fidobsa

One of the things I miss since leaving UK is mince pies, so this year I'm making my own mincemeat. I could not get glace cherries so I used some bottled cherries. Also I could not find mixed spice so I put in extra cinnamon. I could have bought French brandy but used what I had to hand, locally made peach brandy. The other thing I can't buy is shredded suet. I've never been too sure what function this performs but the older recipes always call for it. There are plenty of fat free recipes online but they all involve cooking. Again, I don't know what function the boiling or baking performs as the old Mrs Beeton type recipes were not cooked and my mother never cooked her mincemeat.
I just wondered what other expats do about mincemeat?

Retired in Euskadi

We've made our own this year; since we cannot buy 'shredded suet' (Atora) here, we simply used butter instead. Didn't notice any difference.
Mixed spice too is hard to come by, but all it contains is ground cinammon (40%), ground coriander (38%), caraway, nutmeg (4%), ginger & cloves (reading the list of ingredients from the packet).

You'll probably find yours tastes better than the bought stuff.

angiescarr

I get my daughter to send it
But I did manage to find glace cherries in a shop in Madrid recently. I think it was Opencor.

megmet

The Iceland store for all things Christmas!

There is one at Mijas Costa (Fuengirola) and maybe for you the one that's opened in Portugal could be nearer, though I don't know where that's located.

Rambling Rose

Forget suet. Here's a recipe for suetless mincemeat which I have been using for years. Works perfectly, tastes great and is much healthier. You can vary the types of fruit. I sometimes chop up sultanas or other dried fruit if I can't find currents.
Sorry the measurements are imperial - its grannies old recipe.

9oz soft brown sugar
9 fl oz med dry cider
2 lb 4 oz apples, peeled, cored and diced. (Any type will do, although cooking apples are specified)
9 oz currants, 9 oz raisins, 3 oz chopped glace cherries (I've used bottled red & green) 3 oz chopped almonds, rind and juice of half a lemon, 6 tblsp brandy or rum, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon mixed spice.

Dissolve the sugar in the cider. Add the chopped apple & cook until soft. Add rest of the ingredients except the brandy or rum and simmer for 30 mins. Cool then stir in the booze.

Keeps well - up to a year, so I often make it in advance.

Made my first batch of mince pies yesterday. Usually give some to the spanish neighbours who love them.