There is absolutely no escape from Christmas now, the shops are laden with gifts and Christmas decorations. Actually some shops had started even earlier than that, well before Halloween. I know some of my super organised friends boasted on Facebook that they've done all their Christmas shopping already weeks ago.
Well, I'm not that organised. I managed to squirrel just one Lego set for Eddie and a Ninja turtles PJs for him. And bought a tin of Roses, which I obviously didn't hide very well, as my older one found it, and started "working" on it already. Since he opened it, I said So be it, let's have some chocs.
I love foodie presents, and if you plan to make your own mincemeat for mince pies, now it's a good time to make a batch, either for yourself or as gifts. If you make the mincemeat in advance, you will give it a good
time to mature.
Mincemeat filling (recipe courtesy of Tate & Lyle)
Ingredients:
225g raisins
225g sultanas
50g ready to eat dried apricots, chopped
100g glace cherries, halved
100ml brandy or rum
1 medium eating apple
1/2tsp ground cinnamon
1/2tsp ground nutmeg
180g Tate & Lyle Darkk soft brown sugar
2tbsp lemon juice
2tbsp water
50g butter
1. To make the mincemeat, put the raisins, sultanas, currants, apricots, glace cherries and brandy in a large mixing bowl. Stir well, then cover and leave in a cool place for 4-6 hours, stirring occasionally, or leave to stand overnight.
2. When the fruit is soaked, peel, core and chop the apple, then blanch it in boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Drain well. Add to the fruit mixture with the cinnamon and nutmeg and stir well.
3. Add the Tate & Lyle Dark Soft Brown Sugar to the fruit mixture. Warm the lemon juice, water and butter in a saucepan until the butter has melted. Add to the fruit and stir well, then pack the mincemeat into sterilized jars. Seal and label. Keep in a cool place for up to 3 months.
In this recipe I used Tate & Lyle Soft Brown Sugar.
For the full range of sugar products, visit Tate & Lyle.
If you fancy baking mince pies, Tate & Lyle have a recipe for this Christmas classic (just click on the link).
I think I'll bake a batch this coming weekend, when my husband will be back from his travel.
Disclosure: I received a selection of Tate & Lyle products to try festive recipes. All opinions are mine.
What a lovely idea for a gift, I bet it tastes so much nicer. Better find a better hiding place for chocolates!
ReplyDeleteThank you Alison! I think I'll buy Roses closer to Christmas, as Sash knows all my hiding places, lol
DeleteOoh look at you getting your festive props out already ! lol - I still have a pumpkin plate on my kitchen table that needs putting away until next year !! -) The mincemeat looks divine and I bet it's so much nicer than the shop bought stuff.
ReplyDeleteThat festive prop has been in the kitchen since last Christmas, tucked into a Christmas-themed mug. I made mince pies yesterday, and they were delish.
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