Many people don’t like thinking about Christmas until the beginning of December – I know I don’t! However, there are a few things that need to be prepared well in advance for them to be at their peak for the big day. Christmas cake, sloe gin, piccalilli and home-made mincemeat are just a few.
I’m very fussy about my mincemeat; I don’t like it to be overly citrusy – so, very little orange or lemon zest & juice and no mixed candied peel. In addition, it needs to be veggie – so can only contain vegetarian suet. The only way to ensure it tastes the way I like it is to make it myself. A very easy job and well worthwhile. It works out much cheaper than the cost of ‘luxury’ jars of the stuff in supermarkets. Once made, potted up and put away correctly, it stores unopened for years!
Save my luxury home-made mincemeat recipe to Pinterest!
- 200g/7oz currants
- 200g/7oz raisins
- 200g/7oz sultanas
- 100g/3½oz dried cranberries
- 100g/3½oz figs, roughly chopped
- 100g/3½oz prunes, roughly chopped
- 30g/1oz blanched almonds*, roughly chopped
- 1 medium cooking apple, peeled, cored & finely diced
- 300g/10½oz muscovado sugar
- 200g/7oz vegetable suet
- zest & juice of 1 lemon
- 3tsp mixed spice
- ½tsp cinnamon
- ¼tsp nutmeg
- 6tbsp rum or brandy
- 100g/3½oz butter, cubed
- Put all the ingredients except the alcohol into a large saucepan over a low heat
- Stir to ensure the contents are well combined and the suet and butter have melted (about 10 minutes)
- Allow to cool completely before stirring in the alcohol
- Decant into sterilised jam jars - gently bang the bottom of each jar to fit as much of the mincemeat in as possible.
- Seal the jars immediately and store for at least a month before use
- *To blanch almonds, put them in a heat-proof bowl and cover with boiling water. Allow to stand for 1-2 minutes before draining through a sieve. Pat them dry on some kitchen paper or clean tea towel. You can quickly get the skin off one by one by pinching the broader, rounded end of the nut
The only Christmas food preparations I’m doing at the moment is in my mind. I’m terrible for leaving it to the last minute.
No Christmas food preparations… yet!
I haven’t started any Christmas food preparations yet and it is starting to hang over my head
No Christmas food preparations needed, we are on a restrictive diet.
Christmas Cakes, one for us and one for my elderly neighbour
I have not yet started x
None only just started on gifts
I have bought some biscuits and tin of chocolates for Christmas but will leave the rest until the week before.
The turkey has been bought and she’s a beauty! Booze is starting to get accumulated and some bits and pieces done already… yes of course we have already dug into the mince pies lol
Only just started thinking about a shopping list!
Buying christmas presents earlier this year so I’m not rushing.
my christmas cake is made, my turkey ordered and chocolates aand shortbread bought
No as I think we are all going out for an Indian which I am not sure about. I think I would prefer the traditional turkey.
Just mental currently, I am only cooking for 3 on the big day so I am quite lucky!
I have been so busy I’ve barely had time to think about food let alone start it
Will be making Christmas pudding but not yet x
Not doing any prep yet, although about a week before I’ll be soaking the fruit to make a Caribbean Black Christmas cake. You have to soak the fruit in rum & sherry for at least 3 days.
Looks amazing!!
I’ve been pickining some onions and made my fruit cake already.
Noooo I have made a list and asked my mum to make the cake …. but thats about all …
I have made the pudding and ordered the meat
The only preparations I have done is to order my food shop to be delivered on December 23rd
I’ve just got some ingredients in for a recipe I always make – diabetic coconut pyramids for my grandpa. No other prep yet!
MY MUM USED TO MAKE HER OWN MINCEMEAT, BUT I DON’T THINK IT’S FOR ME; I’M NOT A MASSIVE MINCE PIE FAN.
Still doing mincepies and marshmallow snowmen for Brownies Christmas Fayre
I am more of a last minute cook but I like to watch festive cookery programmes!
I’m just doing the parsnips and carrots for our family christmas dinner so i haven’t done any prep yet.
No preparations yet – just lists!
the only preparation I’ve done food wise is ordering it!
This sounds yummy would love t trey it
Ive never made mincemeat but think I’m going to try your recipe looks lovely, the puds done,so too is the cake and pickled onions
Not yet!