Some incredibly stupid questions about mince meat.

On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 15:18:15 +0200, MEow <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

You know this by now: I used to be a vegetarian, and am now
adding non-vegetarian items to my diet, but I'm not used to
cooking with meat, so I know next to nothing about it. You
should be used to my stupid questions by now, but this one,
I believe, tops them.

I've thought about it for a long time, and have now decided
that ecological meat is okay with me. Yesterday I bought
two sausages (chorizo(sp?), in case you wanted to know),
and I enjoyed them.

I also bought some mince meat(bovine). It says that the use
by day is today, but I'm off to work soon; however I expect
it will be okay for using tomorrow (yes?). I'll buy an
ordinary cook-book, but I won't get around to it before
that, and I know that there's an ocean of recipes of things
you can make with this, but can anyone help me with some
fast, easy recipes?

I think there may be a language problem here. Did the store
you bought this substance from call or label it "mince
meat?" Or did they call it "ground beef" or "hamburger?"

"Mince meat" is a traditional American filling for [dessert]
pies. It is mostly chopped fruits. The only bovine component
is beef suet, and that is usually left out these days making
"mock mince meat."

In either case, the "use by" date is not a joke, because
the chopping or grinding exposes a lot of surface for
nasties to grow on. If it has been kept properly
refrigerated one day shouldn't make you sick, but I don't
think it is a great idea.

HTH

Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a

"Curse thee, thou quadrant. No longer will I guide my
earthly way by thee." Capt. Ahab

"MEow" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I also bought some mince meat(bovine). It says that the
use by day is today, but I'm off to work soon; however I
expect it will be okay for using tomorrow (yes?). I'll buy
an ordinary cook-book, but I won't get around to it before
that, and I know that there's an ocean of recipes of
things you can make with this, but can anyone help me with
some fast, easy recipes?

I'd pay attention to the use by date on mince (US=ground)
beef. Better yet, buy whole beef and grind it yourself in a
food processor; it's on the surface of beef that bacteria
lurk mostly, and if you buy ready ground beef you multiply
the possibility of a problem, plus you don't really know
what's in there.

Quoted message said:

Rodney Myrvaagnes

Quoted message said:

MEow wrote:

You know this by now: I used to be a vegetarian, and am
now adding non-vegetarian items to my diet, but I'm not
used to cooking with meat, so I know next to nothing about
it. You should be used to my stupid questions by now, but
this one, I believe, tops them.

I've thought about it for a long time, and have now
decided that ecological meat is okay with me. Yesterday I
bought two sausages (chorizo(sp?), in case you wanted to
know), and I enjoyed them.

I also bought some mince meat(bovine). It says that the
use by day is today, but I'm off to work soon; however I
expect it will be okay for using tomorrow (yes?). I'll buy
an ordinary cook-book, but I won't get around to it before
that, and I know that there's an ocean of recipes of
things you can make with this, but can anyone help me with
some fast, easy recipes?

I think there may be a language problem here. Did the store
you bought this substance from call or label it "mince
meat?" Or did they call it "ground beef" or "hamburger?"

"Mince meat" is a traditional American filling for
[dessert] pies. It is mostly chopped fruits.

Duh...

Um, the pie filling product is written "mincemeat", one
word... the chopped animal meat product is two words and is
written "minced meat".

mincemeat 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. Most
modern versions do not use meat. The ingredients are
combined, then covered and allowed to mature for a month for
the flavors to mingle and mellow. Commercially prepared
mincemeat is available in jars in most supermarkets —
particularly around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mincemeat
can be used in many dishes including pies, [censored], puddings
and cookies.

© Copyright Barron's Educational Services, Inc. 1995
based on THE FOOD LOVER'S COMPANION, 2nd edition, by
Sharon Tyler Herbst.

---= BOYCOTT FRENCH--GERMAN (belgium) =--- ---= Move UNITED
NATIONS To Paris =--- Sheldon ```````````` "Life would be
devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."

Hi,

MEow is using, intentionally or otherwise, Brit-speak.
Here (UK) mincemeat also refers to the sweet stuff that
is stuck into pies and the like around Christmas. But,
minced meat, or plain 'mince', is the rough equivalent of
ground beef although pork, chicken and turkey are common.

The confusion comes about because in years gone by the
sweet stuff had meat in it. It still does in a way as
suet (kidney fat) is often a constituent part.

As for recipes, I'm no expert but I very often make a
quick meal with it by chopping up an onion, browning it,
adding the mince, lightly browning that, draining off the
excess fat, adding a can of chopped tomatoes and some
puree, a little sugar, chilli or a stock cube and then
throw in anything edible that comes to hand to bulk it
out. Eat with rice, potatoes, pasta, etc.

Use Italian seasoning instead to make a crude spag-bol,
curry powder for a basic keema or lots of chilli for a
passable CCC.

Cheers - Joe

PENMART01 said:

Duh...

