RUPERT’S ODD PARTY

He meets his Daddy. “Wait for me!

I’ll help you choose our Christmas tree!” This recipe calls for ready-made pastry, so you don’t have to do all the hard work. Serves 8.

INGREDIENTS

125g sultanas 100g dried currants 4 apples, peeled, cored and sliced 1 tablespoon orange zest 5 tablespoons orange juice 125ml apple juice 150g caster sugar

1/2

teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1 packet shortcrust pastry 2 tablespoons brandy

Festive mince pies METHOD

Preheat the oven to 220C/200C fan assisted, gas mark 7.

In a heavy-bottomed pan, stir together the sultanas, currants, apples, orange zest, orange juice and apple juice.

Simmer on a medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the apples are soft and mushy.

Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar, cinnamon and cloves until well mixed. Place mixture in the fridge until ready to use.

Roll out the pastry to the desired thickness, and, using a serrated circle cutter, cut out circles for the mince pie cases, plus an equal number of slightly smaller circles for the lids. Place the bases on a deep baking tray.

Remove the mincemeat from the fridge and stir through the brandy. Add the mixture in equal amounts to the mince pie cases, then top with the lids, crimping the edges together to seal. Pierce the pastry lids in several places.

Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 180C/160C fan assisted, gas mark 4 and bake for a further 30 minutes until the tops are golden brown.

Remove from the oven and place on a rack. When cool, dust with a little icing sugar if desired before serving.

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