Mincemeat is a mixture of chopped dried fruit, distilled spirits, spices and sometimes beef or venison. As the sweetness of the recipes increased from added sugars and those produced from fermentation, meat became a less common ingredient. Most mincemeat available today does not contain meat and is meant to be dessert more than a savory.
My local Publix store has had jars of mincemeat on the clearance shelf for the last couple of weeks, so I’ve been stocking up. With a shelf life of at least a couple of years, they can even hold till next Christmas (expiry date Sept. 2012). These brands also come without rum and brandy - both types are delicious.
There are lots of ways to enjoy mincemeat. You can use it as a topping on cheesecake or pound cake. The label lists a suggestion of mincemeat as a topping on baked sweet potato, with cinnamon and roasted walnuts.
I like to make mincemeat tarts.
These are so good served warm with a dollop of whipped cream. I like to enjoy them with a nice cup of strong black tea.
This is a British baking tradition. My Mom always made mincemeat pies at Christmas. She also made raisin pies year round, which I don’t think I’ve ever seen here in GA.
I’ve also made a Bundt cake that uses mincemeat and I’d like to find a good muffin recipe too. I think this treat can be enjoyed right through fall and winter.
6 comments:
Oh, do these ever look good. I've never made a mincemeat pie, but these certainly make me want to!
Darling my favourite brand is Crosse and Blackwell, not too sweet with just enough sharpness of flavor to use as dessert. I just thought of something… a teaspoon spread over Palmiers might just work!! Luv, let me know when the pea soup is ready, I am just a little peckish and in need of a bowl.
Love & Hugs
Duchess
Now I'm sorry I left those clearance rack jars of mincemeat at Publix the other day. (But maybe they're still there!) Thanks for the explanation about the name, too. I had never investigated that but wondered about the "meat" in "mincemeat." Very informative -- and your tarts look delicious!
Love mince tarts! I also make a pie out of a sugar cookie round, a dollop of mincemeat, then cover it with another round of cookie, cut a star in the top, and bake. Anyway, mincemeat is so good.
We make mincemeat with beef and it is soooo good, not so sweet as most of them are. Mm in scones would be nice, too
My grandmother used to make mincemeat pies! (she was from Ireland). I miss those days! YUM!
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