Great Meals for a Change

Mincemeat Tarts

Sweet little treasures of delicate spices in an apple and tomato base

Ingredients:

• 4 cups tart apples, peeled and chopped
• 4 cups green tomatoes, chopped
• 1 ½ cups brown sugar
• 1 ½ cups raisins
• 1 ½ cups currants
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• ¼ tsp ground allspice
• ½ tsp mace
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 2 tsp orange peel, grated
• 1 lemon (grated peel and juice)
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup apple cider vinegar
Pastry Ingredients:
• 1 ½ cups flour
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ cup butter
• ¼ cup ice cold water (must be ice cold)

Instructions:

• In a saucepan, mix apples with tomatoes and add remaining filling ingredients.
• Bring gradually to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer gently, uncovered, for approximately 2 hrs to thicken. Stir occasionally to avoid burning.
• While the filling is cooking, make the pastry. Using your fingers or a fork, crumble together flour, salt and butter.
• Add cold water and form into a ball.
• Chill in the refridgerator for at least 10 minutes (or until the filling is ready) and then roll out into a large circle about ¼ inch thick.
• Cut out pastry into circles with a drinking glass, and form into tart shells in an oiled muffin tin.
• Drain any excess liquid from the filling and pour it hot into the tart shells.
• Bake at 375°F for 10-12 minutes until the crusts are golden brown.