Homemade mince pie question

[AmeliaToppingLovesShopping]

Last year i made some mincemeat that i would like to make into mince pies. I have shop bought pastry but have never made them before so need a few pointers.

1. Can i just follow a receive from the internet?

1. Do i need to grease the tray with anything first?

1. My hand blender blew up half way through so some of the increment is quite chunk, is that ok?

1. How can i tell if the bottom of the pies are cooked?

Thank you :)

I used shop bought mini foil tins and just floured the pastry at the bottom. Cooked lower and slower so the base was fine. Well cooked.

I made the pastry by hand as it was delicate.

These were the ones I made but I didn't do the almond filling. They are really gorgeous.

www.independent.ie/lifestyle/food-drink/frangipane-mince-pies-26337369.html

I didn't bother with the cream in the pastry either as I didn't have it

One tip originating from my mother who made the world's best mince pies. She used to mix some cold stewed apple with the mincemeat before filling the pies. (Lightly cooked after the cooking apple(s) has been cut up fairly fine.) Makes them incredibly moist and not quite so sweet - which some people find a bit cloying.

Grease tin, follow cooking time on pastry.

Food processor, mincemeat ???

You don't process mincemeat except chopping up the Apple it's always chunky.

I made the hairy bikers mince meat. Some is blended then the rest added so there are chunks but not completely chunk, if that makes sense.

The receipe on the pastry packet is for mince pie pop tart things on a stick and i couldn't see any other timings.

Thank you i will give it a go later today.

I have bought a jar of the Waitrose Cranberry mince meat and some shop bought pastry. Am planning on making them next weekend so do let me know how it goes.