Mincemeat Food

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.

MINCEMEAT PIE

Steps:

• Place all of the ingredients except the crust into the bowl of a food processor and pulse 8 to 10 times. Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for at least 3 days before using. Can be stored for up to 6 months.
• If you prefer a finer texture of mincemeat place the apples, dried fruit and suet into a meat grinder with a large die and grind. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the remaining ingredients. You may also finely chop the apples, dried fruit and suet by hand.
• Place the flour, cornmeal, 1 1/2 ounces sugar and salt into a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Grate the cold butter on the large side of a box grater directly into the dry ingredients. Work together with your hands until the mixture is crumbly. Add the cider and water and stir with a spatula to combine. Knead the dough 5 to 6 times and spritz with additional water if the dough is dry. Shape into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Unwrap the dough and divide into 4 equal pieces. Place 2 pieces of the dough onto a piece of parchment paper and roll each out into a 1/8-inch thick round that is 6 to 8 inches in diameter. Spoon about 1/2 cup of the mincemeat into the center of each round, fold up the edges of the dough in order to form a crust all the way around. Brush the edges of the crust with egg wash and sprinkle lightly with sugar. Transfer the dough on the parchment to a half sheet pan. Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• If you prefer 1 large pie, roll out the dough on a piece of parchment into a 15 to 16-inch round, about 1/4 to 1/8-inch thick. Trim the edges with a pizza cutter. Carefully slide the rolled out dough, still on the parchment paper, onto an upside down half sheet pan. Spoon about 1 1/2 pounds of the mincemeat onto the center of the dough, leaving a 2 to 3-inch margin around the edge of the crust. Place in the oven and bake for 35 minutes or until the crust is golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 30 to 45 minutes before serving.

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.

MINCEMEAT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• In large bowl, mix dry ingredients.
• Add the oil and milk, stirring until mixture is well moistened and crumbly.
• Reserving 1 cup of the mixture, press the remainder into 9"x13" baking dish; spread with mince meat.
• Sprinkle evenly with remaining mixture and nuts.
• Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown.
• Cut into bars.
• Store, loosely covered, at room temperature.

MINCEMEAT BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, & grease a 9 1/2" loaf pan.
• Whisk together flour, baking powder & salt.
• In another bowl, mix together sugar, melted shortening, mincemeat, egg & milk.
• Add to flour mixture, stirring only until dry ingredients are moistened.
• Bake 1 hour.
• Let stand for 24 hours before cutting!

MINCEMEAT MUFFINS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together egg, juice and oil;stir in mincemeat and apple.
• In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and cinnamon; stir in sugar.
• Add dry ingredients and pecans to egg mixture and blend just until combined.
• Fill a greased 12 1/2-cup muffin pan and bake at 400°F for 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in middle come out clean.
• Turn muffins out onto rack to cool 5 minutes.
• In a small bowl whisk together icing sugar, cinnamon and 3 teaspoons of juice until smooth, adding enough of remaining teaspoon of juice to make a spreadable glaze.
• Spread glaze over tops of warm muffins.
• These muffins are best served warm or at room temperature.
• Muffins can be made up to 3 days ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.

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.

MINCEMEAT PIE FILLING

Steps:

• Combine the cooked beef, apples, raisins, sweet pickle vinegar, pineapple, orange, salt, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, sorghum and 1 cup beef broth. Store in the refrigerator or freeze until ready to use.

EASY MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients, except the brandy, in a large saucepan. Cook over a low heat for 10 mins, stirring occasionally, until the sugar and suet have completely dissolved.
• Remove from the heat and leave to cool to room temperature before stirring in the brandy. The mincemeat may look loose at this stage, but it will continue to thicken. You can encase it in pastry as soon as it's cooled. Alternatively, spoon the warm mincemeat into a large sterilised jar or several smaller ones (see tip, below). Will keep in a cool, dry place for up to six months.

MINCEMEAT MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Line with cupcake papers for easy removal.
• Measure all 7 dry ingredients and sift into a bowl.
• Beat egg until frothy.
• Mix in oil, mincemeat and milk (or juice).
• Add to dry mixture.
• Stir to moisten.
• Batter will be lumpy.
• Bake approximately 20 minutes.