Licky Sticky Mince Pies

Simon's first Christmas with us was a joy to behold.

As was the norm at the time, we were all heading to Nant and Nunks for Christmas Day Dinner. It was a big family affair, although as we were all getting older and grown up, there were fewer of us. I was really the last of the "weans", and here I was bringing my husband to be.

I warned Nant within a inch of her life, that she was not to make us play "Guess What was in the Plastic Bag". Every year she did this to us, and items ranged from woodeen pegs, to raw sausages. You can just imagine the hilarity this caused within a close family. However, I thought it might terrify my exceptionally quiet husband to be off, and wanted to protect my future happiness.

To relax him about the day, I explained the format. Arrival, gossip, drinks, home made mince pies, games, more chat, Dinner and then Morecambe and Wise.

I also explained about the broken bannister, (which had been broken circa 1973 and had been well fixed, but I constantly asked if it had been fixed everytime I took a trip to the loo). The mince pies were my Nants speciality. I explained to Si that she made them from scratch, cooking her own pastry and filling with mincemeat, and then sealing, by licking the edges of the pastry and sticking them together.

What I failed to do at that point, which was still very early in our relationship, was explain that I told the biggest fibs!

Imagine the scene then later on that day, when Nant every so politely served her lovely mince pies, and Si sat there, look of horror on his face, and tried to decline. She was most offended, and it was only when I looked over and realised the panic on his face I explained that I had been fibbing a bit!

Oooh The Slap on the heid my Nant gave me! At least we still laugh about it now, but everytime she brings any home baking out, she always reassures him that her licky sticky tongue was no where near it!


The above is NOT Nant's LIcky Sticky Mince Pie, this is not any Mince Pie, but an M&S mince pie.