Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Limoncello



You won't be able to drink this with your New Year's toast tonight or tomorrow but if you start it soon it should be ready to give to your favorite person by the time Valentine's Day rolls around.


Limoncello is a yellowish liquor made out of lemon peel soaking in water and pure alcohol, particularly famous in Southern Italy and Sicily. Since pure alcohol can't be purchased in the US you can use 100-proof vodka - the high alcohol level will ensure that the limoncello will not turn to ice in the freezer.

Choose thick-skinned lemons because they are easier to zest. This is the same recipe I use. 




Alora’s Limoncello

Makes 6 cups (1.5 L)

8 lemons
1 bottle (750 mL) 100-proof vodka (Smirnoff makes one)
2 cups (500 mL) sugar
2 cups (500 mL) water

Scrub lemons well with a vegetable brush and hot water to remove any residue of pesticides or carnauba wax. Pat the lemons dry.

Carefully zest the lemons so there is no white pith on the peel. (The pith, the white part underneath the rind, is bitter and could ruin your limoncello.)

Pour half a bottle of vodka into a large, two-litre glass container, reserving the other half for later. Add the lemon zest. Cover the jar and let sit at room temperature for two weeks in a cool dark place. It can sit longer - the longer it rests, the better it tastes.

On Day 15, combine sugar and water in a large pan. Cook about five minutes. Let the syrup cool before adding it to the limoncello mixture. Add the remaining vodka. Give it a good swirl and leave it alone for another two weeks. Finally, strain the liqueur, discarding the lemon zest. Bottle and store in the freezer until ready to serve. It's good with soda or tonic, or just sipped by itself

12 comments:

  1. "Scrub lemons well with a vegetable brush and hot water to remove any residue of pesticides or carnauba wax"

    hey never from my garden, just use on the spot! gorgeous pics of PESTICIDE FREE LEMONS~

    hey, you can tell us SIX THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF!!! go ahead, spill the beans~ i wanna hear more!

    isn't that monique something else, i should have never given her a heads up, which is why i didn't you either!

    oh and congrats on my very fav pic of yours below~

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  2. I love the things we don't know about you! Some I knew...but the painting is fantastic...definitely do more in 2009!!! I hope you have it matted and framed and hanging in your home where everyone can see!!

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  3. Susan, I'm speechless, and you know how rarely that happens.
    I'm in awe of your banner. It looks like a watercolor, is it?
    I've done a few watercolor paintings in the past. Sadly, it's been many years since I've picked up a brush.
    I hope you'll continue to wow and inspire us with your work.

    And I see you've also been blessed with the Pomona Queen's golden scepter. Her citrus gifts have generated so many smiles.
    In regards to the Limoncello, I've wanted to make that for years, always wimping out at the last second. But, I believe your gorgeous pictures have re-inspired me to give it a try, and maybe even share it with friends. But, the 'sharing' part shall remain iffy. :-)

    Susan, thanks for your sweet comments on my blog. And please, keep your lovely blog going. I'm off to check out the rest of the entries.

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  4. I hope the only reason I'm not there is cause you knew I didn't want to come out and play:)

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  5. PS no I didn't know you were a Romanian Dancer:) How cute is that!

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  6. I love your paintings, knew that, but not the Romanian Dancing :) and you're not even Romanian, I knew that! So funny! Love the post! Cocktails and Lemons. Perfect together!

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  7. Susan, fun post ... a Romanian dancer... how interesting.

    I remember Monique commenting about your painting.

    The header of your blog is stunning. Even more so now, that I've found out that you painted it. ... lovely.

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  8. Susan, you are a woman of many talents!
    The dancing part is the funniest!
    Good exercise, I bet!
    Happy New Year!
    I got tagged too, by Jain, and I can only think of one person to tag! OY!

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  9. Susan, I can truly say that you are someone I look up to and are so talented. You do everything with such class too! Thanks for the tag :-( And Carol too :-( I will try to do some tagging this weekend.

    Happy New Year! I love limoncello!

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  10. You are all very kind, thank you! Thanks for visiting, Marysol!

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  11. thank for the 3 more bits of info on you, its good to know you eat well, paint and dance too!

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  12. I've admired that pear painting and to now know that you painted it is wonderful!

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