Can't believe my mince pies

Little Jack Horner

Sat in a corner,

Eating his Christmas pie;

He put in his thumb

And pulled out a plum,

And said "what a good boy am I!"

I always thought that young Jack was eating a type of mince pie but apparently there are other hidden meanings behind the childhood rhyme. It is believed that Jack was actually Thomas Horner who took some title deeds (hidden and sealed in a pie) from the Abbot of Glastonbury to King Henry VIII. He decided to put his hand into the pie and drew out a plum piece of real estate for himself and obviously thought he was very clever for so doing.

Mince pies used to be filled with minced meat and fruit before the meat was replaced in the 20th Century by beef suet and fruit. Thankfully for vegetarians the beef suet has (mostly) been replaced by vegetable suet and there are vegan alternatives too.

Without mincing my words, I just love a mince pie with a cup of tea.