I have to declare straight away, that if I had a magic wand, I would ensure that not a peep was heard about Christmas until the 1st December, or perhaps any later? Having said that, I’d need to sneak in making the Christmas cake, pudding and mincemeat before my deadline.

The Questions

What’s your favourite Christmas movie?

Definitely It’s a Wonderful Life. Preferably viewed in my local independent cinema. It’s on in Bristol hint hint.

It's a Wonderful Life starring James Stewart — It’s a Wonderful Life starring James Stewart

Have You Ever Had a White Christmas?

I don’t think so. Closest would be watching the White Christmas film. Okay, I do love old movies.

Where Do You Usually Spend Your Holiday

We usually spend Christmas together as a family. I love the fact that they are half an hour down the road now instead of a gruelling 7 hour drive from Scotland.

What Is Your Favourite Christmas Song?

I’ll choose Mike Oldfield in Dulci Jubilo it’s upbeat and not irritating and the carol I’ll choose the Coventry Carol as it is so different to others and dates back so far.

Can You Name All of Santa’s Reindeers?

Rudolph of course but the others … Donner and Blitzen?

What Christmas Traditions Are You Looking Forward to This Year?

I follow recipes handed down by both my family and my husband’s. Although each year, I push the boundaries a little. The Christmas pudding might be made with a different local ale rather than the original barley wine. I might find a different technique for the Christmas cake. On the day itself, there has to be lashings of brandy butter of course. It’s also about making new traditions. More recently I have begun to make sloe gin as the berries are so wonderful locally.

What Is the Best Christmas Present You Ever Received?

Rather than single out one thing, I’d say the wonderful Christmas stockings that Father Christmas left for me each year!

Most Memorable Christmas Memory?

As a very new mother, I remember taking my 6 week old daughter in a festive red and white baby grow to a Christmas party to meet friends. I was both proud and very nervous. It was all so new.

What Made You Realise the Truth About Santa?

What do you mean?

What Makes Christmas Time Special for You?

The chance to catch up with family and relax – especially when the Christmas lunch has been delivered sucessfully

Traditional Mincemeat for Mince Pies

Danielle Ellis

Create your own mincemeat for mince pies – a traditional British Christmas favourite. This recipe is easy to make, just leave it for a few weeks to mature before using. Make a half quantity if you wish.

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Prep Time 1

Soaking time 3

Course Afternoon Tea, Dessert

Cuisine British

Equipment

Grater or grating disk for a food processor
Lemon squeezer
Large bowl
Storage jars or plastic boxes

Ingredients

250 grams vegetable suet
250 grams currants
250 grams raisins
50 grams mixed peel chopped
250 grams apple grated use a cooking apple for preference
250 grams sugar caster or granulated
1 lemon, zest grated preferably untreated
50 millilitres brandy
5 grams nutmeg, mace and allspice total amount

Instructions

Prepare the fruit

Measure out and pick over all the dried fruit (except the peel) and remove any stalks. This is time consuming but worth it.
Zest the lemons with a zesting tool. Squeeze the juice into a medium bowl
Place the dried fruit, peel, zest, suet and spice in a large bowl and mix to combine.
Peel, core and grate the apples. A food processor is ideal for this. Place the apples in the bowl with the lemon juice and mix well. This will stop the apples going brown too quickly.
Add the apples to the fruit, suet and spice mixture and mix well. Add the brandy. Mix well and leave a few hours or overnight. Mix again, then put in jars.
Leave for 2-3 weeks before using.