If I had to sum up a homemade christmas in one word- it'd be making festive mince pies at home. There are some great recipes online including the one featured above by Jeena's Kitchen. But I find they taste best when you make your own mincemeat. It's actually easy to make mincemeat. Using this vegan mincemeat recipe.
What is mincemeat? Mincemeat is an English Christmas tradition. It used to feature meat, nuts, citrus fruit, dried fruit and brandy. But over the years the meat content has been reduced to just suet. Because I'm trying to cut meat out of our diets where not necessary my version excludes suet making it a lovely vegan Christmas recipe.
What is mincemeat? Mincemeat is an English Christmas tradition. It used to feature meat, nuts, citrus fruit, dried fruit and brandy. But over the years the meat content has been reduced to just suet. Because I'm trying to cut meat out of our diets where not necessary my version excludes suet making it a lovely vegan Christmas recipe.
Essentially mince meat is a one pot recipe. Which is why making mincemeat at home is really easy.
All you need is a good mix of mixed fruit, apples, spices and citrus fruit.
For ours I used
All you need is a good mix of mixed fruit, apples, spices and citrus fruit.
For ours I used
Spices in mincemeat
1tsp Nutmeg
1tsp Ground Cinnamon
75g Ground Almonds
450g Raw cane sugar or brown sugar
1tsp Nutmeg
1tsp Ground Cinnamon
75g Ground Almonds
450g Raw cane sugar or brown sugar
Dried fruit in mincemeat
250g Raisins
250g Small currants
250g Yellow Sultanas
250g Raisins
250g Small currants
250g Yellow Sultanas
4 large bramleys peeled and chopped (1.5kg)
Citrus fruit in Mincemeat
Zest and juice of two large oranges
Zest and juice of two lemons (unwaxed)
75g citrus peel
Zest and juice of two large oranges
Zest and juice of two lemons (unwaxed)
75g citrus peel
Put all the ingredients in a large ceramic or glass mixing bowl and leave under a clean tea towel over night to infuse
Once you've left it overnight, or for 12 hours, put the bowl into the oven at 110c for three hours.
Then pour into sterilized jars. This mincemeat recipe will keep for 3 years. Meaning it's even easier to have a cheap homemade Christmas next year.
I am will be giving mine away as homemade Christmas presents too. I hope people appreciate this simple homemade gift packed with festive flavours.
Then pour into sterilized jars. This mincemeat recipe will keep for 3 years. Meaning it's even easier to have a cheap homemade Christmas next year.
I am will be giving mine away as homemade Christmas presents too. I hope people appreciate this simple homemade gift packed with festive flavours.
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| I'm putting homemade gifts under our tree this year |