… if i’m honest with you, dear reader, which I try to be… I get quite bored of the blog world at Christmas… it’s all preserving, gingerbread houses and snow-flaked shaped cookies… it’s enough to make the ordinary Joe on the street feel quite inadequate… it’s as though we’re all supposed to turn into mega-Martha-Stewart’s and create this perfect, totally unachievable Victorian Christmas… plus it all becomes rather repetitive as though we’re all happy to sit back and slip into some kind of brandy induced Christmas coma and just except yet another blogger smooshing up a cake, sticking it onto the end of a lolly-pop stick and call it baking…
that said, i’ve just made a fabulous batch of whisky mincemeat, something i’ve never made before so i’m pretty happy with myself… it is truly one of the most satisfying things to have been produced in my kitchen… the intense aroma that filled the house was pure Christmas and I am now a total convert to the process… plus I cannot wait to make mince pies with my own mincemeat, something that will no doubt give me proper self-satisfaction… oh and I promise to blog about them… and bore you all to death!
Whisky Mincemeat
1lb cooking apples (I used the last of the Gunby Apples)
8oz vegetarian shredded suet
12 oz raisins
8oz sultanas
8oz currants
8oz whole mixed candied peel – finely chopped
12oz soft dark brown sugar
grated rind and juice of 2 oranges
grated rind and juice of 2 lemons
2oz almond slivers
4 teaspoon ground mixed spice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 tablespoons whisky (I used the amazing Glenmorangie Finealta)
– in a very large bowl, mix all the ingredients together except for the whisky, cover with a cloth and leave for 12 hours
– transfer to a baking tray, cover loosely in foil and place in a very low over (120C) for 3 hours
– allow it to cool, stir in the whisky and transfer to sterilised jars
eat and of course, enjoy!
and of course i’m entering this into Vanessa’s fabulous Let’s Make Christmas event because quite frankly my kitchen deserve that goddam Kenwood K-Mixer thank you very much!
agree…and yet…can't help but create christmassy treats and share!! although…i've forgone the turkey for a ginger glazed ham this year served with a seasonal salad, roasted squashes and a few “of the trimmings”…we'll see how it goes over. I much rather graze on cheese and smoked salmon anyway!!! xxx love the looks and imagined smells of your mincemeat!
Oh hell, I'd forgotten all about Christmas. When is it this year?
I'm in bah-humbug mode already but this looks amazing – I haven't made mincemeant since my domestic science lessons at school and I just happen to have a drop of that very same whisky in the cupboard…..
Funny I have been thinking alot about the blog myself and have just posted up a chicken dish because I am not sure about how many Xmassy things I should include versus non Xmassy!
The main reason I make mincemeat is to fill the house with it's wonderful smell, and your Whisky version sounds like my kind of mincemeat x
I love Christmas and I envy all these bloggers who are so industrious weeks before hand. I leave mine until the last minute every year, but I manage to make my own mince pies (they are a must even with bought mincemeat). Even here in Australia I still cook the turkey with all the trimmings and somehow pull together a fabulous Christmas lunch for 20 or more on the front verandah. I love Christmas and I love your Whisky mincemeat, maybe I can squeeze some time to give it a go, it would make my mince pies even more special.
I LOVE the look of that mincemeat Dom and I DO know what you mean re. Christmas blogging! I am probably one of the worst, but I DO try to intersperse my posts with “normal” stuff too…..but, I am posting a daily Advent Calendar this year, so it's hard not to post the odd gingerbread biscuit here and there!! For me, you see, it is simply a magical season and when I am away from my family, whom I miss, I tend to overcompensate by doing lots of seasonal baking……but I am trying to be better this year and break free from it!!
I LOVE your jars and the decoration and I adore mincemeat!
Karen
I nearly fell over when I saw that you were using Glenmorangie in your mincemeat. Only the best for the Belleau boys eh? Slainte!
