(I will go first with what is most prominent in my mind as we come to the 1st of December):
Super-simple Mince Pies!
Mince-pies are all about the mincemeat... which you can buy in a jar, but
nothing compares to the homemade stuff. Since it is a matter of chopping everything up and simmering for 20 minutes, anyone can do it. Even cats, I’ll bet.
This mincemeat is sugar and fat/butter/lard free, so it means you can *eat them all* and still feel virtuous. The pastry, however, you will have to turn a blind eye to. And if you don’t make pastry, just buy some of the roll out stuff; **they will still taste better than anything you will buy**.
Ingredients:
(I tripled the quantities as I plan on making a lot of mince-pies over the holidays, oooh yeah…)
75g dates, chopped
150g sultanas
150g raisins
2 apples, peeled and grated
Juice and zest of half a lemon
Juice and zest of one orange
½ tsp of allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon.
90ml apple juice
10mls whiskey or brandy (optional)
Pastry
Method:
Put all the ingredients into a large pot over a medium heat and bring to a simmer. Lower the temperature and allow it to simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until all the fruit is plump and juicy (about 15-20 minutes).
Remove from the heat and pour into sterilised jars, allowing it to cool. You can store it in the fridge for up to two weeks but after that, you will need to freeze it as it doesn’t have sugar or fat to preserve it (It won’t last that long, I promise).
When you need your fix:
Lightly butter a 12-hole pie or patty tin. Cut out 12 circles with a pastry cutter, large enough to fill the base of the prepared tin.
Press gently into each hole, then half-fill with the mincemeat.
Cut out another 12 slightly smaller discs or stars and use to cover the mincemeat.
Press the edges together to seal. Make a small slit in the top of each.
Bake the pies for 20 minutes in a preheated oven (200C/180C Fan/Gas 6) until golden brown.
Eat fourhundredandninetyseven of them hot from the oven while watching your favourite Christmas movie. Because it’s Christmas!!!!!!!