Make Your Own Mincemeat From An 18th Century Recipes

Steps:

• Simmer beef in 2 c water, covered for about 10 minutes.
• Put beef and broth in large kettle and add all other ingredients except liquors.
• Let come to a hard boil.
• 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.
• Let cool.
• Then add spirits.
• Place in jars or a single gallon jar and store in a cool dark place for 3 weeks before using.
• Frozen it will keep up to 6 months.
• For Pie:.
• Fill pastry-lined pie pan with mincemeat.
• Adjust top crust or lattice top, and bake in preheated hot oven (425) for 30 minutes.

Steps:

• Combine cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice in a bowl. Reserve 1 heaped teaspoon for the mincemeat. Store the rest in a small jar for a later use.
• Inspect two 12-ounce jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until mincemeat is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• Combine apple, sultanas, sugar, currants, raisins, and butter in a saucepan. Cook over low heat and stir gently until butter has melted. Stir in chopped almonds, orange zest, 1 teaspoon of mixed spice, and cinnamon. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and set mincemeat aside to cool down for 30 minutes. Stir in brandy. Spoon into sterilized jars.

Steps:

• Soak the raisins and currants in the brandy and lemon juice for 1 hr until plumped up, then drain and set the brandy aside. Mix all the ingredients together in the order given, then pour in the brandy when everything else is well mixed. Spoon and press into sterilised jars, to exclude any air (the easiest way to sterilise jars is to run them through a dishwasher on its hottest setting). Cover and leave for at least a fortnight. Will keep in the fridge for up to 6 months.

Steps:

• Put the peeled and grated Bramley apples, light muscovado sugar and the zest and juice of the orange and lemon into a large bowl with the ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, allspice, mixed dried fruit and brandy. Stir in the grated unsalted butter or shredded suet and ground almonds. Transfer to jars or containers. Keep in the fridge, unopened, for up to three months or in the freezer for up to six months.