The Big Push

Friday 22nd November will go down in my memory as the first day day of the Mincemeat Tea-cake saga. Largely because over the next 24 hours, I'm making a total of 65 of the little blighters, 40 with Organic White Flour for Oats on Saturday; and 25 with Apple and Cinnamon flour for Millie today. Of course if they are popular, I will be doing it all again, (and again.....maybe)

Also I'm making 15 Turkey, Stuffing and Cranberry Spiral Rolls, and 15 Festive Biscuits for Millie today. And I might try my hand at "Bays" Beer Bread, which is what it says, bread made with "Bays" Beer, a local brew and very nice.

And not forgetting the 40 Organic Rolls for Brixham Does Care,(a very worthwhile Charity in Brixham) that Sally is selling with Soup at a Fair trade Cafe during the Brixham Xmas market. I will do those on Saturday with the tea-cakes.

I think I've got those details right, now on to the prep. Here are the main ingredients for Millie:-

1.5 kg Apple and Cinnamon Flour, 450g Mincemeat, Butter and Sugar. Egg to glaze
1kg White Flour, Cooked Turkey, Cooked Stuffing and Dried Cranberries,
300g Plain Flour for the biscuits, with 150g Mincemeat. butter sugar eggs etc
And of course the usual Yeast, Salt Water etc.
      
So Prompt on Friday morning, I warmed up the mixer, got my pinny on and began;

It's all abut the rising time, especially for the tea-cakes, as the addition of moist Mincemeat alters the dough. I give it a rise first before adding the Mincemeat when I knock it back. At least that way the dough has had a chance to develop.

I don't usually do 1.5 kilos of dough at once, so the mixer was wheezing a bit at the end,

but I spoke nicely to it and the result was fine, I just gave it a bit of a fold by hand and put it in to prove.

Then I made a kilo of white dough and put that in as well.
Now its just a case of waiting to see if it rises, I know it will, but there's always that nagging doubt.

Meanwhile I have to sort out the fillings,

Turkey and Stuffing

 

Mincemeat

and get making,

The Risen Dough

Mixing in

Result

I made a few extra for samples and they tasted just fine.

Next up the Turkey Rolls, You've seen these babies before so not too many photos, just a few 'before' ones,

Needless to say, they were well received.

And the Cookies,

Next the Beer Bread, a first for me, but similar to Soda Bread,
the batter goes in a loaf tin,

and 45 minutes later,

I made it with Coarse Sea Salt, so it had the odd crystal for a crunch, and the taste of solid Beer!

Sophie was pleased with her order, I will pop in tomorrow to see how they went.
Now I'm having a rest before tomorrow mornings effort.