Back on the Road Again
and more
Mincemeat for Christmas Mince Pies
Gift in a Jar
I am back on the road again and travelling light, as always……..yes, that’s me you may have seen at York Station today with THREE suitcases now, one is my daughter’s case though…….and a laptop bag, a “cabin” bag and assorted small plastic bags; the theory is that I “struggle” back down to near London and offload leave two of the cases with a poor unsuspecting dear friend who foolishly kindly offered to take some heavy stuff back to France for me ~ she has a second home there and knows that I will be laden with Christmas gifts from my family and other essential items needed for the festive season, and as she is driving back and I am on the train she said to bring down as much I can manage……oooops! We are at her house on Christmas day, so I will bring an extra bottle of shampoo champagne to thank her!
With Christmas on my mind, I made a batch of traditional mincemeat whilst at my parent’s house a week or so ago……..a traditional one with suet, BUT vegetarian suet as they are both vegetarians. Mum makes a wonderful mincemeat cake and it is always better when made with home-made mincemeat. This is a VERY easy recipe to make and if you make it now, it will have matured in flavours by the time “mince pie season” is upon us during Advent.
A subtle blend of sweet and savoury with just a hint of alcohol which echoes the ancient practice of adding spice and fruit to meat dishes. I also have a “Boozy Fat Free” mincemeat recipe posted on my blog already, but, if you wish to make a mincemeat recipe with little or no alcohol this is a wonderful traditional recipe for long lasting mincemeat. Mincemeat was always made at home before the advent of commercial brands, and although this is based on an old recipe, this was obviously made after the introduction of sugar into England. In earlier times mincemeat was a mixture of real meat, spices and fruit. The only remaining and symbolic ingredient of this ancient culinary practice is the inclusion of the suet – which can be beef or vegetable suet for vegetarians. Excellent in mince pies and all manner of steamed and sticky puddings. If you cannot obtain suet locally, you can use grated butter instead; place the butter in the freezer until nearly frozen and very firm and then grate into the bowl straight away.
I have a wonderful recipe for Orange and Almond Crumble Christmas Mince Pies which I will share tomorrow……..above and below are some taster photos for now!
I will be off-line for the rest of the day, but I will see you all tomorrow, and I am also VERY excited about meeting Jude (A Trifle Rushed) and Nazema (Working London Mummy) on Tuesday too ~ can’t wait to meet you both darlinks! I will be the one wearing a mince pie in my lapel!!
Karen
Traditional British Mincemeat
for Christmas Mince Pies
(Please note that the measurements are listed in cups, as in old fashioned tea cups. Makes 6 x (225g) 1/2lb jars)
INGREDIENTS:
-
-
2 cups shredded beef suet or 2 cups shredded vegetable suet (or grated butter)
- 2 cups light brown sugar
- 4 cups raisins
- 4 medium cooking apples
- 2 cups currants
- 2 tablespoons candied lemon peel
- 2 tablespoons candied orange peel
- 1 tablespoon citrus mixed candied peel
- 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons mace
- 3 teaspoons ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon almond essence
- 3 tablespoons blanched almonds
- 2 tablespoons brandy or 2 tablespoons apple juice
- 1 lemon, juice and rind of
- 2 -4 tablespoons sherry
-
METHOD:
Chop the nuts and candied peel finely.
Peel, core and chop the apples into small pieces.
Stir together with all the other ingredients and distribute between in sterilised jars, seal and store in a cool, dark place.
Keep for at least 2 weeks before using in mince pies, mincemeat cakes, mincemeat puddings and steamed puddings.
(THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF MY GIFTS IN A JAR POSTS.)
Susan's blog says
Crikey those mincers look to die for…pass me one for breakfast quick!
Marie says
You can't beat homemade mincemeat. Your pies look wonderful. Hope you have a safe and uneventful trip home! I am the same when I go to Canada and then leave to come home. My cases are always a lot heavier than when I arrived! xxoo
Thrifty Household says
I've just been thinking about making a list of dried fruit to buy so that I can make mincemeat…I love the look of those ones with the almonds on top!
Inspired by eRecipeCards says
Enjoy all your visits and this recipe reminds me of my Grandmother so much… nit sure if I have had mincemeat pies since I was 12
Fun post!
La Table De Nana says
Thank you!
thelittleloaf says
I love homemade mince pies and reading this recipe has made me feel so Christmassy! Bring on the festive season 🙂
A Trifle Rushed says
Really looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. Safe journey from York.
Kentish Keg-Meg says
Hope your journey went smoothly.Another great festive post. Cannot wait for the mince pie recipe.
Inside a British Mum's Kitchen says
Well thank you, thank you for providing us with such a great recipe for mincemeat – I always wimp out and buy it in a jar – no longer!!
Yours looks fantastic 🙂
Mary x
Dom at Belleau Kitchen says
divine recipe darling… divine!… those jars are still empty… can you invent a new week day for me please?
Laura@howtocookgoodfood says
I have all the ingredients ready and waiting to make my mince pies, just have to get to it. Crumble topping – love it!
Janice says
I like the look of your little crumble pies, look forward to that recipe.
Baking Addict says
These look great. Love the look of the crumble mince pies too, looking forward to the recipe. Have a great day out tomorrow!
Ana McColvin-Dodsworth says
This looks like a fantastically traditional and tasty mincemeat recipe thank you. How long will it keep once in sterilized jars? and Does the mincemeat need to be stored in the fridge, if storing longer than 2 weeks before openingthe jars? Or once open??
Karen Burns-Booth says
Hi Ana,
Many thanks!
It will keep for a couple of years in sterilised jars and once opened, in the fridge for several months.
Karen
Rachel Shankman says
Hi I was wondering what size an old fashioned tea cup is and how many ounces it should hold for the traditional mincemeat filling recipe.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Hi Rachel, it’s about 90g to 100g. That’s 3 to 3 1/2 ounces.
Karen
Rachel Shankman says
Thank You so Much. Now I can Get down to making this really excellent looking recipe.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Fabulous! 🙂
Vivienne Simmons says
Hi Karen,
I’m was just about to make your mincemeat (even sterilized the jars) when I realized that I didn’t know the size of your old fashioned cup. Would you please let me know the volume it holds in fluid ounces or ml?
This will be my first attempt at making my own, and I had no idea it was such an easy process. I wish I had as I’m finding the commercial brands available in Canada excessively sweet.
Thanks so much for listing the spices separately. Most recipes I’ve seen call for mixed spice, but that’s always difficult for me as it’s not available here, and I find myself searching the internet for a mixture and not knowing which to choose. I wonder if you have a recipe for mixed spice and if you’d be kind enough to share it.
Vivienne
Karen Burns-Booth says
Hi Vivienne
I’ll have to measure my cups but for now here’s a link to my Mixed Spice recipe:
https://www.lavenderandlovage.com/2011/10/gifts-in-a-jar-mixed-spice-old-fashioned-english-pudding-spice.html