Recipe: British "mixed spice"

Sometimes you will read a recipe for a proper English Christmas pudding or mincemeat and come across "spice mix" in the list of ingredients.  What is it?  It is a spice blend usually bought in a store and most commonly used during the holiday season.  As a commercial product, the blend itself can vary in proportions, but the spices involved are generally pretty constant.  If you can't find it in a store or just want to make it yourself, this is a recipe I came across years ago.  Basically, the idea is to make a large batch of the blend, then use as much as a recipe calls for.  Store the rest in a jar with your other spices.  Since it's a big mix, once you get it together, give it a little taste, and don't be afraid to add a little extra of any of the spices you especially like - then it becomes your personal blend and people will be scratching their heads trying to figure out how to duplicate your fabulous mincemeat.

You will need:

10ml / 2tsp          ground cinnamon

10ml / 2tsp          ground nutmeg

10ml / 2tsp          ground ginger

5ml / 1tsp            ground cloves

5ml / 1tsp            allspice

5ml / 1tsp            mace

5ml / 1tsp            ground coriander

5ml / 1tsp            ground caraway

5ml / 1tsp            cardamom

Method:

 - mix it
 - tweak it (remember to write down what you did)
 - use it
 - store the rest in a jar