Have Some Fun and Make Your Own Homemade Liqueurs.

A sad and then wonderful thing happened to me a few months ago. A Deer ran in front of my husbands work truck, this is the sad thing. After I picked him up from the repair shop a strange feeling came over me. Nerves I suppose. I told him to take me to a Liquor Store... I had the need to mix something. And it had to be a lot of something! I do NOT drink, however, when I get nervous, I need to make or mix something up. Baking is OK but it doesn't always do it for me. I tend to be a compulsive over giver. If I do bake, we keep very little of the finished product and give all the rest away.  Now I give a small bottle of my flavored Liqueurs along with the baked goods.  Husbands smile when they get the Liqueur.

We bought  a few bottles of the cheapest Rum, Vodka, Gin and Whiskey that we could find.

When I got home I took a look at the things we had in the pantry. I selected the following:

Cinnamon Sticks, Whole Cloves, Lemons, Oranges, Vanilla Beans, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Candy Canes, Star Anise and Raisins.

Then I decided what to put in each bottle.

1. Vodka, 3 Vanilla Beans and zest of 2 Oranges

2. Vodka, Zest of 4 Lemons

3. Vodka, 3 Vanilla Beans

4. Vodka, 1/2 cup Dried Cranberries

5. Vodka, 1/2 cup Dried Blueberries

6. Gin, 1/2 cup Raisins

7. Rum, 3 Cinnamon Sticks, 10 Whole Cloves

8. Vodka, 4 large Candy Canes

9. Equal parts of Rum, Vodka, Gin and Whiskey also add an equal part of number 1 after you mix that one with the simple syrup.

10. Vodka, 10 Whole Star Anise

* Simple Syrup, is 2 cups water and 1 cup sugar.  Heat till the boil and simmer until sugar is dissolved.  Cool to room temp.

I have nice Quart size jars and bottles that I like to save. All you have to do is put the pantry items in the jar first and then add the Liquor. Put the jars in a box and store in a dark area out of the sunlight. Every week shake up the jars.

Number 8 is done in a few hours! It makes wonderful Peppermint Schnapps! I add some to a cup of Hot Chocolate... Yum!

Number 7 makes a pretty good copy of a certain Handsome Captain you see on the shelf!

Number 3 makes Vanilla Flavoring that I've used in baking. A quart goes a long way.

Number 1 is added to  *simple syrup and makes a good sub for a Triple Liqueur on the store shelf.

Number 2 is my favorite, it's a delightful lemon flavor which I add to the simple syrup recipe. You can even freeze this one and it will  really give you a pick me up in the summertime.

Number 9 is a great mix for a gal like me who grew up on Long Island. (This is my occasional stress buster drink of choice.) I mix it with lemon juice, lime juice and Cola. Lot's of Ice also... super Yum!

Numbers 4, 5 & 6 are just a few nice flavored Liqueurs that I use for baking or flavoring. I add the fruit from the liqueurs to muffins or cakes.

Number 10 makes a wonderful licorice flavored Liqueur that my husband adds to coffee.  (This one also must be added to simple syrup.)

Let me know if you try any of these Liqueurs.

Until we meet again....Francesca27