James Beard's Mincemeat

Recipe Ingredients

4 lbs	1816g / 64oz	Beef rump or brisket
4 lbs	1816g / 64oz	Beef tongue
1 lb	454g / 16oz	Beef suet
2 lbs	908g / 32oz	Seedless raisins
2 lbs	908g / 32oz	Sultana raisins
2 lbs	908g / 32oz	Currants
3/4 lb	340g / 11oz	Citron peel - diced and
1/2 lb	227g / 8oz	Orange peel - finely chopped
1/2 lb	227g / 8oz	Lemon peel - finely chopped
1 lb	454g / 16oz	Sugar
1		Strawberry preserves
1		Raspberry preserves
1 tablespoon	15ml	Salt
1 tablespoon	15ml	Cinnamon
2 teaspoons	10ml	Nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoons	7.5ml	Mace
1 teaspoon	5ml	Allspice
3/4 teaspoon	3.8ml	Ground cloves
		Sherry or cognac

Recipe Instructions

"Begin by assembling a goodly supply of Cognac, apple brandy, sherry, and if you can find it, boiled cider. If not, settle for more apple brandy or applejack and more Cognac. You can also use up any odd liquors or that bottle you were given last Christmas and have kept hidden on a shelf. All these things will help to make your mincemeat better. "

Boil the rump and tongue separately in salted water until tender. Let the rump cool until it can be handled, remove the excess fat, and chop coarsely or put through the coarse blade of a meat grinder. Let the tongue cool, remove the skin, and chop or grind coarsely.

Chop the beef suet very finely and combine it in a crock with the meats. Add raisins, sultanas, currants, citron, peels and mix well. Add sugar and jams and salt. Mix spices together and mix into the mixture in the crock. Mix ingredients well with the hands and then cover the mixture with Sherry, Cognac, etc. -- enough to a make a rather loose mixture. Cover tightly and let rest for 2 weeks.

Uncover and taste, and add more spirits if necessary. Let rest for another 2 weeks before using.

At this point, if you wish to store the mincemeat in smaller containers, transfer it to sterilized jars or crocks, add more liquor, and seal or cover them tightly. The mincemeat will keep more or less indefinitely in a cool place or in the refrigerator.

When using for pies, Add 1 to 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh tart apple to each 2 1/2 to 3 cups mincemeat, bake at 450F. for 10 minutes, reduce heat to 350F and continue baking until crust is well browned.

Source:
Ladies Home Journal

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