Old Fashioned Mince Meat Food

SAVOURY MINCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan, then add onion, celery and carrot and sauté for 5 minutes, or until softened. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds.
• Add beef mince / ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spatula or wooden spoon, for 8-10 minutes until browned.
• Add flour and stir through, then add in potato, beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste and season with salt and pepper and stir to combine. Bring to boil, then reduce to a simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes or until potato has cooked and sauce is thickened. If the liquid evaporates too quickly before the potato cooks through, add a little more stock to the saucepan.
• Stir in peas and cook for 2-3 minutes until tender. Serve on top of toast, rice or a baked potato.

OLD-FASHIONED MINCEMEAT PIE RECIPE FROM 1798

Steps:

• If using ground beef, brown the meat in a saucepan over medium heat. If you are using other cuts of raw beef, boil the beef until it is cooked and then chop it into small pieces. Or, if you are using left over beef that has already been cooked, you can chop the meat into small pieces. After chopping the beef, add the salt to the meat.
• In a large bowl, combine chopped apples, chopped suet (or your suet substitute) cider, spices, and fruit. Add the beef and apple cider and mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. (If you want to be more authentic, you can chop up all of the ingredients together at this point to mince them finely.)
• Line a 9 inch pie plate with pastry and then pour in the mincemeat.
• Add the top crust, sealing the edges with a fork and cutting slivers in the top to let out steam. If you want an extra golden brown crust you can brush the top of the pie with some egg.
• Bake in a 400 degree oven for about 45 minutes until the crust looks golden brown.

OLD TIME MINCEMEAT PIE

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, combine beef and apple cider. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for about 20 minutes, or until meat is tender. Remove meat and coarsely chop, then return it to the pot.
• Stir in chopped apples, sugar, currants, raisins, citrus peel, butter and cherry preserves. Add ginger, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt. Let simmer, uncovered, over low heat until mixture is very thick, about 90 minutes. Stir in cherries and remove from heat.
• Refrigerate tightly covered for at least a week before using.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Put filling in unbaked pie shell and place pastry on top. Crimp edges and poke several holes in top pastry. Brush top with cream and sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until golden brown.

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.

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.

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.

OLD FASHIONED MINCE MEAT

Steps:

• 1. Mix together the apples, beef, currants, raisins, brown sugar and vinegar. Add the spices and mix. Ready for pie after it has seasoned overnight in a covered crock, or large covered bowl, in a cool place (I suggest the frig) and use or immediately can.
• 2. One quart jar makes a very generous pie. Needs top and bottom crusts.

OLD-FASHIONED MINCEMEAT SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine first 7 ingredients in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer until sauce thickens slightly and is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in cream. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm over low heat before serving.)

MOCK MINCEMEAT PIE

Steps:

• TO MAKE THE PIE CRUST: Combine the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl or in the work bowl of a food processor.
• Process or cut in the butter or lard until the fat is in pea-size pieces.
• If using a food processor, turn the mixture into a large bowl.
• In a small bowl, whisk the egg, lemon juice, and 3 Tablespoons ice water together.
• Drizzle the liquids over the crumbly mixture.
• With a fork, mix until the pastry holds together in a ball, adding more ice water if necessary.
• Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead once or twice, lightly, to shape the dough into a ball.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before rolling out.
• TO MAKE THE FILLING: Prepare the pie crust.
• On a floured surface, roll out half of the pastry to fit a 10-inch pie pan.
• Line the pan with the pastry.
• Preheat the oven to 425 F.
• In a large bowl, combine the apples, zucchini, carrots, nuts, raisins, and flour; toss to mix.
• In another bowl, mix the brown sugar and butter until blended and stir in the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and lemon juice.
• Mix into the apple mixture.
• Turn the filling into the pastry-lined pan.
• On a floured surface, roll out the second half of the pastry and cut into 1/2-inch strips.
• Arrange on top of the filling in a lattice fashion.
• Trim and seal the strips to the bottom crust.
• In a small bowl, make the glaze by beating the egg and water together.
• Brush the mixture over the top and edges of the pie.
• Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the pie is set and the pastry is golden brown.
• Serve warm with whipped cream, if desired.
• The Great Holiday Baking Book.