Mincemeat Turnovers Food

MINCEMEAT TURNOVERS

Steps:

• Combine flour, granulated sugar and salt in large bowl; set aside.
• Cut butter into 1-inch chunks.
• Add butter and shortening to flour mixture.
• Cut in with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Drizzle buttermilk over top; toss just until mixture comes together to form ball.
• Turn out dough onto lightly floured work surface; fold in half and flatten to about 1/2 inch thick.
• Knead about 8 times.
• Divide dough in half; press each half into 1/2-inch-thick disc.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Lightly grease cookie sheets; set aside.
• Let dough rest at room temperature 10 minutes.
• Roll 1 dough disc into 8X12-inch rectangle on lightly floured work surface.
• Cut into 24 (3-inch) squares.
• Place heaping 1/2 teaspoon mincemeat in center of each square.
• Fold opposite corners each about 2/3 of the way over filling, overlapping dough corners.
• Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.
• Repeat with remaining dough.
• Bake 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Remove cookies or wire racks; cool completely.
• Sprinkle pastries lightly with powdered sugar, if desired.

MINCEMEAT HAND PIES

Steps:

• Make the mincemeat: Stir fruits, candied peels, zests and juices, sugar, salt, spices, and 2 tablespoons water in a medium stockpot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Stir in Cognac; cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat; let mixture stand until cool. Mincemeat can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 3 days.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to slightly less than 1/8 inch thick. Cut into twenty-four 4-inch squares, gathering together scraps and rerolling if needed. Place 1 tablespoon mincemeat in 1 corner of each square. Brush edges with beaten egg. Fold each in half to form a triangle. Press edges to seal. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Pierce tops with tines of a fork. Refrigerate 15 minutes.
• Brush tops with beaten egg; sprinkle with sanding sugar. Bake until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbling, about 25 minutes. Transfer pies and parchment to a wire rack; let cool 15 minutes before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature, with brandy butter.

LOUISIANA SWEET-DOUGH MINCEMEAT TURNOVERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a bowl whisk together the flour, the baking powder, and the salt. In a bowl with an electric mixer cream together the butter and the sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, beat in the vanilla and the egg, and beat in the flour mixture in batches alternately with the milk. Chill the dough, dusted with flour and wrapped in plastic wrap, in the freezer for 10 minutes.
• Divide the dough into fourths and roll out 1 piece of the dough 1/8 inch thick on a well-floured surface, keeping the remaining pieces covered and chilled. Cut a 4-inch round from the dough, brush off any excess flour, and brush the edges with water. Put 1 tablespoon of the mincemeat in the center of the round, fold the dough over to enclose the mincemeat, and pinch the edges together to seal them. Make 3 more turnovers in the same manner with the remaining dough and mincemeat. Bake the turnovers on a buttered baking sheet in the middle of the oven for 15 minutes, or until the edges are golden.

QUICK MINCEMEAT TURNOVERS

Steps:

• * "Make a windowed gift bag: cut out a diamond or square window from a brown lunch bag or colored gift bag. Tape a piece of clear cellophane inside. Fill with turnovers. Seal top of bag with a holiday sticker." Preheat oven to 425°. On a lightly floured surface, using one pastry round at a time, roll pastry into a 12-inch circle. Using a 2 1/2-inch round cutter, cut out 16 circles. Re-roll pastry and cut out 4 additional circles. Repeat with remaining pastry round.In a small bowl, mix mincemeat and brandy. Place 1/2 teaspoon of the mincemeat in center of each circle fold in half. With tines of a fork, press edges together. Place turnovers on ungreased baking sheets.Bake 10 to 12 minutes until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks. Roll in powdered sugar. Store in an airtight container in a cool place. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.