A Holiday Feast

Chestnuts roasting on an open firepit...Jack Frost blowing from your central air...

Yes, it's Christmas in July folks! And today's topic on the Ultimate Recipe Swap is Christmas Dinner Dishes.
Two holiday meals that made their way to our homes come Thanksgiving were Mincemeat Pie and a French Canadian Torterrie Pie (pronounced "tootkay" pie). I never liked either when I was a child...but now as an adult I cherish these recipes, because they bring back memories of when I would peer out my window a few days before Christmas and see my Nana and Gramps driving up the road in their little Ford Granada, wearing their Santa hats, singing Christmas tunes, bearing Christmas pies. Oh, those were certainly the days...

French Canadian Tourtiere Pie (meat pie) or ("Tootkay" Pie)

1 refrigerated pie crust
1/2 pound of lean ground beef
1/2 pound lean ground turkey
l large onion, finely chopped
1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed (I run through processor)
1/2t. ground cloves
Spices to taste: parsley, sage, flavored salt, pepper

Directions:
Cook meat slowly, adding about a cup of water. (Do not brown meat, just cook slowly with water) Simmer onions until soft and add with crackers to the meat when meat is cooked.
Add your spices.
Place bottom of pie crust into greased pie plate.
Pour mixture into prepared crust, top with remaining crust and bake at 400 degrees until crust is brown, about 30 to 40 min.
Slice and serve with ketchup on top or on side.
Can be frozen: Bake only 25 minutes and freeze. Defrost and bake until crust is brown.


Easy Mincemeat Pie:
1 9 inch pie crust
1 jar mincemeat
3-4 apples, diced (Macintosh are best)
1 t. orange zest
1/2C. OJ
1/4C. sugar

Directions:
Place crust in prepared pie plate.
Combine all ingredients and pour onto crust.
Sprinkle some sugar over top.
Bake at 350° until bubbly, about 45 mins.

Photo credits: sylndave, crd!