Simple Journey Ministries Presents

Can I Have Some More, Please?

Mincemeat Pies

A traditional Christmas treat is mincemeat pies. However, I find these tasty treats to be a specialty that makes for a Fabulous New Year’s snack or a part of a New Year’s Day celebration. Like root vegetables, this traditional and Yuma-licious taste bud delight has been almost lost. Like root vegetables, our grandmothers knew that this was not only tasty, but cost effective and a good way to use up leftovers and eliminate waste. Traditionally the meat in these little pies is leftover roast beef, which can still be used. Our family rarely has leftover roast beef, thus I have adapted this recipe to use ground meat. I have used beef, chicken, and turkey with wonderful results! My Nana’s recipe is one that has lasted throughout the ages, and if memory serves she learned from the mother of a neighbor growing up.

My Nana told me that when she was a girl mincemeat pies were served as a dessert item. I have always thought this odd, since it has a savory taste. However as I did a study on holiday feasts and food traditions I found that mincemeat pies were often served as dessert items! Oddly, I serve these as a dinner item with some fresh veggies on the side a few times throughout the year. These freeze very well, so make a double batch and save some for an especially chaotic night!

Mincemeat Pies

1.5 lbs ground beef/chicken/turkey

2 large apples peeled, cored, and quartered

1 c dried cranberries, currants, or raisins

¾ c brown sugar

2 tsp nutmeg

2 tsp allspice

2 tsp cinnamon

2 c apple juice or cider

Salt to taste

Pastry dough (I purchase this)

¼ c butter melted (I prefer olive oil, but this is what the recipe calls for)

Brown ground meat until no longer pink and drain fat.

Place meat, apples, and cranberries in a food processor and pulse until everything is minced. Now, place in a large bowl.

Add spices & cider. Salt to taste.

Heat oven to 400 F. Roll out pastry dough and cut into squares. (size is up to you)

Place a spoonful of the mixture on one side of each pastry square. Fold pastry over meat and pinch edges shut to seal. Use a fork to pierce a steam holes in the top or side.

Place on cookie sheet and bake for about 20 minutes. Brush with melted butter or oil and bake another 20-25 minutes, or until browned.

Buono Appetito!