Holiday foods - yay or nay?

[maslex]

I've never had either one. The look of fruitcake kind of skeeves me out. I've always had this things with breads, cakes, etc that have chunks in it. And I've never even seen a mincemeat pie. What's in it? What do either taste like?

 

[Christine]

And I've never even seen a mincemeat pie. What's in it? What do either taste like?

I think many, many years ago (fifty, a hundred?) mincemeat pie actually had some sort of meat in it. Now, I think it is traditionally a mixed fruit pie that has small, small bits of apple, raisin, citrus, and other things in it. To me, it tastes like a very heavily spiced apple pie. I actually prefer it. But this is the one my MIL makes and I have no idea if it is a "true" mincemeat pie or not.

 

[cristit14]

I have never had mincemeat pie, but I don't like fruitcake

 

[MIGrandma]

I have made fruitcake a few times with my MIL's recipe. It is delicious! Very moist. It isn't made with any of the peels, just the candied fruit and nuts, and some wine. I haven't made it in a few years, but I think it makes two loaves. I would never give it as gifts though, so many people don't like fruitcake.

I think I have had the fruit type mincemeat pie and liked it, but I'm not sure I've ever had the old-fashioned kind with meat. I would try it though.

 

[Meriweather]

Nay to both!!
Don't care for either, which is good because there are more than enough holiday treats I do like

 

[TEENEE]

I don't like store bought fruit cake, like Claxton, yuck. However, my grandmother used to make fruitcake every year. All the women would get together and spend one day making fruit cakes. The newest woman to the family was the one that had to mix the batter, what a mess. You can't use a mixer for that stuff, your up to your elbows in batter. Boy that was good fruit cake.

Don't know about mincemeat pie. I don't think I have ever had it.

 

[suejai]

I don't like fruit cake, but I do like mincemeat. I didn't try mincemeat until I was an adult because I thought there was actually meat in it.

And I do like beets, especially roasted and Harvard style beets.

 

[nutterbutter2010]

Never had either.

 

[MerMom60_94]

I am not sure on the fruitcake, but I think I had some at my mother's house a couple of years ago and liked it. I am pretty sure but really haven't had much of an occassion to try it. I used to dislike mincemeat pie but my late DFIL loved it and had to have it every Christmas. A couple of years ago my curiosity got the better of me and I gave it another try and I actually have acquired a taste for it. Yum - topped with some vanilla ice cream. I think he and I were the only ones who ate it though, so I doubt anyone will make one this year. I would but I but I don't need to be eating a whole entire pie by myself!!

Oh, and as for beets -- again, I used to hate beets but when I was dating my DH I went to his parents house for dinner. His mother served beets and I didn't want to be rude so I tried them and discovered I love them.

 

[S. C.]

Yay to both!

 

[PatsMom]

Nay to fuitcake and mincemeat. They are both nasty as far as I am concerned.

Beets are on the same list as broccoli and cauliflower - I've never actually tasted them because I get the fork halfway to my mouth and gag on the smell.

 

[C.Ann]

I'm still trying to figure out how "beets" got into the selection - LOL..

Having said that, I hate beets too!!

 

[shrubber]

Mince meat?
Only if it's homemade.
The stuff out of the jar doesn't even have any meat in it.....who'd eat that.

Here is my recipe.
4 pounds venison or elk, brisket , rounds, or chuck or all of the above. Bone on!
Water
2 1/2 cups beef suet, finely chopped or grated*
7 1/2 cups chopped tart apples
3 cups liquid which meat of your choice was cooked in
5 cups granulated sugar
3 cups apple cider
1 cup molasses
1/2 cup cider vinegar
3 cups raisins
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground cloves
2 tablespoons ground allspice
2 tablespoons ground nutmeg
Juice of 2 lemons
Juice of 2 oranges
1 cup brandy or more

*Suet is firm beef fat. You need to ask your butcher for this.

Trim fat from meat of your choice.

In a large heavy pan over medium heat, place meat; cover with water and simmer until the meat is tender. Remove from heat and refrigerate meat in cooking liquid overnight.

Remove from refrigerator and remove meat from liquid. Remove all fat from top of liquid; reserve liquid. Separate meat from bones, discard bones. Chop cooked meat into small cubes.

In a large pot, combine meat cubes, suet, apples, reserved liquid, sugar, apple cider, molasses, cider vinegar, raisins, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, lemon juice, and orange juice; simmer for 2 hours. remove from heat. Add brandy and mix together.

 

[mom2rb]

I don't like fruitcake but I have only had the store bought kind. Maybe the home made is better? I have never had beets. I love mincemeat pies, I can only eat a small piece because it is strong.

 

[C.Ann]

Mince meat?
Only if it's homemade.
The stuff out of the jar doesn't even have any meat in it.....who'd eat that.

Here is my recipe.
4 pounds venison or elk, brisket , rounds, or chuck or all of the above. Bone on!
Water
2 1/2 cups beef suet, finely chopped or grated*
7 1/2 cups chopped tart apples
3 cups liquid which meat of your choice was cooked in
5 cups granulated sugar
3 cups apple cider
1 cup molasses
1/2 cup cider vinegar
3 cups raisins
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground cloves
2 tablespoons ground allspice
2 tablespoons ground nutmeg
Juice of 2 lemons
Juice of 2 oranges
1 cup brandy or more

*Suet is firm beef fat. You need to ask your butcher for this.

Trim fat from meat of your choice.

In a large heavy pan over medium heat, place meat; cover with water and simmer until the meat is tender. Remove from heat and refrigerate meat in cooking liquid overnight.

Remove from refrigerator and remove meat from liquid. Remove all fat from top of liquid; reserve liquid. Separate meat from bones, discard bones. Chop cooked meat into small cubes.

In a large pot, combine meat cubes, suet, apples, reserved liquid, sugar, apple cider, molasses, cider vinegar, raisins, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, lemon juice, and orange juice; simmer for 2 hours. remove from heat. Add brandy and mix together.

Funny - everything in your recipe sounds good to me (except the brandy), yet I still don't think I could eat it.. For the "meat" I would choose venison or chuck.. Weird - huh?

 

[lovesmurfs]

Fruitcake - only the Collin Street Bakery ones (DH's the same way). When he was in Afghanistan, I sent him 3 to share -- no one else would eat it, and he gained 10 pounds the last month he was there!

I like mincemeat enough to partake if I see it, but not enough to make it just for myself (DH and kids hate it). If my parents are visiting for the holidays, I make it because my dad loves it. I made my own mincemeat from scratch once and determined I'm fine with the prepared mincemeat, without meat.

 

[shrubber]

Blech.

Mincemeat Pie without meat is like a Tofurkey for Thanksgiving.

 

[dislaney]

Nay to all of them including beets!

 

[a paper star]

Actually I have never tried Fruitcake or Mincemeat. But I'm a pretty picky eater so I probably wouldn't like either. I really don't like much Holiday foods including Turkey, Ham and Dressing.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I've never had a good fruitcake, but then, I can't stand candied fruits and bits of peel, no matter what they're in.

I've never tried mincemeat pie. Never even seen one in person, and had no idea what was in them untill I read the recipe posted above. Is it considered a dessert or part of a main course? Meat in dessert sounds really gross to me. If it's just the fruits, I might try it if the opportunity ever arises.

Raw beets do taste a little like dirt, but I love pickled beets, and so do my kids!