Mincemeat Pie and other Traditional Thanksgiving Dishes

[fla4fun]

Grandmother made her mincemeat at home but don’t think there was meat in it unless you count the beef suet aka fat.

My grandmother and my mom made homemade mincemeat. It had ground pork and ground beef in it, in addition to the raisins and other fruits. I thought it was disgusting. There was also a recipe that was meat free but contained all the other ingredients, which they just called mince pie instead of mincemeat. Still tasted disgusting. I think I was a teenager when mom quit making those pies. I have never liked meat and fruit together, as I like my fruit sweet and my meat savory.

I am not a huge fan of pumpkin pie, but will eat it if I have to. It needs a ton of whipped cream on it, like two parts whipped cream to one part pie. Extra points if you sprinkle the whipped cream with cinnamon sugar. We do not have pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. We have a homemade cherry pie and a store bought pecan pie for our Thanksgiving desserts, with ice cream available to make it a la mode.

We used to fix a green vegetable and sweet potatoes when I was a child but when it got down to just my sister and me we didn’t eat either one, so they were dropped from the menu. Our menu now is turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry-cherry sauce, and crescent rolls for dinner. We have sandwich fixings on hand for the leftover turkey, along with a variety of potato chips. Once the big meal is over, everyone just fixes a plate when they get hungry for the rest of the weekend.

 

[NotUrsula]

My parents both loved mince pie at Christmas, but Mom gave up on trying to make it because it was impossible to get the required suet in the American South. The only time she managed it was if a relative sent her canned suet from Ireland. I'm not a big raisin fan so I never liked it much. We always have pecan pie of some kind, though, and usually cherry, too, plus a chocolate cake, which makes the children happy. We also all like fruitcake, and all make it, so there are usually a couple of those, too. (We're the house that serves fruitcake to non-family guests and grins while they squirm about deciding whether to taste it -- and then watch it get eaten to the last crumb. My sisters and I make the good stuff.)

 

[tvguy]

My parents both loved mince pie at Christmas, but Mom gave up on trying to make it because it was impossible to get the required suet in the American South. The only time she managed it was if a relative sent her canned suet from Ireland. I'm not a big raisin fan so I never liked it much. We always have pecan pie of some kind, though, and usually cherry, too, plus a chocolate cake, which makes the children happy. We also all like fruitcake, and all make it, so there are usually a couple of those, too. (We're the house that serves fruitcake to non-family guests and grins while they squirm about deciding whether to taste it -- and then watch it get eaten to the last crumb. My sisters and I make the good stuff.)

Fruitcake was a tradition in my household growing up. My mom's older sister and sister in law both made it and sent it as a gift at Christmas time. They all grew up on a farm in Canada and fruitcake was a tradition for them as my Grandmother made it as well.

 

[barkley]

pumpkin pie but only the way I was raised on-double all the spices. anything otherwise tastes too bland to me.

 

[NannyBeBe]

I am in charge of making the pumpkin pies every Thanksgiving. That is our only dessert. I dare not try to get out of making them.

 

[texaslover]

I've never had mincemeat, I'm assuming it's not big in the south. I'd try it if someone brought it though!

We have to have cornbread dressing (stuffing) with onion, celery and sage. My mom puts boiled egg in hers but I prefer mine without so no one gets it when I make it lol. Everything else is pretty traditional: turkey, gravy, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, roasted veggies, yeast rolls, mashed potato casserole (bc everything is better with cheese and bacon!). My mom won't give up hosting, even though she moved to a small seniors village and doesn't want to cook. She's ordering from Cracker Barrel. Sis in law and I will bring dessert of pumpkin pie, some kind of chocolate dessert for nephew, and a blueberry pie I already made and froze.

 

[RedAngie]

When I was a young kid, I thought mincemeat pie was made out of the meat from a mince, which I imagined to be a small furry critter like a squirrel or a chipmunk. Or maybe a bit larger, like a mink or weasel.

I finally tried it about 10 years ago from a supermarket bakery. DH, DD, and I each ate only a bite or two before pushing it away.

 

[RedAngie]

We’re having Thanksgiving dinner at DD’s house and yesterday we were discussing desserts. I offered to bring store bought pie, whatever kind she wanted. But no!!!

