Cherry Pear Mincemeat Recipes

MINCEMEAT

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.

PEAR AND SOUR CHERRY MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Peel, quarter, and core pears. Chop pears coarse and in a bowl toss with lemon juice.
• In a dry 3 1/2- to 4-quart heavy saucepan cook 1/3 cup sugar over moderate heat, stirring with a fork, until melted and cook, without stirring, swirling pan, until a golden caramel. Remove pan from heat and carefully add water down side of pan (caramel will steam and harden). Return pan to heat and simmer mixture, stirring, until caramel is dissolved. Add pears, remaining 1/3 cup sugar, cherries, raisins, spices, and salt and simmer, stirring occasionally at beginning of cooking and frequently toward end to prevent sticking, until thickened, about 50 minutes.
• Stir in walnuts and brandy and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Cool mincemeat. Mincemeat may be used immediately but will improve in flavor if kept, covered and chilled, at least 1 day and up to 1 week.

PEAR AND SOUR CHERRY MINCEMEAT PIE

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin roll out half of dough 1/8 inch thick (about a 12-inch round). Fit dough into a 9-inch (1-quart capacity) pie plate and trim edge, leaving a 3/4-inch overhang. Chill shell 30 minutes.
• On lightly floured surface roll out remaining dough 1/8 inch thick (about a 10-inch round) and with a sharp large knife or pastry wheel cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips. Put a 9-inch cardboard round (see above) on a baking sheet and arrange 4 pastry strips 3/4 inch apart in middle of round. Working with 1 pastry strip at a time, weave remaining strips over and under pastry strips on round, beginning in middle and working out to sides, and letting excess hang over round. Freeze lattice top, covered loosely, on round on baking sheet until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425° F.
• Spoon mincemeat into shell, smoothing top. Lift lattice top together with round off baking sheet and slide pastry carefully onto pie. (If pastry sticks to baking sheet or round, pry loose carefully with a small knife.) Let lattice top soften until pliable and trim flush with rim of pie plate. Roll shell overhang up over edge of lattice top, crimping edge decoratively. Brush lattice top with egg wash and bake pie in middle of oven until pastry is golden and filling just begins to bubble around edge, about 25 minutes. Transfer pie to a rack and cool. Serve pie warm or at room temperature.

PEAR MINCEMEAT DESSERT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a glass baking dish, place one bartlett pear half, well drained from a tin, for each serving-- place with the cavity up.
• For each pear half, place one tbsp mincemeat (use a good quality product) in a small mixing bowl and add 1/2 tsp brandy for each tbsp of mincemeat; you don't have to use the brandy, though, if you don't want to, or you can substitute another spirit for the brandy (try Grand Marnier, or port).
• Stir brandy and mincemeat together, then place one tbsp into the cavity in each pear half.
• Bake pears for 20 minutes; serve warm, with lots of freshly whipped cream (if your waistline can take it).

PEAR MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Measure first 5 ingredients into large pot. Stir.
• Grind next 4 ingredients into same pot. Stir well.
• Add remaining ingredients.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often. Simmer; uncovered, until thick.
• Spoon into hot sterilized pint jars to within 1/2 inch of top. Place sterilized metal lids on jars and screw metal bands on securely. For added assurance against spoilage, you may choose to process in a boilnig water bath for 20 minutes.
• This also freezes well. If stored in containers in refrigerator, it keeps at least 1 year.
• Pear Mincemeat Pie:.
• To make a 9 inch pie from recipe, use 2 cups mincemeat, 3/4 cups apple sauce and 1 1/2 tsbp minute tapioca. Bake on bottom shelf of 400 degree oven for about 30-35 minutes, until browned.

MINCEMEAT CHERRY PIE

Steps:

• Line a 9-in. pie plate with bottom pastry. Trim evenly with edge of plate. In a bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Pour into crust. Roll out remaining pastry to fit top of pie; place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edges. Cut slits in top. Cover edges loosely with foil. Bake at 400° for 40-45 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack.