MINCEMEAT

Granny with Nell, Ted, Frank, Bob and Joan 1921

My version of Granny Whitley's recipe

2lbs cooking apples

1/4lb almonds

1lb currants

1/2lb butter

1/2lb raisins

1/4lb candied peel (preferably orange)

1/2lb sultanas

1 lemon

1+1/2lbs demerara sugar

1/2tsp each ground cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice

In a large bowl, grate the lemon rind and squeeze the juice. Peel, core and chop the apples finely into the bowl. Chop up the almonds (leave the skin). Finely chop the butter (straight from the fridge). Use a knife to break it up in the bowl so you don't get clumps. Add the sugar and the rest of the ingredients, stirring well. Either put in Kilner jars or a plastic tub. It will keep until well past Christmas - freeze the remainder and you can use it next year.

I've just made a batch with eating apples - I put half the amount of sugar in, but it was such a fiddle, the apples being so much smaller than cookers!