Old Fashioned Mincemeat Food

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-FASHIONED MINCEMEAT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in mincemeat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. , Roll dough into 1-in. balls; dip into egg white and remaining sugar. Place sugar side up 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks.

HOLIDAY MINCEMEAT CAKE

Steps:

• Stir the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together; set aside.
• Cream the butter, orange rind and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light.
• Beat in the sugar.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Blend in the mincemeat.
• Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.
• Stir in the nuts.
• Turn the batter into either a greased 12-cup Bundt or tube pan or a greased 9" x 13" cake pan.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• If using a Bundt pan, bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until done.
• If using a cake pan, bake for 45 to 50 minutes.
• In either case, cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
• Remove from the pan and cool completely.
• Dust with icing sugar before serving.

VENISON MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Simmer venison neck or roast in unsalted water until tender.
• Cool and remove meat.
• Run meat, suet, raisins and currents through meat grinder with a fine blade attached.
• Combine all the ingredients.
• Place in a roasting pan.
• Stirring occasionally, cook at 325F until the apples are tender and mincemeat is hot.
• Pack in hot pint jars and seal.
• Place in hot water bath for 10 minutes.
• Makes 10 pints.

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.)

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.