To me, Christmas morning has to start with mince pies. I like to make my own and before I can bake, I make Christmas mince. The longer I leave it to stand, the better the Brandy infuses into my mixture.
Head straight on to the recipe for Christmas Mince ♥
Some things, like this Christmas Mince, are worth waiting for. Others, like chicken pox, are not! We have an 85 year old friend who recently was on a course of antibiotics. He developed a rash while taking the penicillin and asked me to come over and bring lotion with me for the itching. He thought he had been bitten by something and so I took a cortisone cream to apply topically. After seeing the rash I thought it was an allergy to the medication. I applied the cream, and didn’t think twice. And then he went to the Doctor who told him it was shingles. I’ve never had chicken pox, and so I was at risk of now getting it. My doctor recommended I get a vaccination against the virus, but the chemist who does them did not have stock, and would not get it in time. I contacted another chemist who advised against getting the vaccine and the third chemist recommended a course of antivirals. I’m so against taking medication so I settled for a naturopathic antiviral and waited! It was a suspense filled time made a bit more tense due to the fact that we were heading overseas, and the risk period ended the day after we got to Edinburgh. Thankfully I did not get chickenpox and I could enjoy my holiday without worrying about being itchy while travelling.
Christmas Mince
Ingredients
- 1 orange, zest and juice
- 1 lemon, zest only
- 100 g raisins
- 55 g dried apricots, finely sliced
- 65 g currants
- 30 g dried cranberries
- 10 g slivered almonds
- 5 mls mixed spice
- 0.625 mls ground cinnamon
- 120 mls Brandy
Method
- Finely chop the zest
- Place all of the ingredients into a bowl
- Mix to combine
- Cover and leave to infuse overnight
Notes
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
What I blogged December 3:
- one year ago – In My Kitchen
- five years ago – Snoek Braai
Beautiful mincemeat – I sued to make it in Spain when I couldn’t buy it. I’m afraid I’ve become lazy when I’m in England around Christmas! So glad you didn’t get chicken px or shingles – my mum gets shingles quite a lot and it’s horrible for her 🙁
Your poor mum! I am tempted to buy the next batch as my mince pie recipe needs a lot of testing 😉
Gorgeous recipe, Tandy. I really need to try making fruit mince pies. They were a relatively new thing to me, being from a Hungarian family. But my Peter loves them!
What was your family tradition in place of mince pies?
I am so happy you didn’t get the chickenpox either. It’s such a horrible thing to get, especially around the holidays. Wonderful Christmas mince.
Kia / KTS
http://www.houseofkts.com
Thank you Kia 🙂
SO glad you didn’t get the chicken pox! What a horrid surprise that would’ve been for your holiday. This mince sounds amazing. 🙂
It would have been a horrid surprise indeed!
This mince looks and sounds so tempting so delish. Indeed a perfect way to start Christmas morning!! Going to try it soon.
Hope you enjoy it Anu 🙂
Mince makes me think jolly old Christmas. Was a lovely recipe! I’m so against antibiotics, kids in the U.S. are unable to fight simple childhood illnesses even on their 3rd!!!! I really mean it 3rd round of antibiotics. I don’t let me kids take any antibiotics and their immune systems are likely better for it. Probiotics all the way! Glad you are well!!!!
You have the right approach Laura. Antibiotics should be used only when really necessary!
Thank goodness you didn’t get chicken pox Tandy. Love this mince, looks and sounds delicious!
Thanks Cheri 🙂
I’m forwarding this recipe to my mom, who loves mince. Your recipe looks and seems so easy and yummy! I can feel Christmas in the air!!!! 🙂
I hope your mom enjoys this!
My mom always made her own fruit mince, but it had suet in it as was the tradition in those days. Yours sounds much better and tastier. So happy you didn’t catch chicken pox or shingles. It was a sort of miracle that you didn’t. 🙂
I have never tried the suet version Sylvia 🙂
Glad you are alright. Shingles is painful. Hope you enjoyed Edinburgh
We loved Edinburgh Sally 🙂
I have never made mince but I just might now, looks really good. Oh gosh chickenpox! I gotthem when I was 19. it was not so bad so it may be ok.
I don’t like being sick at all! Hope you enjoy the mince Evelyne 🙂
So glad you didn’t get the chickenpox. I got them when I was young and they aren’t fun. Your mince pie looks delicious. I love all the fruits you put in there.
http://doreensstylediary.com
I am really glad to have skipped this childhood illness 🙂
Wow!!! Made this for lunch today.
Thank you for sharing this!
AMAZING.
my pleasure!