Cookery challenge for September

This month’s challenge was:
Party drink –  it could include fruit drinks/syrups, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, milkshakes etc. It’s Spring in the southern hemisphere and Autumn in the northern so let’s celebrate with fun drinks. 

I always enjoy participating in the challenge as it allows me to try something new and also to share my success or failings with others. Sometimes when the challenge comes through I immediately know what I want to do and this was definitely the case this month. My choice this month was to make Limoncello.  Rosemary made a lemon trifle and used some Limoncello in her dish.  I discovered that there were many recipes on the internet for this drink and so this months challenge was just the push I needed to try and make some!


I have been very busy recently, and I suddenly realised a couple of days ago that I hadn't left myself much time. After I left work I visited our local shop and asked for a bottle of Vodka. I was served by someone I recently met at a friends party and during our conversation I told her that I'd had a bad day at work.  I hope she didn't think I was going home to drink all the bottle - this thought didn't occur to me until after I had left the shop!

Limoncello originated from Italy and is a lemon liqueur drink made from the zest of lemons.

The recipe I used was as follows:-

Limoncello Recipe
35cl of Vodka
3 lemons  (scrub, wash well and dry)
400 ml water
250g white sugar

Peel the zest from the lemon very thinly using a vegetable peeler making sure there is no white rind attached as this will make the drink bitter.



Pour the vodka in a sealed container, add the rind and seal and leave in a dark place until the colour leaves the zest (the time in recipes seems to vary from 4 days up to  2-3 months). Remove the zest.
Then make the syrup using the water and sugar boil the water first and add the sugar, continue cooking until dissolved and then cool. Add the 2 mixtures together and return too a dark place for at least 2 weeks. It can also be frozen.


Obviously I have only completed the first part, so I will let you know how I get on, hopefully it will be ready for Christmas.  It can be drunk slowly to help aid digestion before dessert or added to lemonade. It can also be splashed on to ice-cream, or used in lemon puddings or cakes.

Thanks again to Lucent for running the monthly cookery challenge, if you wish to join next months challenge please contact her.

Lucent Imagery http://www.lucentimagery.com/index.php/tag/cooking-club/ (cooking club founder)

Sarah x










Comments

  1. I bet it will taste great and just in time for Christmas too!
    xxx

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  2. Sounds like my kind of drink Sarah ... Shame you have to leave it until Christmas!

    xxx

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  3. sounds yummy! thanks for the recipe.
    x

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  4. So exciting! I am looking forwards to hear how it all turned out!

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  5. Yum! I know what I'll be doing next time I get given a batch of lemons. I wonder if it will taste nice and sour?

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  6. Hyvä Sara.
    Niin mukavaa, että voisin innostaa sinua tekemään jotain Svarthyllebær.
    Toivotan sinulle ihana kävellä Jumalan vapaa luonto.
    Kate xx

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  7. Hei taas.
    Sain selville, mitä vanhin on suomeksi: Mustaselja.
    Se oli melko hauskaa minulle;)
    Nauti päivä, olen syksyllä taukoa työni Tvedestrand koulussa.
    <3

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  8. Very original choice! I personally find limoncello too strong, although splashed onto sorbet or icecream might be a winner!

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  9. Hope they weren't waxed lemons. There's little to compare in bitterness with the zest of waxed lemons.

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    Replies
    1. They were unwaxed lemons from Waitrose, I always buy unwaxed lemons although they seem to have a shorter shelf life than the waxed ones, I prefer them.
      Sarah x

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  10. Hello Susan:
    Limoncello is a drink to which we have come fairly late in life and one which we love. We doubt though that we should be up to making it.

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  11. Sounds like a refreshing drink. Hope you have a better week ahead at work. : )

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  12. Can I invite myself over to yours at Christmas! Ada :)

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  13. Dear Sarah - I had no idea that you could make Lemoncello. I expect originally it was a local homemade drink in Italy to use up the lemons. Will be really interested to know how it works out.
    I am sure it will be good anything made with lemons is delicious in my book.
    We are still eating our Lemon Marrow Curd, and I shall definitely be making that again.

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  14. I look forward to seeing the end result. It sounds interesting, though I'm not sure about it!

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  15. I don't drink alcohol (apart from a very small glass of Port at Christmas) but this sounds very interesting especially if you can use it in cakes and puddings as you say. I look forward to know more about your limoncello.

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  16. AAhhh. Sarah, I love Limoncello.. its adictive!! ):
    I have a little "shot" now and again..followed by a lemonade or sprite.

    My next drink with it will possibly be Vodka.. (gosh! do i sound alcaholic)! No ..am not. just enjoy a nice drink now and again.
    nice post
    val

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  17. A lemony drink sounds lovely, and I can't wait to see this again when you mix it up.

    By the way, if anyone's had a bad day, it certainly doesn't help to have a little bit of vodka *LOL*

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  18. I love Limoncello :D If you fancy something similar but Christmassy look for Santa's Little Helper on my blog ... oranges, rum and wine. It's delish :D

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  19. Thanks for sharing this recipe Sarah as it sounds wonderful and will be lovely for sharing at Christmas...
    The assistant would only be thinking more, if you were a regular hehe!
    Have a happy week!
    Love Maria x

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  20. What a wonderful little armchair travelling via your limoncello. Look forward to hearing how it goes. I laughed. That feeling when you get home and realise how something you said could have been so misinterpreted! Oops! I have never heard the terms waxed or unwaxed lemons - what is this all about?

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    Replies
    1. Oranges,lemons and limes can be coated with wax to preserved them for longer. It can be washed off it scrubbed well. The waxed fruit will look more shiny. If you are using the zest of lemons it is better to buy unwaxed if you can find them.
      Sarah x

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  21. Oh wow - I've always wanted to make my own limoncello after being tempted many moons ago in Italy with this delicious tipple.

    Nina x

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  22. It looks promising Sarah! Looking forward to hear how it tastes!!

    Happy new week,

    Madelief x

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  23. Looking forward to trying this! One of these Christmas's you'll resist making a dodgy liqueur ;)

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  24. I had Lemoncello years ago when I was in Italy and it was just delightful and smells wonderful. I'm duly impressed that you made your own!

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  25. I've always wanted to make limoncello - can't wait to see how it turns out! Looks very promising :)

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