xmas fruit mince

I like mince pies but during xmas i always feel to full to eat them the fillings just to heavy & meat tends to take up a large portion of our xmas menus and meals & its just to much for me to handle. So i like to make fruit mince yes you guessed it mince made from fruit its light & still just as tasty if not more so! My mince doesnt contain candied peel because i dont really like it but if you wanted to add some in then feel free to tinker & play around with it to find what suits you best.

8oz pears

grated rind of 1 lemon & 1 orange

3oz raisens

3oz currents

3oz sultanas

4oz apricots

3oz apple

4oz glace cherries

4oz dates, chopped

2oz cranberries

1 tsp ground mixed spice

1/2 nutmeg

1/2 ginger

4 fl oz sherry

3 fl oz brandy

3 fl oz water

Mix all the ingredients into a large bowl. Set aside to let the flavours mingle for 1-2 hours or over night. 

Transfer to a casserole dish with a lid & bake covered at 180 C/350 F/ Gas 4 for 1 hour

When complete store in an air tight jar ready to use.