Deck the Vegan Halls: Vegan Villager Holiday Treats Installment #1

Ok so here we go friends!
This is the first of many installments of quick and simple Vegan treats for the holidays! Now, please understand that while I do consider myself a well versed cook and baker and thoroughly enjoy spending the better part of the day immersed in foodie endeavours, I do not, for a moment, think that everyone (vegan or not) has the time or inclination to spend hours in the kitchen. So, with that said I hope to provide you with simple, quick and very tasty treats to enjoy during the holidays season...that just happen to be vegan. Also, no worries here - I will do my best to utilize ingredients that are familiar and easy to find, no venturing into the darkest corners of your local health food store having to know a secret handshake or password :)

Puff Pastry with Mincemeat, Orange Zest & Toasted Almonds

You will need:
1 package of tenderflake puff pastry - thawed
(available at most grocery stores near the frozen pie crust, yellow package)
1.5 cups mincemeat (so far the most cost effective I have found is at bulkbarn)
1/3 cups sliced almonds - toasted
1 orange for zesting

What to do:

• Preheat your oven to 350°
• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (you can find parchment paper at the grocery story either in the baking section or in with wax paper, but DO NOT use wax paper...parchment prevents baked goods from sticking to the pan, if you can't find it, don't worry about it, just use a non-stick sheet)
• Roll out thawed dough  to approximately 9x13 using a rolling pin or wine bottle,whichever is most handy.
• Slather mincemeat into an even layer getting as close to the edge of the pastry as you can without spilling over. Remember we will be rolling this into a log so keep mincemeat displacement theory in mind with creating your layer of filling.
• Zest one orange over the mincemeat mixture - invest in a good rasp for zesting, you'll thank yourself!
• Place almonds in a dry pan on a low heat, watch them very carefully, either shaking the pan to toss the nuts, or turning them with a spatula ever 30 seconds to a minute. Toasting the sliced almonds won't take long at all 3-4 minutes tops. Remember - your nose knows! If you can smell the toasted almonds and they are looking golden it's time to take them off the heat.
• Reserve 3 tbsps or so of almonds, sprinkle the rest of the toasted nuts over the mincemeat layer, being mindful to distribute them as evenly as possible.
• With the longest side facing towards you roll the puff pastry tightly (similar to making cinnamon buns - disregard this reference if you are not familiar) into a log.
• When the pastry in rolled, using a sharp know cut pastry in evenly sized discs. Usually the end bits will not have much filling and may not make the best treats - but waste not want not, they are still delicious!
• Place cut pastry discs onto prepared cookie sheet with approximately 1" in between.
• Sprinkle the tops of each disc with remaining toasted almonds.
• Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown.

I posted this on a whim tonight, and only have a picture of the finished product, I will post step by step instructions the next time I make them.

They are delicious and they freeze well, but why bother.

Side note for those of you perplexed by "mincemeat", according to our friends at Wikipedia:
Mincemeat is a mixture of chopped dried fruit, distilled spirits and spices, and sometimes beef suet, beef, or venison. Originally, mincemeat always contained meat.^[1] Many modern recipes contain beef suet, though vegetable shortening is sometimes used in its place.
* mincemeat from bulkbarn is vegan, inexpensive and yummy!