Q&A with Glenys Woollard - Food

Do you have a recipe for Christmas mincemeat?

Roughly chop 250g each currants, seedless raisins and sultanas then combine in a bowl with 125g chopped peel, 2 peeled and grated cooking apples, 1 tsp mixed spice, 1 cup brown sugar, the rind and juice of 1 lemon, 100g melted butter (optional), and 1/4 cup brandy.

Cover and stand for a few hours then mix well and turn into clean dry jars. Add lids and store in the fridge - leave at least a few days before using.

Is there a temperature conversion rate when using fan-bake on my oven?

If possible, consult the manual for your model. You will usually need to lower the temperature 20 degrees less than that stipulated for a conventional oven.

Conversely, if a recipe specifies fan-bake or convection, increase the temperature by 20 degrees for conventional baking. Cooking times are often shorter when using fan-bake. Pavlovas, meringues and rich fruit cakes are best cooked by the conventional method.

If you have a food question email Glenys at glenyswoollard@clear.net.nz