I’m excited to announce that I will be attending the Kenmore Blogger Summit 2013 on behalf of MomStart next week. This event is all about getting ready for the holidays, so we’re going to be swapping our hostess hints and favorite recipes. Holiday food traditions vary so much from family to family and country to country, and I’ve always found it fascinating to learn what says “Christmas” to other people!
For me, it’s making Mince Pies every Christmas. It’s a holiday tradition in Britain that usually gets raised eyebrows in this country, but once I introduce my American friends to them, they’re usually hooked! I know what you’re thinking, but these are actually fruit pies. Mince Pies were originally a mixture of meat and fruits back in the old days, but in modern times, mincemeat is a combination of candied fruit like apples, raisins and orange peel. Some contemporary versions contain beef suet, but the varieties I buy use either vegetable suet or none at all, so they’re a strictly-sweet treat. Click here to check out my recipe!
We all know that holiday baking can be time-consuming, so one way that I save time is by making my pie crust from oil. This is another thing I do that gets raised eyebrows, but only because people are so stunned to learn that it isn’t butter. Not to brag or anything – ahem 😉 – but I’ve always gotten big compliments on my crusts and requests to bring pies (Of any kind) to gatherings. A lot of people have never even heard of using oil in a crust; it’s a recipe from my treasured 1969 Betty Crocker Cookbook, which I’ve been using ever since I started baking. The oil crust is super fast and easy to make and comes out perfectly flaky. So if you want a time-saving tip for those holiday pies, give oil crusts a try!
I’d love to know how YOU save time during the hectic holiday season. What are your “Holiday Hacks”? Can you share any time-saving tips with me?
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