New Fashioned Apple And Pear Mincemeat Food

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.

NEW-FASHIONED APPLE AND PEAR MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Add the first 21 ingredients to a slow cooker.
• Put the orange halves in a food processor; pulse to chop the fruit and rind; add to the slow cooker.
• Stir the mixture well to combine.
• Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 1/2 hours, bringing mixture to a full boil.
• Remove lid and continue to cook on HIGH, stirring occasionally, until the fruits are soft and the mixture has thickened considerably (2-3 hours).
• Transfer the hot mixture to 2 clean, sterilized 1-quart Mason jars; let cool completely.
• Pour 2 tablespoons brandy into each jar; cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 1 week, to meld flavors before serving.
• Keeps in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.
• Use cold, directly out of the refrigerator.

PEAR & MINCEMEAT CRUMBLE CAKE

Steps:

• Put pears into a non-stick frying pan with 2 tbsp sugar and 2 tbsp water. Cover, then cook over a medium heat for 10 mins until just tender, stirring every so often. There shouldn't be juices once the pears are cooked. Add the spice; leave to cool.
• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Butter then line the base and sides of a 20cm round, deep cake tin. Put butter, sugar, vanilla and ¼ tsp salt into a large bowl. Beat with an electric hand whisk until pale and fluffy. Add eggs and flour, beat until smooth, then fold in almonds with a spoon. Remove 85g batter and put into a small bowl. Into this add the plain flour and chop into the mix with a cutlery knife to make a soft, crumbly-looking mix.
• Spoon half the cake mix into the tin, top with half the pears, dot over half the mincemeat, then dollop the rest of the cake mix on top. Scatter with remaining pears, mincemeat, then the crumble mix. Sprinkle with final 1 tbsp sugar. Bake for 1½ hrs, covering with foil after 1 hr, until golden, risen and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 10 mins, then cool on a rack. Keep it in the lining paper, as this will help it stay moist. Will keep, well wrapped in an airtight tin, for 5 days. Freeze for 1 month.

PEAR MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Measure first 5 ingredients into large pot. Stir.
• Grind next 4 ingredients into same pot. Stir well.
• Add remaining ingredients.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often. Simmer; uncovered, until thick.
• Spoon into hot sterilized pint jars to within 1/2 inch of top. Place sterilized metal lids on jars and screw metal bands on securely. For added assurance against spoilage, you may choose to process in a boilnig water bath for 20 minutes.
• This also freezes well. If stored in containers in refrigerator, it keeps at least 1 year.
• Pear Mincemeat Pie:.
• To make a 9 inch pie from recipe, use 2 cups mincemeat, 3/4 cups apple sauce and 1 1/2 tsbp minute tapioca. Bake on bottom shelf of 400 degree oven for about 30-35 minutes, until browned.

MINCE PIES

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients for the mincemeat in a bowl and add brandy or rum to cover the fruit. Stir well, then let it rest overnight. The next day, stir again and then divide among sterilized preserving jars.
• To make the pastry, mix the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Rub the butter into the mixture until it is the consistency of fine breadcrumbs. Add the water and egg yolk and knead until the mixture comes together into a smooth dough. Alternatively, use a food processor to make the pastry. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
• Preheat your oven to 350° F. Grease the tart molds with butter and cover the base of each with a small circle of parchment paper. Dust with flour.
• Briefly knead the pastry until smooth, then pat it into a rectangle and roll it out to a thickness of ⅛ inch. Use a round cutter with a diameter of 2¾ - 3¼ inches to cut out pastry circles. Gently push the pastry rounds into the tart molds. Prick the base or each tart shell three times with a fork.
• Knead the remaining dough back together and roll it out to cut out the lids-you can choose whichever shape you like, but stars are the most traditional.
• Divide the 8 ounces of filling among the tarts and press down gently. Place the lids on top and brush with the egg wash.
• Bake in the middle of the oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm or cold.

APPLE MINCEMEAT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Place apples, butter, and lemon juice into a saucepan over medium heat, and cook, stirring often, until the apples are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract. Mix in the mincemeat and walnuts until thoroughly combined, and set the pie filling aside.
• Fit a pie crust into a 9-inch pie dish; pour the filling into the crust. With a brush dipped in water, moisten the edge of the bottom crust. Top the pie with the second crust, and crimp the two crusts together with a fork to seal. Cut 4 slits into the top crust for steam vents. In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolk with water, and brush the yolk mixture over the top crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove the pie from the oven, and cover the crust edges with strips of aluminum foil to prevent over baking. Return the pie to the oven, and bake until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling, 30 to 35 more minutes.

APPLE AND PEAR BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9" or 10" bundt pan with oil or butter.
• Sprinkle diced apples, pears and raisins with the sugar, set aside.
• In a small bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
• In a large bowl, beat the eggs; add the oil, vanilla and pecans.
• Stir the flour mixture into the egg mixture, mix well. Add the apples, pears and raisins.
• Spread batter into the prepared bundt pan.
• Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly touched. Cool in pan for 10 minutes; turn out onto a wire rack and let cake fininsh cooling. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. (Tip: If you want to frost your cake, a sour cream frosting is very nice.).