Christmas Is Coming!

I know it's early but is it really? Halloween is long gone behind us and Christmas is looming. Preserves always need a bit of time to mature I think. So I've made my mincemeat in plenty of time so all the flavours can infuse and enhance.

My recipe is from Good Housekeeping this year. On making it I have decided a few changes are needed. The following recipe is my updated version.

Ingredients

450g Bramley Apples, peeled cored and cut into 0.5cm chunks
Zest and juice of 1/2 lemon and 1/2 an orange
200ml medium cider
150g soft brown sugar
1 tsp mixed spice
150g raisins
150g currants
75g glace cherries chopped into 1/4
2 tbspns Gran Marnier

Method

1) Prepare 4 jars. Boil water in a kettle and fill each jar with about a cm of water. Put in the microwave for 1min. Pour out the water and dry. 

2) Put the apples, zest and juice, cider and Gran Marnier in a pan. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10mins.

3) Take pan off the heat. Add the sugar, raisins, spice and currants. Stir and let cool slightly.

4) Spoon mixture into the jars and tap on the side to make sure there are no air bubbles. Place a round of greaseproof paper on top of each jar.