Maine Venison Mincemeat Recipes

Steps:

• Boil the deer neck in enough water to keep it covered, for 4 hours or until the bones come out clean.
• Whilst the neck is boiling, peel, core and chop the apples.
• Let pot of meat cool overnight.
• Grind the meat, and 1 cup solid suet that forms on top, through a fine plate, quarter and grind the lemon and orange (peel and all)
• Combine everything except 1 pt of cider in a large pot.
• Simmer over very low heat, stirring with care not to burn on. I cook mine on a wood cook stove. A hot top also works well.
• Adjust the consistency with the cider, depending on how much juice the apples produce.
• Simmer for 45 minutes or so, until the mixture is bubbling, but apples are still mostly whole.
• Add brandy to taste.
• Pack into quart mason jars hot, or plastic containers cool and freeze for pies.

Steps:

• Simmer venison neck or roast in unsalted water until tender.
• Cool and remove meat.
• Run meat, suet, raisins and currents through meat grinder with a fine blade attached.
• Combine all the ingredients.
• Place in a roasting pan.
• Stirring occasionally, cook at 325F until the apples are tender and mincemeat is hot.
• Pack in hot pint jars and seal.
• Place in hot water bath for 10 minutes.
• Makes 10 pints.

Steps:

• Grind venison through the medium plate of a meat grinder.
• Grind suet through the fine plate of the meat grinder (you may need to grind the suet twice--there can be no smell of blood on it or it will spoil the mincemeat.).
• Peel and core the apples and chop them in a food processor.
• Place the ground meat and the apples in a large bowl and then mix in the rest of the ingredients, blending well.
• Pack mincemeat into a nonreactive container (such a glazed earthenware) and then cover container with a clean tea towel soaked in rum and then cover with plastic wrap or a lid.
• Store in refrigerator for a least a month to bind flavors together.
• The mincemeat will continue to develop for another 4 months or so and can then be stored indefinitely.
• This amount will make 3 pies. To make pies: prepare pie pastry (two crust pie), lining pie dishes with pastry. Pour filling into prepared pie dishes and cover with top crusts. Blend one egg and 1 tablespoon water and brush top crusts with egg wash. Cut vent holes in top crust. Bake pies at 350-degrees for 40-45 minutes our until golden brown.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the venison, suet, brown sugar, molasses, cider, currants and raisins. Place over medium-low heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes. Add the apples and orange zest and cook until the apples are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and cook another 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool. Will keep refrigerated for up to 5 days.