Did someone mention Christmas? Funny I haven't even realised ;P after reading blog after blog with xmas bakes and treats! Good luck with winning the K-mix, I think this post is deserving. Love the jars and decoration and whisky mincemeat sounds perfectly christmassy!
Great job Dom!!
I've just mede something like that in a jar…
Happy Sunday
The jars look delightful. The smell of the mincemeat baking is a gift for sure. I have never had home made mincemeat but heard you will never go back to the jarred brand once you make your own. I do love mincemeat pie warm from the oven.
Well Mr. Stewart you've outdone yourself – again! LOL!!!
I love mincemeat, and I'm thrilled that your's does not have meat! I love the fruity and spicy type!
I'd like to give this a try, because I enjoy mincemeat pie, I can't say that I will . . . but one thousand thank you's for the recipe!
Blog away my friend!
Oh dear – I have to admit it's very hard not to get sucked into the Christmas making and baking and I think because it is such a wonderful time of year we all get a little carried away. It is refreshing to read a post that refers to something other than food for Christmas though. Anyway, love the sound of your mincemeat.
Christmas cake on the end of a lolly stick.Now you´ve got me thinking!!!!
I'm super surprised you don't enjoy Christmas baking. I know that sometimes it does get standardized, but for some reason I absolutely love it. Besides, all baking can be pretty standard. I mean, there's only so many variations on the great chocolate cake, apple pie, meringue tart etc etc. But hey, each to their own!
As for your mincemeat, it looks perfect and I never have made my own. You're so good! Love the red snowflakes in the picture too.
I'm on the same page, get over faced by it all however I will join in with some things…its for the children you know…
Making your own mincemeat is so flammin easy its a sin to buy it in a jar and yours looks very good.
I am always on the hunt for the bestest mince pie recipe ever (I found a hazelnut pastry I'm going to try for mine this year). x
My own mom has never been much of a cook but she did make a mean mincemeat tart! Love the addition of whisky Dom!!!
Guilty as charged! Yep, I'm one of those bloggers whose blog this time of year is all about Christmas…What? you can eat other items that don't involve mincemeat/festive cookie shapes/sherry?!
Ha ha you are so martha's lovechild! It does look great. Love the felt decs. God I'm so inadequate at christmas – waitrose just does it so well!!
If only I had time for Christmas baking. But look at you being all Goddessy and making us mortals feel inadequate! 😉
Good luck – I'd love for you to win the K-Mix.
Nice mincemeat – like that mincemeat. I pretty much gave up Christmas some years ago so I promise I won;t be boring anyone with Christmas postings. Unless, of course, I do.
Your mincemeat sound so truly scrumptious that I'm sure it will be wonderful in home made mince pies, just like the ones I made and am posting tomorrow!
Sorry;-)
But there will be Birthday cake next week! Jude x
I think I could just dive in to that whisky mincemeat. I love this time of the year and I do understand your point about all the Christmas postings 🙂
I agree with you too, Dom about the Christmas thing; there's a tremendous amount of pressure (and not just on the blogs) to make like you say – gingerbread houses, home-made Christmas puds and proper big traditional Christmas cakes, even if we don't like them very much. I just realised this year that we all just get on with eating the same old things just because it's Christmas. So we decided this year I'm going to make a super deluxe Chocolate cake! haha! Have never made my own mincemeat, but your post has made me want to. Love your posts x
Red snowlakes? I want some. Now you have trumped us all with your whiskey mincemeat – my oh my, I'm looking forward to those mince pies, even if they don't come on sticks 😉
I've never tried making my own mincemeat and to be honest have only ever made my own mince pies a few times.
I'd really like to give it a whirl….,
This would go down a strom here Dom!
I hate all the Christmas blog crap as well. I know how to make mince pies for Pete's sake. And the cake pops: I think we may be reading the same blogs. I hate them! Rubbish on a stick if you ask me.
Mr P, very funny, Dom delicious x merry christmas ho ho ho x
I was in Germany early December so it was all gluhwein,bratwurst and schtollen for me. Christmas day I went to my neighbours for posh nibbles and cooked some roast beef for myself.