Homemade Mincemeat (Mince Pies for Joanna Yeates 2011)

Homemade Mincemeat

(News update!  this recipe has been fully tested by mine pie haters and they love it and are so convereted they are going to make some)

 

Join in today

When I heard that Joanna Yeates was going to bake mince pies that fateful night last December I knew I had to set up a mince pies for Joanna Yeates event in her honour (still time to join the event here).   I know I would like it if someone finished baking for me what Istarted and should have enjoyed.  The problem is I don’t really like mince pies, so I had to create a recipe that could change my mind about mince pies even if it was just for her.   To make mince pies you can use a jar of ready made mincemeat and never feel guilty for doing so as it’s the baking and eating that counts I always say.  We always had mince pies at Christmas as my Dad loves them and they truly represent the festive period and family gatherings in my years growing up.  I liked to eat all the way around the outsides of the pie daintily like a mouse (this is the only thing I do daintily) leaving the sweet centre section to last because its the best bit!   After I left home I fell out of love with the mince pie, frankly I only brought them for others to eat because it wasn’t Christmas unless you had at least a plate full of them in the house on a festive plate. 

Festive Aroma

 

Amaretto and Cointreau Infused Mixture
When I was preparing this mincemeat the smell was absolutely amazing it not only wafted though the kitchen but crept through the entire house and gave me a warm fuzzy Christmas sensation that I had experienced as a child but long since forgotten.  The house was a fragrant burst of fruity spiced Yuletide nostalgia which I can assure you is enchanting and an aroma that you can not get in an air freshener or candle no matter how hard they try to recreate it.  The mincemeat was very easy to make and I have to confess that I had to remove myself from the mixture or there would have been none left to cook.  Instead I would have been found hicupping at my computer trying to type this after eating all the alcohol infused mixture and snorting like a pig.  Whilst I am not a big fan of mince pies I think with this filling I will definitely eat some and hopefully manage to sell some of them at the cake sale we are having for Jo- wish me luck!

MInce Pies for Jo

Ingredients
750g Mixed fruit (I used Sainsbury’s basics)
250g Mixed ready to eat berries (includes blueberries, sour cherries etc)
Zest and juice of 2 oranges
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 Bramley apples grated (no need to peel)
3tsp mixed spice
2 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
175g sugar
70ml Amaretto (optional or substitute for your favourite tipple)
30ml Cointreau (optional or substitute for your favourite tipple)

Step One
Grate the apple
Zest and juice the lemon and oranges
Weigh and place all ingredients in a large bowl
Pour over the Amaretto, Cointreau or what ever alcohol you are using ( if you are not using then replace with apple juice)
Leave in a cool dark place covered overnight to soak up the juices 

Step Two
Heat over a low heat for 30 mins stirring occasionally
Pour into a sterilised jar ( I used a large 1 kg jar but you can put into smaller ones)
Seal and put in a dark place for 1 month or however long you have ( it tastes nice when it has just been cooked to be honest!)
Recipe for mince pies and other ideas (for mince pie haters) to follow…