Limoncello - Pink Saturday

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I make Limoncello as a gift for friends. Lemons, bought in quantity, are relatively inexpensive throughout the year, so I'm not seasonally tied to its preparation. I have several recipes for the liqueur, but I usually end up using one developed by Giada De Laurentis because it is simple to make and is ready to drink in days rather than months. While many drink Limoncello out of hand, I prefer to dilute it and serve it over ice. Its main purpose in our house is to use as an ingredient in cheesecake and other lemon desserts. I am "brewing" a bottle now to use in a cheesecake that I plan to make for the Easter holiday. If you like Limoncello you know the only thing that can spoil it is too much sugar. I've cut back on the amount of sugar that was called for in the original recipe. I also use 100 proof vodka. Anything less than that will freeze and you don't want that to happen. Here's the recipe that I use to make homemade Limoncello. You might want to consider it as an aperitif for Passover or Easter.

Limoncello...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, inspired by Giada De Laurentis and others

Ingredients:
10 large lemons
1 (750-ml) bottle 100 proof vodka
3-1/2 cups water
2 cups sugar

Directions:
1) Using a vegetable peeler, remove peel from lemons in long strips (reserve lemons for another use). Using a small sharp knife, trim white pith away from lemon peels; discard pith. Place lemon peels in a 2-quart pitcher. Pour vodka over peels and cover with plastic wrap. Steep for 4 days at room temperature.
2) Stir water and sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Cool completely. Pour sugar syrup over vodka mixture. Cover and let stand at room temperature overnight. Strain limoncello through a mesh strainer. Discard peels. Transfer limoncello to bottles. Seal the bottles and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours and up to 1 month. Yield: 7 cups.

You might also enjoy these recipes:

Blue Lemonade - One Perfect Bite
Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur - One Perfect Bite
Cranberry Cocktails - One Perfect Bite


This post is being linked to:
Pink Saturday, sponsored by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.

Blue Lemonade for Blue Monday

You know what they say about the path to perdition. Well, I'd planned all week for a montage of the sky and ridgeline that I see from my kitchen windows. I thought about it and I thought about it, but never touched the camera and when I went to take the pictures the sky chose to bury itself beneath a haze of milky white and nap like Sleeping Beauty. I made myself a drink - I swear it was not the one you see here - and while sipping my tea had another thought that did lead to the photograph and recipe featured today. A few years ago I was asked to make a punch for a shower that had an all blue theme. Drinks are not my area of expertise, but with a little research I was able to find something called Blue Lemonade Punch. Now, unbenounced to me, there was one small problem with the drink. It's made with strawberry Kool-Aid. God has yet to create a man or woman who can taste blue curacao and vodka when mixed with this strawberry witches brew. Some of the revelers, though warned the punch was spiked, had a very, very good time that was matched only by the very, very bad headaches they had the following day. This is not that drink, but it's pretty darn close to it, so proceed with caution. I do love the color. It's perfect for Blue Monday.

Blue Lemonade

Ingredients:
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce Blue Curacao liqueur
4 - 5 ounces lemonade
Ice cubes

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker jar. Mix well. Serve in tall, thin glass over ice. Yield: 1 serving.


I'm send this to Smiling Sally for her Blue Monday event.