Colour it green

mincemeat

Homemade mincemeat is a doddle to make and the tastes a lot better than shop bought.

1 lb bramley apples

8 oz suet

8 oz raisins

28 oz mixed dried fruit and peel

12 oz soft dark brown sugar

2 oranges

2 lemons

3oz flaked almonds

5 tsp ground mixed spice

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 nutmug, grated

7fl oz brandy

Core and dice the apples ( you can leave the peel on, chop to the size of apple pieces you would like to find in your mincepies). Zest the oranges and lemons with a zester, then chop the zest up a bit. Mix in all the rest of the ingredients, then pack into clean jars. The brandy content should help to keep the ingredients from going off, but I prefer to store the mincemeat in the fridge until used.

Ideally, make this a couple of months before needed