Apple and Cranberry Mincemeat

There is nothing better around christmas time than a warm mince pie and a glass of mulled wine. So in preparation for christmas it’s always good to make your own mincemeat to fill the mince pies rather than shop bought. It always tastes better ad you now exactly wants gone into it, so you don’t have to eat anything nasty. For me mince pies remind me of christmas eve, sitting by the the tree and playing monopoly with my family.

What You Need:

90ml Brandy, 75g soft light brown sugar, 200g peeled and grated apple, 75g chopped walnuts, 170g dried cranberries, 2 and a half tsp of mixed spice, 75g raisins, 75g sultanas, Juice and zest of one lemon, Juice and zest of one mandarin, 1tsp Almond Essence, 1tsp vanilla extract.

(This recipe should make around 1 jar or 24 mince pies)

First take half of the brandy and the brown sugar and stir on a low heat until dissolved. Then add the grated apple and mix, letting the apple soak in the syrup. Then add in all of the dried fruit, walnuts, fruit juices, zest and mixed spice and stir. Set the mixture on a medium heat, press it firmly down with the back of the spatula and simmer for 30mins. After take off the heat and cool. Once cool add the rest of the brandy, almond and vanilla. Pot into a warm jar or set aside to make mince pies.

A simple Christmas treat.

Lemon Curd

A nice simple  and sweet recipe for everyone’s favourite jam. I remember eating lemon curd at my Great Grandparents after school when I was young. My granddad would watch horse racing and smoke his pipe while my Nana made me jam sandwiches, tea and a bourbon biscuit. This recipe makes one jar (2 lemons a jar, I would say).

What You Need:

2 Lemons (rind and juice), 2 whole eggs, 2 egg yolks, 150g preserve sugar, 100g unsalted butter.

First whisk the eggs and sugar until combined. Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the egg mixture and the lemon juice and rind. On a low heat, keep stirring the yellow sweetness until thick, take off the heat and cool. Put the mixture in a nice sterilised recycled jar, store in the refrigerator. You could also try the recipe with limes, cranberries or tangerines for delectable variety.

Simple and Sweet, Lemon Curd-tastic.