Don't Suet the Small Stuff

Basics Cooking Principle
Beef suet, a key ingredient in mincemeat pies, is a dense, hard fat taken from around a cow's kidneys and is available in many butcher shops or online. It might look intimidating, but it's actually easy to work with....
... Mincemeat pie made the traditional way is unlike any other pie you'll ever eat. Why? Beef suet. Like most time-honored mincemeat recipes, the two we feature in "A Prodigal Pie" call for it because it enriches the texture and mellows the flavor of the boozy, highly spiced fruit filling.
Similar in consistency to high-grade pork lard, beef suet is a dense, ...

Full Story: Suet 101; by Beth Kracklauer, on Saveur.com