Christmas Recipes from June at Hints and Things

15/12/2006

Make your own Mincemeat this Christmas

June at www.hintsandthings.com tells us about her favourite special Christmas recipes. She said: "Having been asked on several occasions what "mincemeat" is I thought the following recipe may be useful."

More festive suggestions can be found at Hints And Things with a special selection of ideas using Magimix food processors

Ingredients for Delicious Home Made Mincemeat

1.6 kg. (3 1/2 lb) dried assorted fruit

225 g (8oz) apples, peeled, cored and grated. Use a firm, hard type of cooking apple. Juicy apples may make the mixture too moist.

100 g (4oz) chopped blanched almonds

450 g (1 lb) dark soft brown sugar

175 g (6 oz) beef suet shredded

5 ml. (1 tsp.) nutmeg grated

5 ml. (1 tsp) cinnamon ground

A lemon, rind grated and juice

An orange grated rind a juice

300 ml. (1/2 pint) brandy or sherry

These amounts will make 2.5 kg. (5 1/2 lb)

Method

Put the mixed fruits, almonds and apples into a bowl. Add sugar, lemon, suet, spices, orange rinds and juice and brandy or sherry. Mix thoroughly together

Cover mincemeat and leave standing for 2 days. Stir again well and put into jars and seal. Allow at least 2 weeks for the mincemeat to mature before using it.