MINCE PIES BY POST. Has anyone got any experience of receiving food items in the post?

[QuintessentialShadow]

I am getting some mince pies sent over, and I wonder if there will be a customs issue?
Or what best to describe it as on the label?

[captainmummy]

Why don't you get the jar of mince meat sent instead? That stands more chance of making it through the post.

Or ask for a recipe and make your own?

Where are you QS?

[glasgowstyle]

xmas pressie?

[QuintessentialShadow]

I am in Norway.

Making mince meat, I reckon, is beyond my culinary skills....

Maybe a jar is a good idea.....

[glasgowstyle]

check this link out QS www.distantbrits.co.uk/

[QuintessentialShadow]

Thanks for the link, it was very kind of you to dig it out. I nearly had a hope! But how disappointing is that site? There is nothing there I cant find equivalent here. Like, brown sugar, nestle chocolate and aquadrops....

It begs the question, who on earth will pay a courier to ship tesco brown sugar door to door from England?

[jicky]

mince meat is so easy even pre-school children can make it! You just mix the ingredients, leave over night, warm in oven and put in jars! You could start a trend and give it as presents to Norwegian friends!

[Lemontart]

I agree! My 5 and 7 yr old make our mincemeat (did it only yesterday afternoon). So easy. Not cooking involved, just stirring. The recipe is easily adaptable too if not got exact ingredients - the nuts and fruits are personal choices, as is the alcohol. I make a boozy and non boozy batch.
Freshly grated apple is nice in it too!

[QuintessentialShadow]

Recipe please???

[captainmummy]

This is Delias recipe and she says once you've tasted home-made, you will never go back!

450g Cooking Apples, peeled cored and finely chopped
225g shredded suet
250g sultanas
350g raisins
225g currants
225g mixed peel, finely chopped
350g soft brown sugar
rind and juice of 2 oranges
rind and juice of 2 lemons
50g almonds, cut into slivers
4 teaspoons mixed spice
half teaspoon cinnamon
Half nutmeg grated
6 tablespoons brandy.

Mix all ingreds except brandy in a bowl. Leave overnight. She says to prevent fermentation to put the bowl in a cool over (120C) for 3 hours but I've never done this. Then leave to get cold and stir in brandy. Spoon into clean dry jars.

Makes 6lb, which is quite a lot for mincepies! But at least it's really easy.

[jicky]

Yep - I use the Delia one usually as well - so simple. Just check the jars are really clean then stick in the oven to sterilise (I usually put in cold fan oven, turn on to 140 and leave until I remember them!) Also use a circle of grease proof paper on top (before the jar lid) if you are keeping it for any length of time

[Katisha]

I've just opened a jar of mincemeat I made last year which has been lurking at the back of the fridge ever since. Perfectly fine - have made first batch of mince pies with it.

It's just an assembly job - couldn't be easier. And if you don't like anything in the recipe miss it out or replace with something else.

[QuintessentialShadow]

Gosh, suet? Do I really need it? Where can I buy it? What IS it?

mixed peel??? what kind of peel??

mixed spices? What spices are in the mix?

[Katisha]

OK here's my recipe which doesn't involve suet.

100 g butter
200g soft brown sugar
250 ml orange juice
2 teaspns ground mixed spice (that's how it comes in the jar - if you can't get it mix up some ground ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves whatever)
half teasp ground cinnamon
pinch grated nutmeg
250g cooking apples
200g sultanas
200 g currants
100g dried cranberries (or extra sultanas or whatever)
200g mixed candied peel (comes like that in tub - replace with extra currants or other dried fruit if you can't get it)
1 tablesp grated orange zest
150 ml brandy, cognac,rum or whisky

Put butter, orange juice and spices in saucepan and stir on gentle heat until smooth. Peel and chop apples, add to mixture with currants, berries, sultanas, peel, zest. Bring to boil then simmer for 10 mins until apples soft. Add brandy and allow to cool.
Put in clean jars and seal.

[Katisha]

Improvise - it's not all set in stone!

[QuintessentialShadow]

Wonderful, that sounds like somethign I can do!! Thank you so much!