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["Prep the fat: Pass the cold fat through a meat grinder fitted with a coarse grinder plate. (Do not use a food processor; it will break down the fat too much and the friction from the machine will liquefy the fat.) Place the fat in the freezer in a covered container until very firm, at least 2 hours.", "Make the mincemeat: Combine all the ingredients except the fat in a large bowl. Remove the fat from the freezer and chop it into pieces the size of raisins.", "Stir it into the fruit mixture. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and keep it in a cool, dark place for at least 6 weeks, stirring once a week. Use what you need and store the rest in jars in a cool dark place for up to a year. (The alcohol and sugar preserve it just fine.)", "Mixed spice is a combination of spices often found in Irish baking because it complements dried fruit so well. Dried fruit is another ingredient that figures prominently in Irish baking. No doubt cooks have personal preferences of combinations; this is mine: In a small bowl, mix together 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon, 1 tablespoon of ground allspice, 1 tablespoon of freshly grated nutmeg, and 1 tablespoon of ground cloves. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Makes about 1/4 cup.", "Reprinted with permission from My Irish Table by Cathal Armstrong and David Hagedorn, copyright (c) 2014.Published by Ten Speed Press, a division of Random House, Inc.
