Steak Salad
Limoncello & Orangecello
Let me paint a picture for you. It’s the middle of summer. You are sitting out on the back deck looking onto your back yard. The blue sky is intoxicating. It’s 90º outside and water is just not going to cut through the thirst. You walk inside, and look around for something to quench your thirst. You start to think about the kids sitting on the corner selling lemonade by the glass. There is something about lemonade that is so refreshing. What if we could take that drink to another level? Just so you know I have some time on my hands, and figuring out new ways to enjoy libations is something I really enjoy. So let’s work something out.
I have heard of this drink called Limoncello, and it just so happens that I have been playing around with making it. Normally it takes about 21 days, and some hot days to get you there. Now I am not going to knock the tried and true way of making this drink, but I think we can get there faster. I will put both recipes in this blog so that if you want to take the slow and low way you are more than welcome to play.
It is best to make this recipe in December or January when citrus is in season in the USA. It will make for better product. Make a lot of it, and store it. If you can possibly look away from the bottles, and not drink it as fast as you can make it, you will have a very refreshing drink in the summer.
Take a drink & enjoy the sounds of nature.
Fast & Easy Utensils Needed
PeelerLarge Heavy Bottomed Pot
Gallon Zip Lock Bag
Thermal Circulator
Lexan
Slow & Low Utensils Needed
PeelerLarge Heavy Bottomed Pot
Large Glass Jar
Gallon Zip Lock Bag
Grocery Needs
15 Large Whole Lemons1.75 80 Proof Vodka
2 cups Granulated Sugar
Recipe 1 ~ Fast & Easy
Peel lemons (no white pith). Place the peels into a zip lock bag. Add the vodka to lemon peels. Take as much of the air out as you can. Place in a water bath at 130º for 4 hours. Pull out of water bath, and allow to cool on counter for 2 hours. Strain out the lemon peels.
While you are waiting for the zest to infuse with the vodka, juice all of the lemons that you have peeled. It should give you about 2 cups of juice. Add the sugar to lemon juice. Bring liquid to a boil. Let cool for about an hour. Strain through a very fine strainer. It is best to strain it through coffee filters, but it will be a pain in the ass. You will have to change the filter out about 3 times. The particulates will clog the filter. The clearer you can get the liquid the better the end product will be.
Once all the liquids are clear, mix together and store in your fridge. The longer you let it sit the better.
Alright, here is where I tell you that most of the recipes that I have seen use Everclear or some sort of clear liquor that is over 100 proof. These recipes also call for a lot of water that will bring down the alcohol content anyway. You will definitely get more extraction out of the lemon peels or the orange peels with higher alcohol products. This is also why I go for 4 hours of extraction instead of less. Now at the end of the day I want this to be a drink, not paint thinner. That is why I use 80 proof vodka. I think using the juice from the lemons or the oranges instead of water to make a simple syrup makes a better product than using water. I also think that it adds more flavor to the mix. You are adding less liquid that will in the end not lower the alcohol content of your product. You are going to end up with a product that will contain around 25% alcohol or around 50 proof.
Recipe 2 ~ Slow & Low
Peel lemons (no white pith), place peels into glass jug. Add Vodka to lemon peels. Allow to sit on your window sill in direct sunlight for 21 days. At the end of the 21 days strain out the lemon peels.
Juice all of the lemons that you have peeled. Add the 2 cups of sugar to lemon juice. Bring liquid to a boil. Let cool for about an hour. Strain through a very fine strainer. It is best to strain it through coffee filters, but it will be a pain in the ass. You will have to change the filter out about 3 times. The particulates will clog the filter. The clearer you can get the liquid the better the end product will be. Once all is clear, mix the two liquids together, and store in your fridge for drinking.
Recipe 3 ~ Orangecello
10 ea Navel Oranges
5 ea Large Lemons
1.75 80 Proof Vodka
1 cup Granulated Sugar
Peel lemons and oranges (no white pith) and place into a zip lock bag. Add Vodka to peels. Take as much of the air out as you can. Place in a water bath at 130º for 4 hours. Pull out of water bath, and allow to cool on counter for 2 hours. Strain out the peels.
Juice all of the lemons and oranges that you have peeled. Add sugar to juice. Bring liquid to a boil. Let cool for about an hour. Strain through a very fine strainer. Best through coffee filters, but it is a pain in the ass. You will have to change the filter out about 3 times. This will be worse than just the lemon juice. Just letting you know. The oranges have more pulp. Still, the clearer the better.
Once all is clear, mix the two liquids together, and store in your fridge for drinking. You can do the long version if you would like. Just sub out the glass jar, and the window sill for the the ziplock bags and thermal circulator. Implement the 21 day factor.
Back to Our Story
Alright, you have your Limoncello ready to go. If you remember from the beginning of this blog it is 90º outside, and you are sitting on your back porch. You are so ready for a drink. Go inside and pull out a tall glass. Fill it with ice. Now fill it with your homemade Limoncello. Let the ice melt a bit. Go back on the porch. Take a drink, and enjoy the sounds of nature. Your palette is now quenched. Nothing better than an ice cold Limoncello while sitting in a rocking chair. So good.
Enjoy.