Charlottechicken Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 Has anyone tried to make this liqueur? Following the success of my sloe gin this year (which I sold to a very grateful neighbour, she gave it away as presents) I am now up for pickling anything in alcohol! I found a couple of interesting recipes on the internet, one from The Washington Post and one from The LA Times, and it doesn't look too complex. I will be giving it a go in the new year. Limoncello Recipe: Washington Post Wednesday, December 7, 2005; Page F02 Limoncello Makes about 3 1/4 quarts Those who are lucky enough to receive this homemade lemon liqueur should keep it in the freezer, where it turns a milky white after 8 to 9 hours. It can be sipped straight-up, mixed with tonic or dashed into champagne. Recipe adapted from Magdalena Borea. 17 large lemons, preferably organic Two 750-milliliter bottles grain alcohol 5 1/2 cups water 6 cups sugar Wash and dry the lemons. With a paring knife, remove the ends. With a vegetable peeler, remove only the yellow rind, leaving the pith intact. (Squeeze juice from the lemons and reserve for another use.) Place the lemon peel in a 4-quart Mason jar with a rubber-seal lid. Add the grain alcohol, making sure the lemon peel is completely covered. Store in a cool, dark place, shaking the jar once each day to agitate the lemon peel. On the 13th day, bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the sugar and remove from the heat, stirring until it is dissolved. Cover and let cool to room temperature. Place a colander on top of the saucepan and strain in the contents of the Mason jar. Discard the lemon peel. Stir to combine the liquids, about 1 minute. Transfer back to the Mason jar. Store for 3 weeks in a cool, dark place, shaking to agitate the liquid twice a day. After 3 weeks, transfer the limoncello to smaller bottles that can be sealed with rubber stoppers. Store bottles in freezer. Serve directly from the freezer. Per 1.5-ounce serving: 92 calories, 0 g protein, 19 g carbohydrates, 0 g fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 0 g saturated fat, 1 mg sodium, 1 g dietary fiber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura007 Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 you probably want to look on some of the italian web sites. paul has italian relatives and i think they make it themselves, but i am really not sure how to do it myself. i know they use alot of lemons, but when you have lemons growing in your back garden its not a problem. you could try these http://fooddownunder.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=limoncello Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 Oooooh! Never made it but my neighbour always brings some of this back from France (home made by his family) and it is gorgeous! Let us know how you get on if you do try it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 Mmm - sounds good! Can you make it less sweet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted December 30, 2006 Author Share Posted December 30, 2006 you probably want to look on some of the italian web sites. paul has italian relatives and i think they make it themselves, but i am really not sure how to do it myself. i know they use alot of lemons, but when you have lemons growing in your back garden its not a problem. you could try these http://fooddownunder.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=limoncello Thanks for mentioning Italian relatives, Laura. One of my cousins is married to an Italian and lives in Turin, I will email her in a minute and see if she can find out any Limoncello tips for me! I will try the recipe I have found as mentioned above, but probably scale down the quantity, so if it goes wrong I will not have much waste. The recipes I have seen are all very similar, but I imagine in Italy there may be regional variations? The alcohol used is usually vodka, a strong one so all the colour and taste leeches out of the lemon zest. As I will be using cheap alcohol I had better try leaving the zest in for the 40 days suggested in Lauras link! I will report back when I have made it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 I've seen mention of it on both River Cottage and Mrs.L's forums - I'm sure Kate will be along soon as it involves alcohol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted December 30, 2006 Author Share Posted December 30, 2006 I've seen mention of it on both River Cottage and Mrs.L's forums - I'm sure Kate will be along soon as it involves alcohol Will check out River Cottage now. Who is Mrs L? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 Mrs L was a regular on RC - and a moderator - she set up her own forum. Creative Living for the 21st Century - http://mrsl.forumsplace.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 I've just picked this up from Mrs.L's ive done a search at RC and found lots of references to linoncello but not the actual recipe! So a quick google has given me this recipe- a James Martin version... in case anyone else wants it.... Servings: makes about 1 litre Level of difficulty: Easy Preparation Time: 15 minutes, plus 1 month infusing Cooking Time: 5 minutes Ingredients 200g caster sugar 150ml water zest and juice of 6 unwaxed lemons 700ml eau-de-vie (colourless fruit liqueur), 40-80% proof, or vodka Method 1. Put the sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Bring to the boil, then simmer briskly for 3-4 minutes until the bubbles look syrupy. Leave to cool. 2. Add the lemon zest and juice to the syrup while it is still slightly warm. Then add the eau-de-vie or vodka. 3. Pour into sterile bottles or jars and seal. 4. Leave in a cool, dark place for 1 month, shaking every day for the first week. After a month the lemon liqueur will be ready to drink. Strain into clean bottles. 5. Put in the freezer for several hours before serving. The liqueur is best served in frozen shot glasses. see http://www.uktvfood.co.uk/index.cfm?uktv=recipes.recipe&iID=513100 _________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted December 30, 2006 Author Share Posted December 30, 2006 That's a variation I hadn't come across, Lesley! Thanks for the link to Mrs L too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 I have Limoncello on my "to do" list for next year too - I found the recipe I will be using here - http://www.ivillage.co.uk/print/0,,181919,00.html Also,check out the Christmas Pudding Vodka,which is very similar to the spiced Cranberry Vodka I made this year....