She says she’s either going to make a pie (including crust) from scratch, or we’re not having pie at all. And I mean she wants to peel and slice apples and/or scoop out a pumpkin, no filling from a can.

I guess we’re not having pie this year.

Or I might have to run to the supermarket or a bakery Thanksgiving morning.

 

[jlundeen]

We’re having Thanksgiving dinner at DD’s house and yesterday we were discussing desserts. I offered to bring store bought pie, whatever kind she wanted. But no!!!

She says she’s either going to make a pie (including crust) from scratch, or we’re not having pie at all. And I mean she wants to peel and slice apples and/or scoop out a pumpkin, no filling from a can.

I guess we’re not having pie this year.

Or I might have to run to the supermarket or a bakery Thanksgiving morning.

Has she ever MADE pies from scratch? I used to, and years ago, decided that frozen was great since everyone is so full by dessert, they don't savor every bite anyway LOL

we have frozen pumpkin and pecan - the mincemeat I buy frozen pastry and jarred mincemeat - with RediWhip. Life's too short to live it in the kitchen instead of enoying the day with others.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I've only had mincemeat pie once.

ETA: My phone keeps messing up. I'll finish my post later.

 

[design_mom]

I've never had mincemeat pie and didn't know it was considered traditional. (I'm from the US midwest.)

But I understand you on 'breaking tradition.' I have very few complaints about my mother-in-law (overall, I got pretty lucky!), but she is strangely protective of Thanksgiving dinner. The first several years after we were married, she assigned me things to bring to dinner. One year, she said pumpkin pie, so I brought homemade pumpkin pie... she had also purchased several pies, including pumpkin, and there ended up being more pies than people! Then she said I could bring cranberry sauce, so I brought what I thought was a good recipe. I made my mom's cranberry-orange relish, which is REALLY good, if I do say so myself. And she said "sigh... I think I have a can in the pantry," and proceeded to open the jellied kind that looks like a can. (I'm still unsure if she literally expected me to show up with nothing but a can of Ocean Spray.) Attempts to go out on my own and just bring something didn't pan out either. One year, I brought a green salad and she didn't even put it on the table because "there wasn't room." Now, I make green-bean casserole from a recipe she gave me (which I'm pretty sure is the same one on the Campbells soup can) even though I can hardly stand to look at it.

One year, my niece asked if I'd bring deviled eggs and I said "sure!" (that's something I bring to other family get togethers and I know everyone, including MIL, likes them, and she said "No! Deviled eggs don't belong at thanksgiving!" (we always had them at my family's thanksgiving's though). She had a similar freak-out about peas not being thanksgiving-y, but thankfully I wasn't involved in that one at all! I really do not enjoy thanksgiving dinner at their house... but I make my green bean casserole and shut up! I can only imagine what she'd do if I showed up with lemon-meringue pie!

 

[jlundeen]

I've never had mincemeat pie and didn't know it was considered traditional. (I'm from the US midwest.)

But I understand you on 'breaking tradition.' I have very few complaints about my mother-in-law (overall, I got pretty lucky!), but she is strangely protective of Thanksgiving dinner. The first several years, she told me I could bring things to Thanksgiving dinner, so I brought what I thought was a good recipe, but it wasn't the same thing that SHE made, so... (one year, she told me I could bring the cranberry sauce, and I made my mom's cranberry-orange relish, which is REALLY good, if I do say so myself. And she said "sigh... I think I have a can in the pantry," and proceeded to open the jellied kind that looks like a can. (I'm still unsure if she literally expected me to show up with nothing but a can of Ocean Spray.) Another year, I brought a green salad and she didn't even put it on the table becasue "there wasn't room." Now, I make the green-bean casserole even though I can hardly stand to look at it.

One year, my niece asked if I'd bring deviled eggs and I said "sure!" (that's something I bring to other family get togethers and I know everyone, including MIL likes them, and she said "no! Deviled eggs aren't thanksgiving!" (we always had them at my family's thanksgiving's though). She had a similar freak-out about peas not being thanksgiving-y, but thankfully I wasn't involved in that one at all! I really do not enjoy thanksgiving dinner at their house... but I make my green bean casserole and shut up! I can only imagine what she'd do if I showed up with lemon-meringue pie!

Wow...that's pretty controling.

I like to make certain dishes at Holidays, but don't have a problem with changing them... we are a small gathering though, so I figure next generation is making their own traditions - probably a mix of in-laws' traditions and the ones we usually had.

