Mincemeat pie

This traditionally English dessert makes me think of Professor Snape, sitting in his living quarters at Hogwarts during the Christmas holidays, savoring a small piece of mince pie. Not too sweet, full of dark goodness and a bit sharp...similar to his personality. Washed down, of course, with a freshly and precisely brewed cup of Lapsang-Souchong tea.

What is mincemeat, you might ask? Mincemeat was originally an old English custom, a sweet, spicy mixture of finely chopped meat, suet and fruit. At some point, the meat was reduced or completely removed, and nowadays, it's usually a mix of dried chopped fruit (raisins, currents, apples, pears, citrus peel, etc.), spices and sometimes nuts, suet, and brandy or rum.

Here are a couple of recipes: this one is traditional (without meat); this one is from the Pennsylvania Dutch (with meat), in honor of Mom, who loved all things Pennsylvania Dutch. Also, I've included a link about the traditions of mincemeat.

Give it a try next time you see it at a holiday table...you just might be surprised at how much you like it!

looks like vomit....cant do it.....

but hey!! enjoy!

my mother-in-law makes a mincemeat pie every thanksgiving. no one ever eats it. she's not sure why she keeps making it but she does. her mother always made one (see your note about Penn Dutch) so she does.

I had some mincemeat pie last night. Mmmm... pie...

I like mincemeat rather, though I remember being perplexed on discovering there wasn't really any meat in it much anymore. I may have asked someone why it wasn't just "mince". (Which I guess, sometimes, it is - you see "mince pie" in novels, right?)

In Canada the Quebecois have tortiere as a traditional Christmas food. Now THERE's one I don't understand, as it seems to be basically meatloaf in a pie crust. Not nearly as yummy. Perhaps I would have to be French to get it. ;)

Oh yes!! Thank you for the recipe, When I was little, my Mama used to make a very small pie for Christmas, just for me and her. I was the only one that ever loved this pie, and I never, ever made one (not just for me), so this is the YEAR that I do just that. Now if only I could get Snape to come over for a slice...Hmmm

Oooh, mincemeat. I always thought the 'meat' referred to nutmeats (the edible part of nuts, you know?) so thanks for the history lesson.

Of course, now I'm HUNGRY.

(Also thanks for the link.)

MMMMMMMMM Mincemeat!!!

I used to eat the mincemeat pie my grandomther made when I was a child. I guess I had no idea what it was made out of. Her pie was meat-free, but still... I don't think I'd eat it today. Usually it's the other way around- you wouldn't eat something as a kid but would now as an adult.