So... What are the best mince pies?

[DaddyCoolNippingAtYourNose]

.. and i don't mean the crappy standard ones. i mean the finest ones ever. i was always partial to tesco 'finest' and sainsbury 'taste the diff' but someone last year recommended the next step up on the posh scale to 'Duchy Originals' which i've bought but haven't tucked into yet.

which are the very very best in your opinions?

do you live near any shops DC?!!!

Booth's are a lovely supermarket at least here in Cumbria - don't know about anywhere else - they're a bit pricier - like Sainsburys but v good quality and those mince pies are orgasmic

yes GAM i do live near shops but i'm banned from all of them due to my smell and bad character.

yes. the tescos ones are beautiful and they are my fav but i was told last year on this site that there are some better ones.

i'm going to have to explore booths. i wonder if they do mail order....

You do realise that I'm going to have to raid my local Tesco now, don't you DC ?! Bang goes the diet

go on NDP, stuff your face. i won't tell anyone.

i really shouldn't.... Got to look drop dead for DH's company bash in a couple of weeks, not been to the gym in 5 days (usually go every week day), I am a bloater of the highest order.

you dont diet in winter you need the fat to keep you warm

I'm not a cavewoman, GAM !!!

store locator - I think you live south don't you daddy?

booths cant see internet shopping though

thought DC lived near Rugby am I wrong?

he's in warks, somewhere near a powerstation or something

yup. i live right in rugby just down from a tescos.

each evening when the power station carries out checks on their energy outputs, i twitch and swear uncontrollably until the checks are complete. i then have to sit in a cold bath.

just saw jools post.. i'm jools' daddy! . hey jools... wait for it...wait for it... who's your daddy?

I can see the long term effects are starting to show!

and when i concentrate on something and think really hard... you can smell burning wood.

how many have you tested up to now?!

Good housekeeping mag says asda's fines/taste the difference/whatever are the best this year...

i've had

taste the difference
tesco finest
m&s organic

and i'm just about to taste duchy originals but i'm not allowed to start on those until i finish the old box of 'taste the difference'

Have you all really been making your mince pies already? I'm sure I never make any before December. I don't know many people who actually make them either but I like to do things like that.

OK the BEST EVER monce pies were my own of course, but they were from a fab recipe - and looked so cool.

I am trying to find the recipe, but in short

Take a pack of puff pastry and roll out to a large rectangle, spread out mincemeat leaving onelong edge free (about 1" naked pastry) Brush edge with milk to help stick together. Roll up into long sausage (naked edge on outside).

Get v sharp knife and cut 1/2" slices from roll, and put on WELL GREASED baking tray. Squash a bit flatter. Sprinkle with flaked almonds and cook.

These have always had ooh and ahhs and are really really yummy warm (and cold) V sticky until cooled a little

more like whirls!
sounds nice!

I'm so going to buy some tonight. Resisted last night.

I love mince pies..all of them.
My Mum keeps buying some not sure where from but the pastry is lovely think i ate a box full over the weekend!