Mrs Darlington's Marvellous Mincemeat With Brandy - 410g

In a British kitchen, mincemeat is the backbone of Christmas baking. Mince pies come first, every time, but a jar also ends up in a tart, a crumble or a lattice pie when someone runs out of patience with little lids.

In Canada, people go looking for it when December gets close and the craving kicks in. Baking your own mince pies is half the fun, and the recipe your mum wrote on the back of an envelope only says one thing: a jar of mincemeat. This is the jar.

It comes in a 410g glass jar that sits quietly in the cupboard until you need it, which is usually the moment the pastry is already rolled. Once it is open, keep it as the jar tells you, and it will see you through a second batch on Boxing Day.

Mrs Darlington's is better known in Britain for its lemon curd, jams and chutneys, so it is a natural partner for a jar of something on the toast. With the mincemeat, you will want shortcrust pastry, a dusting of icing sugar and a jug of custard or a dollop of brandy butter.