As a Brit, Christmas would not be Christmas without mince pies! They are on sale here from November onwards and there is great competition amongst the supermarkets to bring out the best one to be rated by magazines etc. I make my own mincemeat and although the suet-less mince is pleasant enough it doesn't have the same keeping qualities as the traditional one made with suet. And of course the brandy or other spirit used also improves its keeping qualities. I will be using mine from last year for this year's pies, it is still perfectly good.

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