Mincemeat

300g of dried fruit, sultanas, raisins, apricots, cranberries, cherries, mixed peel (whatever you like or whatever you have in your store cupboard)

zest of one orange

juice of one lemon

100g of brown sugar, I used dark brown, and actually added another tablespoon as it was a bit tart.

one/two apples depending on their size. Chop them finely and leave the skin on.

1/2 teaspoon each of mixed spice, nutmeg and cinnamon

75ml of alcohol. I used brandy, but you could use a flavoured brandy or sloe gin, or even whisky or Grand Marnier

50g of melted butter, unsalted

Mix everything together, taste it to check you like the seasoning, then spoon into a couple of sterilised jam jars. I’m storing it in the fridge. You can make this a few months in advance to give it time to mature. But as long as it has a few weeks it will be fine.