We’ve just come home from a weekend away to attend a family wedding, and, as ever, with the family we’re so fortunate to have, we had a wonderful couple of days celebrating this happy event. This may be the last opportunity to see them before Christmas. For years we had a pre-Christmas party, but everyone’s lives have become more complicated so it was lovely to see them all on such a happy occasion. We caught up with all their news, and gave them ours, and obviously did talk about Christmas, New Year,, and the next time we would see each other. Home now,, and I was flipping through a cookery book and came to a section of recipes for the festive season. I know it’s early, but maybe I should start to thinking ahead as time really does fly. So, from Philip Harben in 1953…
Mincemeat
4 oz shredded suet or vegetarian version
4 oz brown sugar
4 oz seeded raisins
4 oz sultanas
4 oz currants
1 large cooking apple – peeled, cored and finely chopped
2 tbsp marmalade
2 lemons – grate the rind then juice them into a separate bowl
1 tsp mixed spice (i will add slightly more as I like to actually taste it!)
1/4 tsp grated nutmeg
2 tbsp dark rum or brandy (add more if the mixture doesn’t look sticky and moist enough)_
1 mix the fruit, sugar and suet
2 add the marmalade and mix well
3 mix lemon zest, spices, lemon juice and rum and add
4 stir everything together really well
5 pack into jars, seal closely
6 keep in a cool dark cupboard for a few weeks and it will be ready for mince-pies, tarts etc!!
PS I really do love mince-pies and I struggle to resisit them!
