Best Traditional Mincemeat Food

MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Combine cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice in a bowl. Reserve 1 heaped teaspoon for the mincemeat. Store the rest in a small jar for a later use.
• Inspect two 12-ounce jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until mincemeat is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• Combine apple, sultanas, sugar, currants, raisins, and butter in a saucepan. Cook over low heat and stir gently until butter has melted. Stir in chopped almonds, orange zest, 1 teaspoon of mixed spice, and cinnamon. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and set mincemeat aside to cool down for 30 minutes. Stir in brandy. Spoon into sterilized jars.

BEST TRADITIONAL MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except for the brandy and rum in a medium-sized pot and slowly bring to a simmer to prevent scorching. Reduce the heat to LOW and simmer uncovered for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally, more towards the end to prevent burning. (If the liquid reduces too soon and the mincemeat starts to stick/scorch on the bottom, add a little bit of apple juice or water.) Stir in the brandy and rum. (Note: If you prefer to have the alcohol cooked out, add them at the same time as the other ingredients.)
• Spoon the hot mincemeat into sterilized jars (spooning it in the jar while hot will ensure the suet rises to the top to create a layer of fat). As the mixture cools the suet will harden, creating a seal to help preserve the mincemeat. *If you're including the beef be sure to refrigerate the mincemeat. If you're storing it for more than a couple of weeks follow the directions in the blog post for pressure canning the mincemeat for longer-term storage.See blog post for additional ways of storing your mincemeat.
• Makes about 1 quart. Feel free to double, triple, etc, as needed.
• Use this mincemeat to make Homemade Mince Pies! (click link for recipe)
• Note: Mincemeat is traditionally stored for several months before using to allow time for the flavors to deepen, however this mincemeat is also delicious eaten within just a few days.

TRADITIONAL MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Soak the raisins and currants in the brandy and lemon juice for 1 hr until plumped up, then drain and set the brandy aside. Mix all the ingredients together in the order given, then pour in the brandy when everything else is well mixed. Spoon and press into sterilised jars, to exclude any air (the easiest way to sterilise jars is to run them through a dishwasher on its hottest setting). Cover and leave for at least a fortnight. Will keep in the fridge for up to 6 months.

PILGRIM APPLE MINCEMEAT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• For the pie crusts:
• In a large bowl, combine the flours, salt, sugar and baking powder. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles cornmeal. In small bowl, mix water and vinegar with the beaten egg. Add the liquid mixture 1 tablespoon at a time to the flour mixture, tossing with a fork to form a soft dough. Shape into 3 disks. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator. Use 2 disks when making this pie. Freeze remaining dough for later use. Roll out 1 disk and place into a 9-inch pie dish for bottom crust.
• For the apple filling: Combine the apples, butter and lemon juice in a saucepan over medium heat and cook for about 8 minutes. Cool slightly.
• In a medium bowl combine the sugar, tapioca, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Add slightly cooled apples and mix well. Stir in vanilla and cream. Place apple mixture into bottom of pie crust, spreading evenly.
• Spread the mincemeat on top of apple filling. Roll out another dough disk and adjust over the filling. Flute edge and vent top. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake for 15 minutes and then reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake for 30 to 35 minutes longer, or until golden. Garnish, as desired, with baked pastry cut outs or whipped topping.

TRADITIONAL BRITISH BOOZY MINCEMEAT - FAT FREE

Steps:

• Put the cider and sugar into a large saucepan & heat GENTLY until the sugar has completely dissolved.
• Stir in the rest of the ingredients, except the brandy or rum and slowly bring to the boil - stirring ALL the time!
• (Please note it is not necessary to peel the apples - just core and chop them up finely.).
• Lower the heat and partially cover the saucepan and simmer gently for 30 to 45 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and leave it to become completely cold.
• Stir in the brandy or rum and then spoon into cold, sterilised jars, making sure that the mincemeat is packed down firmly with NO space or air bubbles.
• Cover with waxed discs and TIGHT fitting lids.
• N.B. Kilner jars can be used too - make sure that the rubber seals are new & not perished!
• GIFT IDEAS:.
• Design and hand write some labels - or use a Christmas template!
• Make some paper or pretty material lid caps/covers. Secure with an elastic band & add a ribbon or raffia.
• Hang a gift label and a scone, cookie or pie cutter from the ribbon - the same size as your mince pie tin shapes and you have a great home-made gift for someone!
• I sometimes add a recipe card too, mince pies OR a mincemeat cake & mincemeat oat slices - look out for them as they are also posted on RecipeZaar too!

MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Put meat, suet, citron, peel, peeled and cored apples, lemon and orange through the meat grinder.
• Mix throughly with sugar, currants. rasins, spices, salt, brandy and sherry.
• Pack into quart jars and process or freeze.
• Every few months add a couple of tablespoons brandy, sherry or rum if the mix looks dry.