Mincemeat What is It?? +++ Recipes included

I can recall as the holidays approached each year my dad would strive to convince my grandmother to make up a mincemeat pie for him. He enjoyed the pastry style fruit pie that his mother made and had made for him each year since boyhood. There is a great variety of mincemeat pies including those made with booze and chocolate as well as many others. But the original mincemeat pie was humble in existence.

Mincemeat is made up of a mix of dried fruits and spices. The mincemeat combo appeared around the 13th century being brought to the Middle East by crusaders returning back to their homes. It was the British that are responsible for first creating mincemeat pies.

Many years ago there were few ways to keep meat good. Meat was preserved in one way or another and mincemeat was one way to preserve meat without using salting or smoking The pies that have went by names such as 'mutton pie', 'shrid pie' and 'Christmas pie' were originally served as a main course dish containing minced meat and fruits. The makers of the pies increased the fruit and spices and they were known as dessert or sweet treat.

The Puritan religion frowned on the sweet version of pie but did not object to anyone eating them. The pies were approved via the Catholic religion during the English civil war. The pies during the victorian era did shrink in size and became sweeter. Gone as well was the traditional meat filling.

Mincemeat Pie

1 pkg (9 oz) None Such Condensed Mince Meat
1-1/2 cups water
1 to 3 tablespoons sugar
Pastry for 2-crust pie

In small saucepan, crumble mince meat; add water and sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat until lumps are thoroughly broken. Boil one minute. Cool. Line 8-inch pie plate with pastry; fill with mince meat mixture. Cover with top crust. Flute edges. Cut 4 gashes in center of top crust. Bake at 425° for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
For a 9 inch pie, use two (9 oz.) packages condensed mince meat, 3 cups of water and 2 to 6 tablespoons of sugar.)


PRIZE COOKIES
(Makes 5 dozen 3-inch cookies)

1 cup shortening
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs, well beaten
1 pkg (9 oz.) None Such Condensed Mince Meat
3-1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

In large bowl, cream shortening. Gradually add sugar, blending well after each addition. Add eggs and beat until smooth. Sift together flour, soda and salt. Gradually add to creamed mixture. Crumble and stir in mince meat. Drop mixture by teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake at 400° for 12 minutes or until lightly browned.

find many great vintage recipes at recipe curio. 

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