Veggie Mincemeat

The filling in mince pies is called mincemeat as it used to have meat in it! Euuughw! Then from the mid-twentieth century the term was also used to describe a mixture that does not include meat but that might include animal fat in the form of suet. This can easily be substituted for vegetable suet which you can get in most supermarkets. Two essential treats in the warm up to Christmas include mince pies and mulled wine…here’s a recipe for mincemeat, I’ll get to the mulled wine later…

• 225g currants
• 170g raisins
• 170g sultanas
• 85g apricots
• 180g cooking apple, peeled and chopped
• 170g vegetable suet
• 100g roasted, chopped hazelnuts
• juice of ½ lemon
• juice and zest of ine small tangerine/clementine
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• 50ml brandy
• 20ml port
• 170g dark brown sugar

Mix everything up in a big bowl and stand for an hour or two. Wash some glass jars in hot soapy water, rinse and heat at 180°C for five minutes. Let the jars cool then spoon the mixture in. Leave for at least two weeks.