Apples - vegetarian mincemeat

December now, and it's time to be making and eating Christmas fare. One of the favourites round here, are mince pies, and these are much improved by homemade mince meat.

Here's the recipe

1kg cooking apples, peeled, cored, and quartered
200 gms Brown sugar
250 mls Apple juice
3 tablespoons molasses
250 g currants
250 g sultanas
Rind and juice of a lemon
1-2 teaspoons freshly ground mixed spices (I use cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and a little caradmon) (mixed spice will work, but freshly ground is much better)
30 g flaked almonds
6 tablespoons Whiskey


Dissolve the sugar in the apple juice over a low heat. Add all the other ingredients, and simmer till the apples are mushy. Remove from the heat, cool a little and add the whiskey. Mix with a wooden spoon. Put in sterilised jars, and use with gusto! Great for a home made gift.