Make Your Own Mincemeat (From an 18th Century Recipe)

Submitted by Recipe Junkie

"This recipe is from the Women's Day Encyclopedia of Cookery, Volume 7. My mother and I made this recipe for mincemeat pie a couple of years ago, and it was to die for! Not everyone likes mince pie, and I for one hated it as a kid. But this is so good! Cooking time does not include time for pie baking option."

 

• Ready In: 30mins
• Ingredients: 19
• Yields: 4 quarts

ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef (top round or chuck)
• water
• 5 cups firmly packed shredded peeled apples
• diced candied lemon peel
• diced candied orange peel
• citron
• 1 lb raisins (seeded or seedless) or 1 lb dried currant
• 1 large orange, juice and rind of, grated
• 1 lemon, juice and rind of, grated
• 1⁄2 lb finely ground beef suet, all skin removed
• 3 3⁄8 cups dark brown sugar
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
• ground allspice
• cinnamon, cloves
• coriander
• mace
• nutmeg
• 1 cup Bourbon or 1 cup brandy
• 1 cup rum or 1 cup sherry wine

directions

1. Simmer beef in 2 c water, covered for about 10 minutes.
2. Put beef and broth in large kettle and add all other ingredients except liquors.
3. Let come to a hard boil.
4. Then turn down heat low and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring to keep from sticking and to assure even distribution of spices and fat through the mixture.
5. Let cool.
6. Then add spirits.
7. Place in jars or a single gallon jar and store in a cool dark place for 3 weeks before using.
8. Frozen it will keep up to 6 months.

9. For Pie:

10. Fill pastry-lined pie pan with mincemeat.
11. Adjust top crust or lattice top, and bake in preheated hot oven (425) for 30 minutes.