… I thought i’d give you a little update on Audrey the Cat or Millie the Cat as she is now known. As you know, the very lovely Elaine and George have taken her into their home and she’s spent the last fortnight in a very chic and contemporary loft apartment outside in the garden to ensure she gets used to her new home… oh and the dog, the chickens and the grand children. Last week she was given her first taste of freedom and she’s been tentatively exploring her surrounding but happily going back into her hutch at night… it seems as though she’s settling in beautifully and as you can imagine The Viking and I are over the moon that she finally has a good home full of love… and of curse we don’t miss her one bit… what do you mean there’s a tear in my eye… darling that’s just a bit of dust causing my eyes to water…
mince pie flapjacks
yes… it’s barely the end of November but today is Stir Up Sunday, the traditional Sunday before Advent that one is supposed to start preparing food for Christmas, particularly the Christmas Pudding… the whole family takes turn stirring the ingredients for the pudding and making a wish… although make sure you stir clockwise or you’ll be in for trouble! There must be something in the air because i’ve already been thinking about Christmas snacks. I can’t help it. I think the aroma of cinnamon stirs something inside me and mentally clicks my brain into Christmas… I have even more baking treats to come later this week but for now I have these naughty little chaps. last year I made some very popular Christmas Cake Brownies and I wanted to create something similar that has all the essence of christmas but in a little treat… and I think these flapjacks hit the spot…
175g butter
250g soft brown light sugar
6 tablespoons golden syrup
200g mincemeat
350g rolled oats
50g ground almonds
2 teaspoon cinnamon
pre-heat the oven to 180C and lightly oil a traybake tin – I used a classic Swiss Roll tin.
melt the butter, sugar and syrup in a pan and then once melted take it off the heat and add the oats, ground almonds, cinnamon and mincemeat and stir well
pour into the baking tin and bake for 20-25 mins until golden but watch them like a hawk… there’s a lot of added sugar from the mincemeat and they will go very dark very quickly…
cool on a wire rack but cut them into squares whilst they’re still a little warm… a little dusting of icing sugar never hurt anyone…
eat and of course, enjoy!
Wow, what a fabulous idea! They look delicious.
I feel the urge to rustle up a trayful to place alongside the aforementioned brownies….
That is an absolutely genius use for mincemeat! And very nice update on cat welfare, thank you!
thank you. so easy to make and so bloody delicious!
I am a genius right?
Mincemeat is a lovely change from the usual dried fruit in flapjack – and smalls so festive too. As a bonus, it's much easier than fiddling around with pastry!
Mincemeat is a lovely change from the usual dried fruit in flapjack – and smalls so festive too. As a bonus, it's much easier than fiddling around with pastry!
Damn…. you beat me to it! I was toying over making mincemeat flapjacks just last night…… they look yum…… great minds eh???? Good to hear Audrey-Millie is settling well…..
Just so simple and quick. Christmas in an instant!!
Well they say the best things are worth repeating. I'd go ahead and make them anyway. They've proved very popular!
I confess that I really didn't want to take her – but little Millie is a real sweetheart. When I walk the dog in the woods she comes along and romps around like a mini dog. Don't worry, she has really settled in remarkably well and, despite my resolve, I love her to bits.
We've almost adopted Millie the cat who belongs to a neighbour down the road as she's almost always at our doorstep! Love the idea of mince pie flapjacks,perfect for christmas party.
LOVELY to see Audrey and hear that she's doing okay too….she is such a pretty cat! And, what a bloody genius idea these are too! LOVE them! I make a mincemeat and oat slice sometimes, but these look SO tasty and crunchy! Karen
So glad to hear that Audrey is settling in to her new home; she's a lovely little thing. I always have more mincemeat than I know what to do with – this is such a clever idea!
Dom I love hearing about your traditions – so interesting. I admit I've never cooked with minced meat but really want to try. This recipe may be the one I need to get me started. Love your kitty stories – so glad she is doing well. Have a great week!
Aw bless glad little Audrey aka Millie is now in a loving home, for life 🙂 I would love a cat but not allowed here. Am sure you will miss her!
The flapjacks looks lush – I adore mincemeat and its great to add another mincemeat recipe to my stash!
Thanks Tricia… if you do make it make sure you buy or make mincemeat the spiced fruit not minced meat the beef! xx
I can't say that I always look forward to the mincemeat arriving every year because there's just so much of it around, but I love a flapjack and this will do very nicely to cheer me up on a cold day.
So pleased Audrey now Millie is getting on well in her new home and isn't so far away from you soppy two either. These flapjacks are a fabulous idea and I'm now cross that I didn't think about it first. Was going to get my mincemeat done on Stir-up-Sunday, but ran out of time and did no cooking at all.
Dom these flapjacks are fabulous, I've just baked some! I swapped the almonds for coconut as that's what was in the cupboard. Very moreish and wishing I'd thought of it first!
Good looking treat I actually never had mince meat pie though, very interested to try this recipe.
What a beautiful cat you have!