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A couple of timely new Yahoo! recipe categories illustrate the multiple varieties of mincemeat. Mince Pie and its associated subcategory Meatless Mince Pie mention a myriad of ingredients. Blanche Park's grandma's recipe won a prize at the Iowa State Fair. The filling includes pork, beef, suet (hardened beef fat), apples, raisins, sorghum (a sweet syrup), cranberries, sour cherries, and spices. Scottish mince pie is a savory dish made with ground beef, onion, and beef bouillon. At the opposite end of the minceable spectrum, we found Mincemeat Ice Cream Pie -- brandy-spiked mincemeat and chopped nuts are added to French vanilla ice cream and whipping cream for a uniquely festive frozen dessert. Looking for mince sans meat? Most of the vegetarian recipes we encountered feature apples, nuts, currants or raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. One variation uses green tomatoes that the frost left behind. For a little more definition, we stopped in at the Epicurious Food Dictionary: "A rich, spicy preserve made of fruit (usually chopped cherries, dried apricots, apples or pears, raisins and candied citrus peel), nuts, beef suet, various spices and brandy or rum. Old-time mincemeats included minced, cooked lean meat (usually beef) ¿ hence the name." Traditionally, mincemeat ingredients are allowed to mingle, mellow, and blend for a month before being turned into festive pies, tarts, or puddings. But in this age of convenience, you can find ready-made mincemeat in a jar.
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