Christmas

This recipe contains two or even free in one. Classical English fruit mix, mincemeat and teabread made using this fruit mix. Mincemeat is a historical classic from England dated around 16 century. It was originally made using among other things, sheep fat and lamb meat cut into pieces. Today, minced beef and beef fat are sometimes used in mincemeat, but vegetable mincemeat is common today which taste is excellent. I made my mixture based on different British historical recipes. I didn’t use minced meat, but I did add goose fat to the other ingredients. The mincemeat mix is ideal for Christmas puddings and pies, as it gives to the pastry a classic flavor that is associated with Christmas. Mincemeat mix is made weeks or even months before use to allow flavors to homogenize. The same goes for a teabread – it is also worth to make it days or weeks ahead. Teabread is getting better while standing for a while.

Preparation time – mincemeat: 30 minutes preparation, before use it should stand couple of days.
Level: Easy
Quantity: Approx. 1.5 kg of fruit mix (for 5 teabreads)

Ingredients:
About 450 g of sour apples peeled and cut into small pieces
50 g crushed almonds
4 teaspoons English mixed spice
0.5 teaspoons of cinnamon
0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg
50 ml Brandy
200 g of vegetable or animal fat e.g. goose fat
350 g golden raisins
225 g of Sultana raisins
200 g of dried currants or, in their absence, cranberries
150 g of candied lemon and orange peel
350 g of brown unrefined sugar
2 orange juice and grated cream
2 lemon juice and grated cream

Mix everything and use in English-style pastries

English mixed spice:
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
0.5 tsp ground mace
0.25 teaspoon ground cloves
0,25 teaspoon ground coriander
0.25 teaspoon ground ginger
Mix and use in different seasonings.

Preparation time: teabread: 30 minutes preparation, 40 minutes to 1 hour baking
Level: Easy
Quantity: 1 teabread (about 1 kg)

Ingredients:
200 g all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
100 g cold butter cut into small cubes
85 g of unrefined sugar
90-100 g of marzipan cut into 1 cm pieces
2 eggs
300 g English fruit mix (mincemeat)
almond chips for sprinkling on a teabread

Preparation:
1. Chop cold butter to the chunks, mix with sugar, marzipan and fruit mixture, add eggs
2. Add flour and baking powder and mix well.
3. Pour the dough into a greased baking mold, smooth the top, sprinkle with almond chips and bake for 40 minutes to 1 hour at 180 degrees.
4. Allow to cool and eat or store in an airtight container for several days – the taste is getting better over time.
Ready !!!