& it was gorgeous (note the use of the past tense there!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted December 30, 2006 Author Share Posted December 30, 2006 Nice link, Sarah! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 Ooh, I like limoncello! I once had to buy a bottle so I could use one spoonful for the panna cotta I was making. Of course I didn't want to waste it so had to drink the rest of the bottle! If anyone makes some, do let us know how it turns out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura007 Posted December 31, 2006 Share Posted December 31, 2006 i can see myself having a crack at this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 31, 2006 Share Posted December 31, 2006 I think I might have to make some as well - I've still got some vodka left from making the coffee liqueur. Tesco is the only place where I can get unwaxed lemons though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura007 Posted December 31, 2006 Share Posted December 31, 2006 I think I might have to make some as well - I've still got some vodka left from making the coffee liqueur. Tesco is the only place where I can get unwaxed lemons though can you just wash and lightly scrub it off with warm or hot water? i think its just sprayed on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted December 31, 2006 Share Posted December 31, 2006 I have only once in my entire life (and I'm 44 now ) been ill because of excessive alcohol consumption..... and that was courtesy of a couple of "test-tubes" (the glasses were just like test tubes, honest ) of limoncello. Great friends of ours invited us for dinner, he's Italian, she's Polish and the Limoncello they served was heavenly..... but lethal. I only had 2 drinks, but 100% Polish vodka made to an Italian family Limoncello recipe . They served it direct from the freezer........ and it was still in liquid form. I think that should have been my warning Enjoy your Limoncello all...... I learnt my lesson the hard way a few years ago now, but it truly is delicious stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 31, 2006 Share Posted December 31, 2006 I think I might have to make some as well - I've still got some vodka left from making the coffee liqueur. Tesco is the only place where I can get unwaxed lemons though can you just wash and lightly scrub it off with warm or hot water? i think its just sprayed on. I think I'd rather face Tesco I do have some Veggie Wash which i could use I suppose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 1, 2007 Author Share Posted January 1, 2007 Lesley, the link Laura provided earlier on tells you to wash the lemons in hot water and scrub to remove the wax. I will try this as I am trying to do everything fairly cheaply I think it is an Australian link as well, in which case the cup measures are 250ml. My recipe is from the USA so the cup size is something like 237ml. How confusing! If anyone has a good link to a nice measure conversion chart can they post it please! I will be buying my ingredients later in the week, as long as I am not spotted in the supermarket by someone I know with MORE alcohol in my shopping basket I will have a bad name Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 I have only once in my entire life (and I'm 44 now ) been ill because of excessive alcohol consumption..... and that was courtesy of a couple of "test-tubes" (the glasses were just like test tubes, honest ) of limoncello. Great friends of ours invited us for dinner, he's Italian, she's Polish and the Limoncello they served was heavenly..... but lethal. I only had 2 drinks, but 100% Polish vodka made to an Italian family Limoncello recipe . They served it direct from the freezer........ and it was still in liquid form. I think that should have been my warning Enjoy your Limoncello all...... I learnt my lesson the hard way a few years ago now, but it truly is delicious stuff Oh poor you Kate. What a horrible feeling! Still, a lesson learnt, as you say. You could always make your own version without that lethal level of alcohol. What you had would have floored a regular alcoholic!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura007 Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 Lesley, the link Laura provided earlier on tells you to wash the lemons in hot water and scrub to remove the wax. I will try this as I am trying to do everything fairly cheaply I think it is an Australian link as well, in which case the cup measures are 250ml. My recipe is from the USA so the cup size is something like 237ml. How confusing! If anyone has a good link to a nice measure conversion chart can they post it please! I will be buying my ingredients later in the week, as long as I am not spotted in the supermarket by someone I know with MORE alcohol in my shopping basket I will have a bad name i think as long as you stick to the same cup it shouldnt matter to much. i have a canadian cookie book, which i love and that is in cups, but i havent had any trouble just using the one i had in the cupboard. i am getting quite excited about having a go at this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 I made Raspberry Vodka and Sloe Gin for Phil for Christmas, I think they were his favourite recipe! I'll give this a go next time I get some lemons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 Raspberry Vodka? I like the sound of that Is there a recipe posted anywhere??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 I think there is, but I just half filled a big jar with raspberries, put in 4 oz of sugar, filled up with a bottle of cheap voddy. Shook it every day until all the colour had leached out of the berries - strained it and filtered through a coffee filter paper. BTW I used the raspberries to make a boozy raspberry pavlova Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 4, 2007 Author Share Posted January 4, 2007 Raspberry Vodka? I like the sound of that Is there a recipe posted anywhere??? Here Sarah. http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6794 I will be trying this too. I think the addition of sugar will make it a liqueur, so that's two different drinks to make with raspberries and Vodka! I bought my vodka, lemons and sugar today, and my mother kindly bought me some lemons from the market in Birmingham, so now I have loads of lemons! The market ones do not appear to be waxed, they were six for a pound and each weigh 9 oz I will wash them in warm water and brush just to make sure. Anyone for a lemon?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
