New England Squares Food

NEW ENGLAND SQUARES

Steps:

• Blend crumbs, mincemeat and condensed milk together.
• Turn into a well-greased 9 x 13-inch pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Let cool in pan before cutting.

MINCEMEAT SQUARES

Steps:

• PASTRY:.
• Sift flour, sugar and salt into a large bowl.
• Cut in lard with a pastry blender until it resembles coarse meal.
• Put egg yolk in measuring cup, add milk to make 1/2 cup.
• Add egg mixture to bowl; stir until dough clings together and forms a ball.
• Roll out half the dough on a floured surface to a 15" x 11" rectangle; transfer to a cookie sheet.
• Note: You can make a parchment paper or wax paper pattern measuring 15" x 11". Roll out pastry directly onto the paper for easy transfer to baking sheet.
• FILLING:.
• Spread mincemeat filling evenly over dough to within 3/4 inch of edges.
• Dot the top of the mincemeat with the bits of butter.
• FINAL ASSEMBLY:.
• Roll out remaining half of dough; cut vents.
• Moisten edges of bottom pastry with cool water using a pastry brush or your fingers. Cover filling with the top pastry, sealing edges.
• Pinch edges together and crimp.
• TOPPING:.
• Beat egg white until stiff; spread on top crust.
• Bake in preheated 400 degree Fahrenheit oven for 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove to wire rack.
• GLAZE (optional):.
• Combine icing sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl.
• Drizzle over warm pastry.
• Cool slightly before cutting into squares to serve.

SCRUMPTIOUS FIG SQUARES

Steps:

• For filling: Finely chop figs in processor (do not puree).
• Combine with juice, sugar and peel in small saucepan.
• Simmer until thickened to consistency of jam, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat and mix in vanilla and cinnamon.
• Cool completely.
• For pastry: Preheat oven to 350F (160C).
• Line 9 x 13 inch pyrex baking dish with foil.
• Cream butter with mixer until light; add sugar and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Combine flour, cornstarch and salt in small bowl to blend.
• Add to butter until mixture just starts to come together.
• Separate in half.
• Press one half into pan, just coming up sides slightly.
• Brush pastry edges with egg white.
• Spread filling over pastry, leaving a ¼ inch border.
• Crumble remaining pastry evenly over pan, and lightly pat down with hands, bringing to edge of pan.
• Combine 2 tblsps sugar with 1 tsp cinnamon.
• Brush pastry crust with remaining egg white and sprinkle evenly with cinnamon sugar.
• Bake until crust around edge is firm to the touch and pastry just begins to colour, about 1 hour, 20 minutes.
• Cool on rack.
• Remove pastry from pan, using foil as aid.
• Cut into 1 ½ inch squares.