Mince Pies

Ingredients

• 6 pounds lean fresh beef
• 1 pound beef suet
• 5 pounds apples, chopped
• 2 pounds raisins, seeded
• 2 pounds currants
• ½ pound citron, chopped
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon grated nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon cloves
• 1 tablespoon allspice
• 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt (formerly 'bay salt')
• 3 pounds brown sugar
• 1 quart wine
• 1 pint brandy
• liquor from boiling the meat

Directions

1. Boil the beef until tender, then let it cool and chop finely.

2. Chop the beef suet and mix it with the chopped beef.

3. Add the chopped apples, raisins, currants, and citron to the mixture.

4. Stir in the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, salt, and brown sugar.

5. Pour in the wine, brandy, and the liquor from boiling the meat.

6. Store the mixture in a stone jar, covered with double paper.

7. Prepare the mixture at least one day before using it for pies.

8. When making pies, add a little more wine and chopped apples to the filling.