Christmas in July
You might be wondering why Christmas Recipes in the middle of summer.
The reason is simple I was talking with a friend who had found a jar of Christmas Mincemeat in her kitchen cupboard. She had made a dozen mince pies and her family thoroughly enjoyed them as they had been totally unexpected.
When I heard her talking of mincemeat it just put the longing on me and I had to make them. There is just one thing I didn’t want to make pastry. I just wasn’t in the humour. now my other half makes the most wonderful rhubarb crumble. So under his guidance we made Chistmas Mincmeat Crumnle Cake. i think it is now going to be made at Christmas ad those mince pies could be relegated.
Christmas Mincemeat
Ingredients
450g cooking apple cored and chopped no need to peel.
225g margarine
500g sultanas
350 dried cranberries
225g chopped cherries.
350g soft light brown sugar
Grated zest and juice of 2 oranges
Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
50g chopped almonds (can be omitted)
4 teaspoons cinnamon
1 grated nutmeg
½ teaspoon mixed spice
6 tablespoons rum/brandy
Method
Combine everything except the brandy in the largest roomiest mixing bowl which will fit into your oven. Cover with a tea cloth and leave overnight.
Next day pre-heat oven to 120C / 248F / ¼ gas. Cover the bowl loosely with foil and place it in the oven for three hours.
Remove bowl from the oven. Remove foil and it will look as if it is floating in oil. As it cools stir it from time to time. As the fat congeals it encases the fruit thus preserving it.
While the mixture is it cooling sterilise your jam jars, or preserving jars
When mincemeat is totally cold stir in the brandy. Pack into cooled sterilised jars. Cover with waxed discs and seal.
How to Use Christmas Mincemeat
This Christmas Mincemeat mixture will last for a year stored in a cool dark place. These jars of Christmas Mincemeat provide lovely gifts.
Traditional Mince Pies
Using short crust pastry line 12 cupcake/fairy cake tins. Place a spoonful of mincemeat then cover with a star made from pastry. Bake in middle shelf of the oven 200C / 400F / Gas6 for 20 minutes.
Christmas Crumble Cake
Make a crumble using 330g Plain Flour,225g Margarine,175g granulated sugar. With your fingers mix all three ingredients together.
In a 20cm square ceramic/ baking dish lined with parchment paper lay a layer of crumble about half the mixture. Next add a thick layer of Mincemeat. Cover the mincemeat with the remaining crumble mixture but make sure all the mincemeat is covered.
Bake on the middle shelf for 40 mins at 180C / 350F/ Gas 4 until it is golden brown.
Leave the cake in the dish for at least 20 minutes. Lift it onto a coolong rack still in the parchment paper and allow to cool completely. Cut into squares and serve with custard.