October 26th is National Mincemeat Day #NationalMincemeatDay and I wanted to let you know I don’t know if my family has ever had #mincemeat or not. Although, all of my life I’ve heard of Mincemeat Pie. Haven’t you?
#NationalMincemeatDay would have been a #teachinglesson for my family because we could have studied #Mincemeat and then we could have looked up recipes using Mincemeat. Which we could have made in our #Homeschool Cooking Class.
Although learning shouldn’t stop because Charlie has graduated. I’ve shared a recipe for Mincemeat Pie below. Later in the week Charlie and I will look up recipes containing Mincemeat and make one of them. Be watching to see if its the recipe below or something totally different.
National Mincemeat Day falls on October 26th. Did you know the original Mincemeat recipe is more than 500 years old, and it used a mixture of diced Fruit, Meat, and distilled Alcohol? Mincemeat was used as a Pie filling.
Mincemeat contains an interesting mix of Spices that are not usually used for Meat, including Nutmeg and Cinnamon. The Fruits used are the same as those in many traditional Fruit Cakes. Although Mincemeat is widely known in Australia, the U.S., and South Africa, Mincemeat is a strange taste combination for many people. National Mincemeat Day is dedicated to this interesting dish.
In the 15th century, bakers used to preserve Meat with Fruits and Spices. Mincemeat Pies were made using this filling. Initially, Vinegar and Wines were used for the fermentation of the preserve. Nuts, Clove, Mace, and Cinnamon were widely used in Medieval times.
Later, people started using distilled Alcohol and Brandy to make Minced Meat. In Europe, Mincemeat came to be known as a wholesome food found in old-fashioned, rural homes. England saw Mincemeat as a traditional Yuletide treat.
Did you know in the 19th Century, the way that Minced Meat was prepared changed slightly. Raisins, Apples, and candied Lemon Peel were added to the recipe. Apple Mincemeat, which was made without Meat, was regarded as a healthier and more hygienic alternative.
In the twentieth century, any similar recipe, even the ones made without Meat, came to be referred to as Mincemeat. Similar to Spirits, Mincemeat was aged so that the flavors would deepen. It was also done to change the texture of the mixture by breaking down the proteins present in the Meat. It is said that properly preserved Mincemeat can be stored for about 2 to 3 years.
Though the origins of National Mincemeat Day are not known, this day is widely celebrated in the United States and around the world. Mincemeat is a favorite during the holiday season, especially during Thanksgiving, where Mincemeat is served with Cheese or Apple Pie.
How To Celebrate National Mincemeat Day
- There is no better way to celebrate National Mincemeat Day than to make Mincemeat. If you don’t know the recipe, you can just ask some of your family members or friends to help you with it. Also, there are videos online that will help you make Mincemeat easily.
- If you want to take the celebrations to the next level, you could organize a competition for the best Mincemeat recipe.. It would create fun recipes, give cooks and eaters alike a new experience and broaden your taste horizon.
- Not many know about National Mincemeat Day. If you make it an ice-breaker dish at a work social or a community gathering, more people will love Mincemeat and definitely talk about it.
Facts About Mince Pie Traditions
- It was believed that stirring the Mincemeat Pies anti-clockwise would bring bad luck.
- It was believed that if each member of the family took turns to stir the Mincemeat Pies, it would bring joy and happiness to their home.
- It was believed that eating Mincemeat Pies every day for the 12 days of Christmas would bring good health.
- It is said that the Spices used in Mincemeat Pies, including Cloves and Cinnamon, were among the gifts presented to baby Jesus by the Wise Men.
- The earliest known Mincemeat Pies were oval, symbolic of the shape of baby Jesus’s crib.
Why People Love National Mincemeat Day
- Mincemeat Pie is eaten warm, with gently melting Ice Cream or Butter/Buttered Rum, which is a winning combination.
- Did you know in the 1650s, it was illegal to eat Mincemeat Pies in England, since Oliver Cromwell tried to stop gluttony in the Country.
- National Mincemeat Day is the perfect opportunity to learn more about this dish and expand your knowledge of interesting combinations of food in general. Dig deeper into the history of this age-old recipe and also discover new recipes and facts along the way.
Recipe Mincemeat Pie
Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 30 mins Total Time: 40 mins Servings: 8 Yield: 1 9-inch pie
- 1 (14.1 ounce) package double-crust pie pastry, thawed
- 1 (29 ounce) jar Crosse & Blackwell® Mincemeat Filling & Topping or Crosse & Blackwell® Rum & Brandy Mincemeat Filling & Topping
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- Unroll pie crusts. Line an ungreased 9-inch pie plate with one pastry. Fill with mincemeat filling. Cover with the second pasty and press the edges to seal. Cut slits in the top pasty to vent steam.
- Bake in the preheated oven until pastry is golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
