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Interesting, I have forgotten all about Mince Pie. As a kid, it was always an option with Pumpkin Pie at Thanksgiving. I really did not care for it, but many people liked it.

I am curious about its decent to "oblivion". Will have to ask the young people in my family if they even heard of it, I doubt they did.

When were you a kid? I was born in the 90s and I've only heard of it as a British thing. Not quite sure if it's mince meat or chopped fruit?

I wonder when the change happened - and what food trends would have been involved.

The pie in the article is meat-based. I assumed mincemeat as in chopped fruit and brandy, but there's a recipe later in the article.
I was exposed to the chopped fruit version as a kid in the 90s with 80+ year old grandfolks, I hated it. It wasn't a dish in the recent family, though.
In the UK, “mincemeat” is now spiced, chopped fruit, usually with some suet (heavy fat) though these days I imagine you use the vegetable version.

But way-back-when (and I’m not sure exactly how far back we’re talking) the British version would contain meat as well. Plus the traditional pastry would contain lard as well as butter.

Far from vegetarian-friendly!

Personally I love them, and my grandmother used to make them with the lard pastry. Delicious but a heart-attack in waiting.

More years ago then I care to count :) But I grew up in New England and my family has deep root there.
and like apple pie, also British, but it's nice that we share so much.
I know this is an ideal candidate for the oft repeated “what does this have to do with programming” but this was interesting, unexpected, and something I’ll vaguely remember forever. Thanks for sharing and happy it’s here.
That was a heartwarming reply, thank you.
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It would be interesting to try this classical mince pie with real meat! I wonder if it’s commercially produced today.