up tomorrow and have it as a pudding with custard. Or ice cream. (fantasising now)

Added not heated.

I made mince pies today. I had a jar of not very inspiring mincemeat, to which I added heated apple dates and chestnuts followed by a dash of rum. They turned out very nicely. The cake I made from the leftover mincemeat however was not so successful.
I don't know why I bother, I can't make cakes .

Righto. Catch!

shall I shan't I?

Too late now!
Please send one of yours Gonegirl

Thank you. They are in the oven. Whilst I was making them my newly lit fire went out. Typical of today.

I've had a lovely day, but got the urge to make mince pies when I got home.

However, the urge has gone now
I could throw together some scones

Why is it that pastry made in a hurry is often better than that which is made with more care?

Enjoy your mince pies!