Re: Memere Rousseau's Tourtiere (Meat Pie Recipe)

[lillypaddle]

I'm going to make it, most likely next weekend. The recipe calls for cloves and cinnamon as the spices, however, the comments are full of people saying NO to those. Seems like most people (and all their grandmothers) use "Bell's Poultry Seasoning." Well, I found a recipe for it, and am going to go with that. A few people mention using cloves, but turn up their noses at the cinnamon. I really have never cooked with cloves, except pumpkin pie. Here is my question:

How do cloves work alongside of poultry seasoning? Should I go ahead and just leave the cloves out, or should I use a little (like 1/4 tsp) with the Bell's?

Here is the Bell's recipe so that you can see what flavors are included:

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon rosemary

1 tablespoon oregano

1 teaspoon sage

1 tablespoon ginger

1 tablespoon marjoram

1 tablespoon thyme

1 teaspoon pepper

Once again, thanks for your feedback in advance!

[jpak]

1. Ugh

The original recipe with cinnamon and cloves is the best.

That's the way my French Canadian grandmother made it

[lillypaddle]

2. Thanks

Now I don't know what to do. I'm going to go read over the comments again.

ETA a sampling of the comments:

Yes, Bells seasoning was what was used by my Mamere also! I have never been able to match the flavor of her creations. I think it is a mixture of love and pork fat. 🙂

Belinda G. December 8, 2021
I too grew up making my meat pies with Bell’s Seasoning. My father grew up in New Brunswick Canada. I used to make these for my husband’s French Canadian grandfather and he looked forward to them every Christmas. All 3 of our sons and their families love it also. I now make them for Thanksgiving, Christmas or whenever the mood strikes. Of course you have to make sure the ground pork is available.

Reply
Doris G. December 16, 2019
Try using allspice and thyme, rather than cloves and cinnamon. BEtter taste, I think.

Of course there are many more comments, some suggesting bread instead of potato for the binder, and some saying Bell's is only for a meat stuffing in the turkey.

Guess I'll toss a coin, and if it isn't to my liking, try it the other way next time.

[jpak]

3. Your posted recipe is for a meat pie

And French Canadians would loudly disagree with the comments from away.

[lillypaddle]

4. Okay, thanks

[royable]

5. Cinnamon and nutmeg. Lots of nutmeg.

I grew up with that and can get guarantee that it’s delicious.

[lillypaddle]

6. No cloves?

Thanks.

[royable]

7. Well, I don't know. I don't have the recipe on me, but will ask a relative who just made it.

If there were clove in what I grew up with, I don't remember it strongly.

I'll see if I can get our family recipe and post it here.

But from the comments in that original article, sounds as though everyone had their own way of making it, so you probably can't go wrong.

[lillypaddle]

8. I think you are right about that

Everyone makes it a little differently.