Mincemeat Cranberry Squares Food

MINCEMEAT & SHORTBREAD SQUARES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line the base and sides of a 20cm square tin with baking parchment. Beat the butter, sugar, vanilla, 1 tsp of the cinnamon and the cloves together with an electric whisk until pale and fluffy. Stir in the flour and ground rice first with a spoon, then get your hands in and knead to a smooth dough.
• Halve the dough and press one half evenly into the base of the tin. Spread the mincemeat over the top, leaving a 1cm border around the edge. Roll out the remaining dough between 2 sheets of baking parchment to a 20cm square, then slide onto the mincemeat. Seal around the edge with your fingers gently press all over until dimpled, then prick all over the top with a fork.
• Bake for 25-30 mins until lightly golden. Mix the granulated sugar with the remaining 1/4 tsp cinnamon and sprinkle over the top. Cool in the tin before cutting into squares. Will keep for 3 days in an airtight container.

CRANBERRY MINCEMEAT PIE

Steps:

• Place rack in lower half of oven & preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, stir together the mincemeat & cranberries, then set aside.
• Line a 9-inch pie plate with one pastry crust, then add the filling.
• Cover with a top crust, then seal & flute the edges before cutting several vent slits near the center.
• Whisk the egg yolk & water together, then brush the surface of the pie with the egg wash.
• Bake for 30 minutes, then cool to room temperature on a wire rack.
• Cover & refrigerate.

CHRISTMAS MINCEMEAT SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375F; grease a 13x9 pan and set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, sugar and baking soda.
• Stir in melted butter and mix together until mixture appears crumbly.
• Firmly pat half the crumb mixture into prepared pan, then cover evenly with mincemeat.
• Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over mincemeat and pat lightly.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until squares appear golden brown.
• Cool before cutting into squares.

MINCEMEAT, CRANBERRY & ALMOND PIE

Steps:

• Cut the pastry in two. Wrap one half and set aside. On a surface lightly dusted with flour, roll out the other half to a square large enough to line a 22cm loose-bottomed fluted tart tin (we used a square tin, but a round one would also work). Press the pastry into the tin, leaving any excess hanging over the edge.
• Scatter the marzipan over the pie base. Add the mincemeat and top with the cranberries.
• Roll out the remaining pastry to a square (or circle) the thickness of a £1 coin. Use a pizza cutter to slice the pastry into 1.5cm-wide strips. Weave the pastry strips over the pie to create a lattice, pressing down at the edges to seal with the pastry base. Trim off any excess pastry. Chill for 20 mins and heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Bake for 45 mins until golden. Cool for 15 mins in the tin, then transfer to a plate or board and dust with the icing sugar.

MINCEMEAT-CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, stir cranberry sauce, mincemeat and orange juice until heated through. Serve warm over ice cream. Store leftovers in refrigerator.

MINCEMEAT CRANBERRY SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, then grease 15"x10" jelly roll pan.
• In a mixer bowl, beat flour, oats, 3/4 cup brown sugar & butter until crumbly.
• Set aside 1 1/2 cups of this mixture, then press the remaining mixture onto bottom of prepared jelly roll pan.
• Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned, then set aside.
• In another bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy, then gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk, until smooth.
• Beat in eggs, then spread this cream cheese mixture over baked crust.
• Spread mincemeat evenly over cream cheese mixture.
• Combine cornstarch with 1 tablespoon brown sugar, then combine that with cranberry sauce until combined ~ Spoon over mincemeat layer.
• Top the entire concoction with reserved crumb mixture, & bake 40 minutes or until golden.
• Cool in pan on wire rack.
• Chill, then cut into squares. Store in refrigerator.

CRANBERRY MINCEMEAT TARTS

Steps:

• In saucepan, combine mincemeat and cranberry sauce, stir constantly till almost boiling on medium heat.
• Remove from heat.
• Grate orange peel and chop orange segments.
• Add orange peel, (I only used the zest and took the peel off the orange) chopped orange and liqueur.
• Spoon into tart shell and place on baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated 400*F oven for about 20 minutes or until pastry is golden.

CRANBERRY MINCEMEAT SQUARES

Steps:

• Combine flour, oats, 3/4 cup brown sugar and butter until crumbly. Reserve 1 1/2 cups crumbs. With remaining crumbs press into greased 15x10 pan. Bake 15 minutes at 350. Beat cream cheese and milk; add eggs. Mix well. Spread on cooled crust. Top with mincemeat. Combine 1 tablespoon brown sugar and cornstarch. Stir in with cranberry sauce. Spoon over mincemeat. Top with remaining crumbs. Bake 40 minutes. Cool and cut into squares. Refrigerate in airtight container.

CRANBERRY JEWELLED MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Tip the dried fruits and mixed peel into a large bowl. Pour over the brandy, zests and juices. Stir, then cover and leave to soak for 24 hrs.
• Tip the mixture into a large saucepan with the remaining ingredients and stir well. Set over a medium heat and, once the suet has melted, turn up the heat and bubble for a few mins. Pack while hot into sterilised jars (see tip, below). Leave in a cool, dark cupboard for at least a fortnight, or for up to 6 months.

HOME-MADE CHRISTMAS MINCEMEAT WITH CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• All you do is combine the above ingredients, except for the brandy, in a large ovenproof mixing bowl, stirring and mixing them together very thoroughly indeed. Then cover the bowl with a clean cloth and leave the mixture in a cool place overnight or for 12 hours, so the flavours have a chance to mingle and develop. After that pre-heat the oven to gas mark ¼, 225°F (120°C). Then cover the bowl loosely with foil and place in the oven for 3 hours. Then remove the bowl from the oven. Don't worry about the appearance of the mincemeat - it will look as if it is positively swimming in fat, but this is how it should look As it cools, stir it from time to time: the fat will coagulate. When the mincemeat is quite cold, stir in the brandy. Pack in the jars, which have been washed, dried and heated in a moderate oven for 5 minutes to sterilise, cover with waxed discs and seal. It will keep indefinitely in a cool, dry cupboard, but I think it is best eaten within a year of making.