--Blair
""

MEow had something important to tell us on Fri, 02 Apr 2004 15:18:15
+0200:

Quoted message said:

You know this by now: I used to be a vegetarian, and am now
adding non-vegetarian items to my diet, but I'm not used to
cooking with meat, so I know next to nothing about it. You
should be used to my stupid questions by now, but this one,
I believe, tops them.

I've thought about it for a long time, and have now decided
that ecological meat is okay with me. Yesterday I bought
two sausages (chorizo(sp?), in case you wanted to know),
and I enjoyed them.

I also bought some mince meat(bovine). It says that the use
by day is today, but I'm off to work soon; however I expect
it will be okay for using tomorrow (yes?). I'll buy an
ordinary cook-book, but I won't get around to it before
that, and I know that there's an ocean of recipes of things
you can make with this, but can anyone help me with some
fast, easy recipes?

You need to cook the mince today to be sure. They put a
useby date on processed meat for a reason - the grinding
process gives it a lot more surface area to potentially grow
bacteria. Tomorrow will probably be okay if your fridge is
cold and if you stored the meat promptly, but better safe
than sorry!

If you don't want to take the time to cook it fully today,
then chop up an onion and get some garlic and fry the mince
with them (and some salt and pepper for seasoning) It cooks
pretty quickly, say fifteen minutes from start to finish...
The cooked mince can then be stored in the fridge for up to
a week before you cook it again into a full meal.

Alternatively just make some spaghetti sauce - you can't get
much easier than that. One tin of tomatoes, some tomato
paste, some onion and celery and dried or fresh herbs and
garlic. Chop the onion and celery and brown them, then add
the mince and brown that too. Stir it around and break it up
with the spoon so that it's in very small lumps rather than
one big 'packet-shaped' piece. Once it's all browned add the
tomato and herbs and garlic and a bit of water and simmer it
for half an hour. Voila. Spaghetti sauce ready for use 🙂

--
~Karen AKA Kajikit Lover of shiny things...

Made as of 2 April 2004 - 61 cards, 28 SB pages (plus 2
small giftbooks), 52 decos & more!

Visit my webpage: kajikitscorner.comkajikitscorner.comOpen ↗ Allergyfree
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"MEow" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'll buy an ordinary cook-book, but I won't get around to
it before that, and I know that there's an ocean of
recipes of things you can make with this, but can anyone
help me with some fast, easy recipes?

TYVM, in advance.

They don't get much easier than this! Charlie

VIOLET SMITH'S SOLITARY MEAT LOAVES

Recipe by: Charlie

1 lb. ground/minced beef 1 small onion, chopped 2 tbs. bread
crumbs 2 tbs. catsup/tomato sauce
3/4 tsp. salt
4/4 tsp. pepper 1 egg

Mix all the ingredients well and shape into 4 loaves. Bake
on a baking sheet in a 350F (180C/Gas 4) oven 25 minutes.
Four servings.

While frolicking around in rec.food.cooking, Kajikit of If you knew me,

you wouldn't ask... said:

You need to cook the mince today to be sure. They put a
useby date on processed meat for a reason - the grinding
process gives it a lot more surface area to potentially
grow bacteria. Tomorrow will probably be okay if your
fridge is cold and if you stored the meat promptly, but
better safe than sorry!

Now it's tomorrow, compared to when I posted the question;
I'll cook it very thoroughly, though (well, I would in any
case). It's still in the original, unopened package and
has been in the refrigerator the whole time. Refrigerator
is 4C/39F.

I meant to cook it yesterday, but they called from work. I'm
a temp, see? If something similar happens again, is it then
best for me to just toss the meat in the freezer if I don't
have time for anything else, and the use-by date is that
day? Our freezer is -21C/-5,8F
--
Nikitta a.a. #1759 Apatriot(No, not apricot)#18 ICQ#
251532856 Unreferenced footnotes: nut.house.cxcgiOpen ↗
bin/nemwiki.pl?ISFN “I've found that after drinking vodka,
lots and lots of vodka, that neither I nor anyone around
me cares that my breath smells a little like garlic...”
Jeff B (r.f.c)

While frolicking around in rec.food.cooking, Joe McElvenney of BT

Openworld said:

As for recipes, I'm no expert but I very often make a
quick meal with it by chopping up an onion, browning it,
adding the mince, lightly browning that, draining off
the excess fat, adding a can of chopped tomatoes and
some puree, a little sugar, chilli or a stock cube and
then throw in anything edible that comes to hand to bulk
it out. Eat with rice, potatoes, pasta, etc.

I'll make something like that. Thanks to all who have
replied to help
me.
--
Nikitta a.a. #1759 Apatriot(No, not apricot)#18 ICQ#
251532856 Unreferenced footnotes: nut.house.cxcgiOpen ↗
bin/nemwiki.pl?ISFN “I've found that after drinking vodka,
lots and lots of vodka, that neither I nor anyone around
me cares that my breath smells a little like garlic...”
Jeff B (r.f.c)