Simple mincemeat reciped required

[DressDownFriday]

I've got plenty of dried fruit left over from making my Christmas cake and have decided to give mince pies a go.

I've never made pastry before but intend to put plenty of practice in beforehand.

I need a simple mincemeat recipe and tips - do I make it in advance? or, can I make and use at the same time? (Thinking about it, I've got nothing to store it in)

I've just made mincemeat from Delia's recipe, I found it on line, and entertainingly one of the Google hits was to a thread here! Have no idea how it will taste, I've only just made it, but people here raved about it.

I'm also in a quandry as to what to store it in. I was going to use old glass jars, but Delia suggests sterilisng the lids and I don't think they will survive the oven. Was debating Milton, I actually came on MN to find out if people thought that would be ok!

Delia's Mincemeat recipe

I made mine at the weekend from this recipe from Sainsbury's magazine - v easy and extremely yummy:

Peel and grate 400g bramley apples and put in a pan with 500ml water. Bring to the boil and stir in 100g each of dried cranberries, raisins, sultanas, chopped dried apricots and crystallised ginger. Simmer for half an hour then add 75g chopped almonds, 4 tbsp brandy and a little sugar to taste. Leave to cool then either use straight away in mince pies or store in kilner jars.

Ooh tkband3 - that sounds v nice - might give that one a go - thanks