 

[design_mom]

Wow...that's pretty controling.

I like to make certain dishes at Holidays, but don't have a problem with changing them... we are a small gathering though, so I figure next generation is making their own traditions - probably a mix of in-laws' traditions and the ones we usually had.

I wouldn't say she's controlling as a norm -- she's a pretty great MIL most of the time -- but she DEFINITELY is weirdly controlling about Thanskgiving dinner.

 

[AustinTink]

No mincemeat pie here. Our traditional go-tos are pecan, pumpkin and chocolate pies. My MIL will make her southern cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce and a green salad. I’ll make the turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato casserole, Mac and cheese and yeast rolls. Charcuterie tray for our appetizer with meats, cheeses, veggies and fruit. Wassail in the crock pot is always a must for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Way too much food for 6 people.

 

[jlundeen]

No mincemeat pie here. Our traditional go-tos are pecan, pumpkin and chocolate pies. My MIL will make her southern cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce and a green salad. I’ll make the turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato casserole, Mac and cheese and yeast rolls. Charcuterie tray for our appetizer with meats, cheeses, veggies and fruit. Wassail in the crock pot is always a must for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Way too much food for 6 people.

I alway get the biggest turkey I can, and while dishes are being cleared and kitchen cleaned up, leftovers are divided up between households for future meals... it's fun to cook at 20+ pounder!

Our biggest tradition here is that my daughter (who lives about 10 miles away) comes over about 6AM to help get "the bird" in the oven, then we make pillsbury carmel rolls and sit down and have them with coffee... if the parade has started, we might watch for bit before her going back to her house to gather the rest of her family for the feast around 12-1PM. They then end their day by going to the other side of their family gathering for more dessert before heading home and falling into bed.... After everyone leaves here, hubby and I watch a movie, snack on leftovers for supper later, and finish cleaning up.

 

[Skywalker3]

I've never had mincemeat pie.
Pecan is pretty standard around here, sometimes sweet potato. And at my in-laws, pumpkin pie. I don't like pumpkin anything, so this year we're bringing 2 cakes from a bakery.

 

[Hisgirl]

Love Love Love Mincemeat!

I've never made it myself but always used NoneSuch. I tried Robertson's (a tad thick and too sweet) and one other brand that I hated. Nonesuch is the perfect balance! BUT....they were discontinued a year ago.

HOWEVER, they are back! The stores are slow to getting it back in but some do carry it. Check their website. Also, they just opened the store where you can order 2 jars (limit) from them. I have 2 jars on the way!

 

[Imzadi]

For several years we swapped to duck (and don't think I didn't cry a bit, comparing 39cent a pound turkey to $8 a pound duck),

For the last several years we switched to roast duck. (Historically, it is more accurate that the original pilgrims would have eaten duck than turkey.)

I was just talking to a couple of friends this morning, telling them to switch to duck. The wife did mention that it's way more expensive than getting a turkey. They have too many people coming over to make the switch.

 

[tvguy]

Has she ever MADE pies from scratch? I used to, and years ago, decided that frozen was great since everyone is so full by dessert, they don't savor every bite anyway LOL

we have frozen pumpkin and pecan - the mincemeat I buy frozen pastry and jarred mincemeat - with RediWhip. Life's too short to live it in the kitchen instead of enoying the day with others.

We bought the apples today. My wife says it is no big deal. It WOULD be a big deal if I tried to bring a store bought pie into the house. She is even making the stuffing from scratch, including the french bread that will be allowed to dry out and be cut into croutons.

 

[jlundeen]

We bought the apples today. My wife says it is no big deal. It WOULD be a big deal if I tried to bring a store bought pie into the house. She is even making the stuffing from scratch, including the french bread that will be allowed to dry out and be cut into croutons.

That's Great! I hand it to anyone who does all of that, but I save all my energy for Christmas Old English Feast where I do still go all out from Oysters Rockefeller as appetizers, standing rib roast with Yorkshire pudding, and English Trifle from scratch for dessert. I spend days ahead of time preparing and assembling everything, as that one's a little bigger for our family.

To anyone who goes to the max of making all the pies and stuffing and all the other accompaniments, good for you! I'm sure your efforts will pay off and it will all be wonderful.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, I hope everyone enjoys their day!