Oh no, I’m so ashamed. Yesterday I brought to an end my recent poor diet of vegetable fat, salt and sugar with a healthy fruit and yogurt breakfast and a green vegetable stir-fry for lunch, followed by some nuts, juice and wholemeal bread as an afternoon snack. Then, just as I was about to tuck into my lentil soup, I found the flimsiest of excuses to get Burdock’s fish and chips (Dear God, I have a completely irrational fury against anybody who claims that there are better chips from their local. They obviously haven’t tried Burdocks).
After licking the plate clean, the lentil soup slinked off, dejected, while I continued the Christmas fattening theme with two mince pies from Aldi. It’s only €1.49 for six, and they’re the answer to anybody who rejects the mince pie: Jean, heathens.
Like Aldi’s Christmas pudding – which got five out of five stars in Conor Pope’s Pricewatch – they’ve also got plenty of alcohol. Unlike many alcohol-heavy pies, they doesn’t taste like your great aunt Una, who always smells of whiskey. They’re also really fruity, sweet without being overpowered by sugar, and infused with just the right amount of mixed spice and cinnamon. I’ve had a few other mince pies this year, from Dunnes, SuperValu, The Butler’s Pantry, and in cafes and restaurants. They’d all be embarrassed by Aldi’s. I ate six in an hour, and it felt good. I’m so ashamed.
Tried nicer? Do tell.