Jan Millward provides a simple recipe for making your own mincemeat; a perfect way for your residents to make and give gifts this Christmas.
You Will Need
- Jam jars – sterilised by washing, drying and putting on a try in the oven for about five minutes
- 30 oz of mixed dried fruit (a mix of raisins, currants, sultanas, mixed peel and a few chopped-up glace cherries)
- 1 lemon (juice & zest)
- 1 orange (juice & zest)
- 3 big Bramley cooking apples – cored and chopped
- 8 oz shredded suet (you can get vegetarian suet if you prefer)
- 12 oz dark brown sugar
- 3 tsp mixed spice
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 6-8 tbsp brandy
- Pinch of grated nutmeg
Mix all the ingredients, apart from the brandy, in a large ovenproof bowl. Cover and leave overnight to allow the flavours to mingle.
Heat the oven to 110 degrees celsius. Cover the bowl with foil and put it in the bottom of the oven for a couple of hours. All the suet will melt – it will look pretty disgusting, but it just needs stirring up again!
Add the brandy and stir well, then spoon into sterilised jars and put the lids on tightly. Add your labels and tags when it has cooled down.
They make great gifts!
