Mincemeat used to contain meat...and it still can be. The jarred version doesn't have meat in it. A mixture of currants, raisins, apples, sugar, citrus peel and several spices. It's a mixture of holiday spicy goodness for me. My mom and aunt used to make mincemeat pies, cookies, turnovers and a sauce used for ham with it.. Mom made the mincemeat and my Aunt Ruthie made the plum puddings.Fruitcake was started as soon as Halloween was over. Mom's fruitcake was the best that I ever had.She and I had a little competition going in the late 70's. Hers contained no alcohol and mine was basted with brandy for several weeks.I finally came around and admitted that hers was better than mine and I left out the brandy.
I spoke of gingerbread yesterday and the gingerbread that I was talking about was the cake version. The cookie...gingerbread men, is entirely different. Barbee http://barbeeslog.blogspot.com/ mentioned that she served hers with whipped cream. Last night I sampled mine and topped it with cool whip....wonderful! I used the recipe mentioned here yesterday and it turned out pretty well. It's more moist than some gingerbreads I've had. I gave Joe a taste and he liked it...although he doesn't like mincemeat.
Well, that's enough of my rambling about spicy treats...the English people wouldn't think that it was Christmas without these recipes. Maybe it's my English heritage that is coming out at Christmas. My maiden name is Salisbury and our ancestors were English. I find myself fascinated by anything English. Tea, fruitcake, mincemeat pies, literature, and Brit shows on PBS, and my favorite magazine...the British Country Living and English Gardening.
Today I'll go and get a haircut. My appointment yesterday was cancelled. It snowed during the night and this morning it is bright and sunny. It's going to get really cold later this afternoon and this soft snow will be blowing on the highways. Joe has to go to Rockford to the Doctor's today...I'm nagging him about putting a blanket and water in the car. It's such a simple thing that could help you in an emergency.
After I get my hair cut I'll be home to make dinner. What to have? As I cleaned the basement freezer yesterday, I saw all kinds of things I could make, but no ideas are popping into my gray head this morning. I always feel like this when I have my hair done...I'm all gussied up and come home to cook.Sort of a letdown huh? You'd think that I never went out to eat. We go out often....just not on the day I get my hair done.Oh, well, these feelings will lessen as the day goes on and there I am in my fancy hairdo sweating over a pot of stew till my hairdo is damp with perspiration.Hope Joe reads this before he leaves for Rockford.
Balisha :)
t
5 comments:
Go into some Chinese place ( all gussied up of course ) and get some take-out and bring it home :)
I have gingerbread dough in the fridge chilling right now for little men ( hopefully not burnt ones ) later.
I cannot believe the price of spices now. I will have to bake gingerbread all year long to justify the cost of the ground ginger.
What a cute post! And, thank you for the link to mine, even though I'm not writing right now. I know exactly how you feel after getting your haircut. I feel the same way, and usually bring up the subject of eating out. Not that we go out fancy, our favorite place serves home style cooking with lots of vegetables. During summertime they serve locally grown corn, tomatoes, and other vegetables. They have a cute name for that period, but for the life of me I can't think of it now, wouldn't you know.
Mincemeat pies and brandy soaked fruit cake are indeed in my memories of Christmas growing up! I still have these both today during the holidays, but neither are as delicious as the ones my grandmother made! Thanks for the memories!
Merry Christmas!
I hope he put the blankets in the car. You are right..it could save his life. Especially when bad weather can happen.
I also don't care much for mincemeat. My mothers had meat in it..and she also made fruitcake every year. My husband, Pat loved it so she made it just for him. I don't think anyone else in the family was crazy for either mincemeat OR fruit cake. I have never made either. You have made a lot of things in your lifetime that I have not. We do have some things in common.
PH's wife did not put up a tree or decorate for anything...so I think I overwhelm him with my busyness. I wish he enjoyed it more..but he thinks it is just a waste of time, I think. He says..as long as I enjoy it. :( Ah well...
Merry Christmas, Balisha and Joe!
no one in our family liked mincemeat except my Mother and I--so, she'd buy two jars of the Nonesuch, because we'd eat one, fresh from the jar, spoonful after spoonful. The pie she made was usually just for her and I. The other relatives wanted REAL mincemeat--yuk!
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