Ever-Lovin’ loves mincemeat.

One year friend BB gave Ever-Lovin’ some Walker’s Mincemeat Tarts that  she had gotten at World Market.  Now, every year Ever-Lovin’ makes sure he goes to World Market for his Mincemeat Tarts.  He likes them.  He loves them.

We have a friend who does not want to be named, that makes mincemeat cookies.  When I heard that, I thought , “I must get that recipe.”  I knew Ever-Lovin’ would be a happy camper.  Come to find out, I already had the recipe.  It was in her family cookbook that I have.  Now this is not a vintage recipe.  It is an antique recipe.  This was my friend’s Aunt’s mother’s recipe.  Do you get it?  Her comment on the recipe reads: “Delicious cookies, baked for generations.”  They certainly are delicious, and I’m ever glad I made them.

Here are the ingredients.  Sugar, flour, shortening, eggs, salt, baking soda, allspice, pecans (you chop them), lemon juice, water, and grated orange rind.  Of course, you have to have mincemeat.   You buy the mincemeat that is in a box, and that can be hard to find.  Also it says to finely crumble the mincemeat.  This was somewhat of a challenge.  In case you don’t know, mincemeat is sticky not crumbly.  I did the best I could, and the cookies turned out great.

Suggestion: Chop the pecans, grate the orange peel, and “crumble” the mincemeat before you begin.  Wish I had done that.  Live and learn.

Cream the sugar and shortening.  It is fluffy and so pretty.

Beat the eggs well, and add to the creamed shortening and sugar.

Beautiful!  the batter already looked delicious.

Then you combine the dry ingredients – flour, baking soda, salt, and allspice.  Add half of the dry ingredients into the mixing bowl with the creamed mixture.

This is my mincemeat.  Not very “crumbled”.  I could have done better, but I watched the season finale of one of Ever-Lovin’ shows that had violence in it, and I do not do (watch) violence usually, but….  (TMI  I know), but that is why I started the cookies at dark thirty, and I was in a hurry, and I did not finely “crumble” the mincemeat.  But it did not really seems to matter because the cookies are beyond delicious.

Add the water and lemon juice, and then add the “finely crumbled mincemeat” (see above), and the orange rind.

I am here to tell you that this was already smelling like Christmas.  The allspice along with the lemon juice, orange rind, and  mincemeat was heavenly.  Add the remainder of the dry ingredients and then add the pecans.  Mix well.

Beautiful dough!  It was cookie baking time.  I use one of the small levered scoops, and it is nice because the cookies are rather uniform in size.

I love the large half-sheet pans that we got from the restaurant supply.  Also the Silpat liners for the cookie sheets are some of my favorite things in this entire world.  I really mean that.  They are a bit pricy, but last forever.  Your cookies do not stick, and the clean-up is a easy breezy.  Even if you only make cookies from Pillsbury, you would be happy to own Silpat liners.  Trust me!

Meanwhile – back to the cookies.  Oh – I think my friend makes smaller cookies, but again I was hurrying.

Sweet Mother of Pearl – beyond delicious.  So good – Ever-Loving stayed up for a taste test.  He approved. and mentioned that if we told people they were mincemeat, maybe they would not want to eat them, and then there would be more mincemeat cookies for hime to eat.  Honestly, even if you think you do not like mincemeat, try these.  They are good.

I bet Santa will like them.

Blessings to you and yours,

None of the products mentioned have any idea who I am.  Just sharing.