Recipe for family meals :

This recipe for Homemade Mincemeat comes from Salamander Cookshop - www.salamandercookshop.com

Salamander has been one of Britain’s leading cookshops since 1993. Their philosophy is to bring you the best kitchen equipment – quality cookware, bakeware, knives, mills and other kitchen utensils and accessories – from around the world.

Once you've made and eaten your own Mincemeat you will never buy the mass produced type again. It really is very easy and is a far superior product in every way that will be appreciated by all this Christmas time. I tend to make it every two years so it has time to mature and add vegetable suet, at about 75g per 500g jar, just before using it.

Ingredients for Homemade Mincemeat

300g cooking apples, coarsely grated
200g carrots, finely grated
125g dried apricots, coarsely chopped
125g prunes, coarsely chopped
125g glace cherries, coarsely chopped
125g fresh root ginger, finely grated
250g raisins
250g sultanas
250g currants
175g mixed peel
Grated rind and juice of 2 lemons
Grated rind and juice of 2 oranges
125g runny honey or molasses sugar
250ml brandy plus extra for jars
2tsp ground coriander seeds
1 tsp ground allspice berries
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground cardamom pods
½ tsp ground caraway seeds
½ tsp ground star anise

How to make Homemade Mincemeat

• Put all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.

• Cover and leave to stand in a warm kitchen for 2 days.

• Pack tightly into sterilized jars and cover with waxed paper discs.

• Pour 1 - 2 tablespoons of brandy into each jar and seal.

• Before you use, mix 75g vegetable suet into the contents of each 500g jar.
  

Makes about 2.5 kg - shelf life 2 years

Salamander Cookshop
www.salamandercookshop.com