Mincemeat Making Time

 I made mincemeat last week.  Instead of using candied peel like lots of recipes call for, I prefer to use fresh.  I ground 6 apples, 4 oranges and 2 lemons.

 Then I added 8 ounces of suet.  You can buy cooking grade suet from your local butcher.

 Grind 2 boxes of raisins, 2 bags of dried cranberries, some dried figs, dates and plums.  Grind any kind of nuts you have on hand. You will need about 4 cups. Most mincemeat has booze in it but since a lot of this will end up at the shelter, I only used apple cider and it came out great.  Add 2 boxes of currents.  They don't need to be ground because they are small already.  Add 2 cups of brown sugar,  3 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. nutmeg and 1/4 tsp. mace and ground cloves.

 Place the mincemeat in a heavy dutch oven and bake at 225 degrees for 4 hours.  The suet will melt and coat the mixture.

 Now it is ready to use in tarts.

I use this vintage grinder to get just the right consistency.

Comments

Guillaume said…
Oh it is real mince meat.

If I may suggest something to do with it, the Quebec version of a shepherd's pie, the pâté chinois:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A2t%C3%A9_chinois

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:P%C3%A2t%C3%A9_chinois
Guillaume said…
Oh and I suggest it because it is our last meal before Christmas in my family.
Anonymous said…
I have a similar vintage grinder here at home, I got it from an old lady that didn't want it any more. I use it way to seldom though.

Will You make pies to fill with this?

Have a great day!
Christer.
TARYTERRE said…
LOVE the grinder. You really put it to the test.
brokenteepee said…
I'm sure they will love it.
Nellie said…
How very delicious! I love mincemeat!
I could sit down with a spoon and eat that entire bowl right now. I love mincemeat!
I have a feeling I would love your mincemeat, Joyce, but any commercial mincemeat I've tried..I've never liked. My daughter in law makes it for her bakery and will bring it for Christmas dinner..but..I always just take a sliver of it. Maybe I can get her to try your recipe. :)
I mean it's worth a try.
This is wonderful Joyce, as for some reason I can't get mincemeat this year in our supermarkets.
luckybunny said…
Awesome and thank you, this is the recipe I'll use for mincemeat. I cannot wait to make it. I'm drooling over here!
Kay said…
Ahhhh... Thank you for this post. Now I know what mincemeat is. I'm going to look up suet now.