Mince Pies
From Dixie cookery (1867).
A historical recipe
Dixie cookery, by Maria Massey Barringer (1867).
United Kingdom
Known as a British recipe, with similar versions prepared across other nations.
From an old book: a historical recipe, not current advice. Its methods, additives and storage may be unsafe by today's standards.
Ingredients 13 ingredients
- four pounds of lean beef
- three pounds of suet
- two pounds of currants
- an ounce of sliced citron
- three pounds of sugar
- a pint of wine
- eight pounds of apples
- eight pounds of raisins
- two quarts of brandy
- an ounce of cloves
- an ounce of cinnamon
- a tablespoonful of salt
- twelve large apples
Possible health benefits
General information, not medical advice.
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Raisin
High in potassium · 825 mg per 100 g, 41% of the reference intake per 100 g
- Potassium contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system.
- Potassium contributes to normal muscle function.
- Potassium contributes to the maintenance of normal blood pressure.
Potassium is a mineral found in many foods. Your body needs potassium for almost everything it does, including proper kidney and heart function, muscle contraction, and nerve transmission. NIH fact sheet
High in copper · 0.3 mg per 100 g, 30% of the reference intake per 100 g
- Copper contributes to maintenance of normal connective tissues.
- Copper contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
- Copper contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system.
5 more authorised claims
- Copper contributes to normal hair pigmentation.
- Copper contributes to normal iron transport in the body.
- Copper contributes to normal skin pigmentation.
- Copper contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
- Copper contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
Copper is a mineral that you need to stay healthy. Your body uses copper to carry out many important functions, including making energy, connective tissues, and blood vessels. NIH fact sheet
Source of iron · 2.6 mg per 100 g, 19% of the reference intake per 100 g
- Iron contributes to normal cognitive function.
- Iron contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
- Iron contributes to normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin.
4 more authorised claims
- Iron contributes to normal oxygen transport in the body.
- Iron contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
- Iron contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
- Iron has a role in the process of cell division.
Iron is a mineral that the body needs for growth and development. Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body, and myoglobin, a protein that provides oxygen to muscles. NIH fact sheet
Nutrients per 100 g of “Raisins, seeded”, USDA FoodData Central.
Claims: EU Register of health claims (Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, © European Union, CC BY 4.0), shown only where the ingredient meets the claim's conditions (Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006). Nutrients: USDA FoodData Central (CC0). Facts: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (public domain).
Cook safely
Keep children and pets away from the hob and the oven, and keep oven gloves and a lid within reach.
- Oven and hot trays. Use dry oven gloves for trays and dishes: a hot tray looks just like a cold one. Open the oven door away from your face and let the first rush of heat out.
- Boiling water and steam. Turn pan handles inward, away from the edge of the hob. Lift lids away from you, and pour hot water away from your body: steam burns too.
- Sharp knives. Cut on a board that doesn't slip (a damp cloth under it helps), and curl the fingers of the hand that holds the food.
Method
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- Boil four pounds of lean beef and chop it fine.
- Pick and chop three pounds of suet, wash two pounds of currants, and one of raisins, grate the peel of two lemons and add the juice, an ounce of sliced citron, and twelve large apples chopped fine.
- Mix these ingredients with three pounds of sugar, half a pint of wine, and the same of brandy, and a little sweet cider, and nutmeg and mace to your taste.
- Bake this mincemeat in puff paste, with a lid of paste on top.
- Mince Pies without Meat.
- Take four pounds of suet, eight pounds of apples, four nutmegs, eight pounds of raisins, four pounds of sugar, half apound of sliced citron, two quarts of wine, two quarts of brandy, half an ounce of cloves, the same of mace, an ounce of cinnamon, a tablespoonful of salt, and four large oranges.
- If it gets too dry, add more brandy.
- It will keep from November till May.
Plating
Cookware for this recipe
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Saucepan
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Chef's knife
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Cutting board
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Grater
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Vegetable peeler