CHRISTMAS SPIRIT?

We've been getting into the Christmas spirit this week here at Gaia Cottage, well not getting into as such more... creating!

You've seen the Limoncello (far left) in the last post but since then we have made (from left to right) Vanilla Liqueur, Vanilla Extract (for baking), Kahlua (Coffee Liqueur), Lime Liqueur and last but by no means least Orange Liqueur.

I know some people have been asking me how to make these drinks and they always seem shocked at how easy they are to actually make but just incase you were one of the ones who missed out here's how to make it.

For the Citrus Liqueurs take 6 big lemons or 10 small limes or 5 medium Oranges and take off the outside zest trying to leave behind as much of the white pithy part as possible. I put mine into a herb chopped and chopped it until it was tiny pieces then using a funnel, poured it into the empty, dry, sterilized bottles and then poured on 500ml of 40% Vodka, screwed the lid on and shook it hard for about 1 minute. Then I topped it up to 70cl with simple sugar syrup made up with 175g white sugar and 75ml water heated briefly in a pan but NOT boiled and then left to cool thoroughly.

After it has been bottled you need to leave it in a cool, dark place for around 30 days (some say 44), shaking the bottles every day. After your chosen amount of days has elapsed you filter the liqueur through a coffee filter and place back into the bottle and leave to mature for a week or so. You can top up the liqueur to 70cl again with either more Vodka or if it is a little to bitter, more sugar syrup.

VOILA... Citrus of your choice Liqueur!

Now, you can make this with just about anything, you can even leave out the sugar syrup entirely and make schnapps which can be made with almost anything your heart desires and there are plenty of recipes on the internet to get you going but have a try at least, it's wonderful fun!

The Vanilla Liqueur is made with 3 good quality vanilla beans, sliced down the length and popped into 500ml of 40% Vodka and topped off with sugar syrup again and left for the time specified above. Despite it only being made for two days I opened the bottle for a sniff today and it was absolute heaven already!

Now, the vanilla extract I made for baking is made a little more simply and just consists of 500ml 40% Vodka and 6 good quality vanilla pods. This is shaken daily for 30 days also but you don't really need to strain it at all, just use it in baking and top up with a little more Vodka as and when you want to make a little more. Obviously in time this becomes a little dilute and the vanilla beans need replacing but you never need to pay for those nasty vanilla extracts from the supermarkets ever again and some aren't even made with vanilla beans at all, just a much cheaper bean called the Tonka Bean which has a vanilla taste and aroma but in large quantities is actually poisonous!!! Who needs that... right?

Finally there's the Kahlua. One of my favourite tipples is the Black Russian which uses Kahlua or Tia Maria and as I had some leftover Vodka I thought I might as well make some home made Kahlua as I never seem to get around to buying it. It's a simple mix of 1 cup of water, 1 cup of sugar, 1/4 cup of instant coffee and 1 vanilla bean all warmed in a pan until the sugar is dissolved, left to go cold and then mixed with 500ml of 40% Vodka. Again, keep shaking for 30 days and then strain and age for a couple of weeks.

If you don't hear from us over the Christmas period, it might be because we have been sampli... I mean quality controlling our new drinks... yeah... quality controlling *ahem*