Lessons (and mince pies!) from A Christmas Carol
In Charles Dickens’ famous novella, A Christmas Carol, mince pies make their appearance when the second spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present, comes to Ebenezer Scrooge seated upon a throne of sumptuous foods: “Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry… sucking-pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts.”
This Spirit, however, offers much more than delectable culinary delights! He reveals to Scrooge his own miserliness. Despite his immense wealth, Scrooge lacks any joy or magnanimity. His cash sits in a bank, doing nothing for himself or his fellow man. The Ghost of Christmas Present guides Ebenezer to see the joy of those who have very little, including his employee, Bob Cratchit. Despite their poverty, the love and delight the Cratchit family share in celebrating Christmas together is palpable. Seeing the happiness that even Tiny Tim has – despite his disability – Scrooge is deeply moved.
A Christmas Carol reminds us of the true spirit of Christmas: magnanimous self-gift. All the food we share, all the delightful gifts we exchange during the Christmas season are meant to point us to the truly unmatched and infinitely generous gift of God’s own Son. Consider St. Paul’s words in Second Corinthians: “For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.” (8:9) Miserliness has no place in our hearts during this season. May these mince pies, with their warming spices, nourish within us renewed love for our Savior and all of God’s children.
“God bless us, every one!” (Tiny Tim)
Christmas Mince Pies
Pie Ingredients
• Pre-made pie dough (or use your favorite homemade dough recipe)
• 1 egg white (for egg wash)
Mince filling Ingredients (or use store-bought)
• 1 tsp. ground mixed spice
(made of 1 tsp. each cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, allspice)
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar + 2 Tbsp.
• 1 large green apple, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 ¼ cup golden raisins (sultanas)
• ½ cup dried currants or cranberries
• ½ cup raisins
• ½ cup chopped almonds
• 1 ½ Tbsp. freshly grated orange zest
• ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
Mince instructions
• Make mixed spice, reserving 1 generous tsp. for the mince. Store remainder in small jar.
• Combine butter, sugar, apple, dried fruit in saucepan. Stir gently on low heat until butter melts. Stir in almonds, zest, mixed spice, cinnamon.
• Bring mixture to simmer, cook 5-10 min, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat, cool 30 min.
Pie instructions
• Preheat oven to 400º.
• Roll dough ¼-inch thick on lightly floured surface. Using 3 ½-inch circle, cut 12 bottoms. Using 2 ¾-inch circles (or star shape), cut 12 tops.
• In lightly greased muffin tin, line each cup carefully with pastry bottom circles. Fill each cup with 1-2 Tbsp. mince filling. Top with chosen shapes, gently press to adhere. Brush tops with egg wash.
• Bake until golden, 15-20 min. Cool before removing.
