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Must remember to read recipes *properly*!

(40 Posts)
Witzend Sat 26-Sep-20 11:57:21

Just took my big bowl of Delia’s mincemeat out of the oven after its 3 hours on very low, then checked the recipe and realised that the 6 tbsps of brandy should have been added not with the main mix, but once it was cold!

Too late now, will see whether it’s going to make much difference once it’s cooled down and had a good stir.
Maybe much of it will have evaporated and I’ll need to slosh some more in ?.

kathyd Mon 28-Sep-20 12:50:51

nahsma

www.maryberry.co.uk/recipes/christmas/special-mincemeat

allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/6334/homemade-mincemeat.aspx

You can still freeze and grate the butter.

HillyN Mon 28-Sep-20 12:53:05

I don't know what temperature a low oven would be but alcohol evaporates at 70 degrees C, so it may well be all gone. I would add the correct amount of brandy again, otherwise the mincemeat might not be preserved properly. I think the alcohol is what stops it going off.

nahsma Mon 28-Sep-20 13:11:04

Kathyd Thank you! I shall try to get everything next time I brave the supermarket.

Lexisgranny Mon 28-Sep-20 13:24:01

There is no such thing as too much alcohol in either a Christmas cake or a trifle! I love your recipe Maw !

4allweknow Mon 28-Sep-20 13:31:15

Brandy may have evaporated a bit more quickly with the oven heat than if added at room temperature. You have put me in mood for mincemeat pies now!

Janiepops Mon 28-Sep-20 13:37:47

Good lord MawB2, must have taken ages typing that recipe out! It sounds amazing too ?

Callistemon Mon 28-Sep-20 14:23:03

MawB2 I've ordered the dried ingredients and the whisky so I can try that lovely recipe!
???

EMMF1948 Mon 28-Sep-20 14:33:02

I did exactly the same thing the first time I made it, I think I added more brandy once it was cooled, maybe I used cherry brandy.
A friend once made a rice ring, way back in the 80s when they were the thing, she was horrified when she served it as it was inedibly hot, she couldn't understand, she'd followed a recipe. When she re-read the recipe she noticed that it said ' add Tabasco to taste and if you want it to look pink, use food colouring'. She'd used the Tabasco to get the pink colour.

EMMF1948 Mon 28-Sep-20 14:34:56

Who cooks mincemeat?

Anyone who wants a decent product, it's the easiest thing in the world to make.

Witzend Mon 28-Sep-20 14:57:22

I didn’t add any brandy, there seemed to be quite a lot of liquid anyway.
But it looked fine and smelt gorgeous! 6 lbs, that should keep me and dh in mince pies for a week or two ??. Roll on 1st Dec when I make the first batch, though might just stretch that to Advent Sunday, 29th Nov.

Grandmafrench Mon 28-Sep-20 15:08:37

Well, get you, Maw - the Hostesh with the Mostesh !

Lins1066 Mon 28-Sep-20 20:59:27

That is some recipe Maw and definitely one to try - hic-

clareken Mon 28-Sep-20 21:12:06

SIL made the Christmas cake, and stored it on top of the fridge. It was brought down to be fed. So BIL fed it, then all 4 of the children (mid to late teens) fed it as well. SIL came back to it, wrapped it and put it back on the fridge. When it was cut, it was lethal. BIL wouldn't let anyone who was driving have any, including the two on duty policemen, who had come to call about a school matter (BIL was caretaker of my secondary school, and lived on site.)

Alishka Tue 29-Sep-20 00:21:31

@ clareken gringringrin