Making Limoncello Liqueur From Scratch.

What is Limoncello?

Limoncello (pronounced lee-muhn-CHELL-oh) is a liqueur from southern Italy made with lemons, vodka, water, and sugar. It's served ice cold in tiny, thin glasses as an after dinner aperitif, or digestivo. Only the zest is used to make this delicious drink. It has no bitterness at all, in fact, it is most refreshing!

Lemon Peels in Vodka.

10 lemons, just peels, no pith (I've seen anywhere from 8-17 in various recipes)

3 ½ cups sugar (This amount is entirely up to you. You may prefer it more or less sweet.)
3 cups water
3 cups vodka

1.) Don't worry about getting too picky about your lemon zest, the syrup that you'll be mixing in later will disguise any minor bitterness brought by a little pith.
2.) Pour the vodka over your peels. This part isn't precise, your basically marinating here. Every recipe is different with regards to this. Lemons are strong, they won't let you down.
3.) Let this sit for at least a week. They won't turn bad in the high-alcohol environs of the vodka.
4.) When the vodka smells refreshing and citrus-y and you're ready to make the syrup, boil the water and sugar (stirring to prevent any sugar scorching on the bottom of the pan.). Reduce this to a simmer, dissolving to a thin syrup. Set this aside to cool.
5.) Strain the vodka from the peels. Dry or compost your peels. Julienned and dried, you may yet use them in myriad recipes.
6.) Stir together the lemon-flavored vodka with the cooled syrup. Bottle and age for a few more weeks.

Limoncello

Source: Lani's Kitchen

Cocktail Recipes With Limoncello

Sperone Sunrise
1 1/2 oz. Limoncello
3 oz. Orange Juice
Serve over ice with a dash of grenadine syrup.
Limoncello Ice Cream
3 Cups Good Vanilla Ice Cream
1/2 cup Limoncello
Blend and serve. Garnish with lemon zest.
Cherry Lemonade
1 1/2 oz. Limoncello
1 1/2 oz. Cherry Vodka
2 oz. Lemon Sour
Shake and serve over ice.
Lady Cello
1 oz. Limoncello
1 oz. Rum
1/2 oz. Lemon Juice
Sugar
1 tsp. Grenadine
Shake with ice. Serve with sugar-rimmed glass. Garnish with cherry.
Limoncello Baba
8 cups Flour
4 cups Butter
12 Eggs
1/2 cup Honey
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 cup Corn Syrup
1 cup Limoncello
Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix all the ingredients, (except for the syrup and the limoncello) into a smooth batter. Pour this mix into 12 cupcake papers. Bake for 25 minutes. Mix the syrup and the limoncello together. Soak the cupcakes. Serve these chilled. Serves twelve.

Trying Other Options

Vodka is a neutral-base alcohol. The strength is mostly up to the individual. Most recipes call for between 80-100 proof. It doesn't interfere with the flavors that you may wish to infuse for your liqueur. Steeping is the process that infuses the flavors that you're looking for. And filtering removes the solids. Finally, you just make a simple syrup by heating sugar and water. Cool this down and stir it in to your lovely new spirits. Funnel this into sterilized, pretty bottles, let it mellow a couple of months, et Voilà! You have liqueur!
I had some vodka left after pouring it over my lemon peels. I had a small yield this year with my plum tree, (after two amazing years of fruit!) so I opted to pit a few into a jar and pour the vodka that was left over these. These took a bit longer to steep than did the lemon peels, but in time they emited a lovely, rich, fruity smell. Next time I may add a clove or ginger root and a slice of apple, or a vanilla bean and a lemon peel. I may be onto a great gift idea.
Experiment with fruits, herbs, and spices. Fill your jars or bottles with fruit, but take it slow, perhaps, with your spices. Keep notes and refer to these as you may or may not wish to keep, or tweak a recipe.
This recipe would be delicious with orange peels or lime peels. Think of an orange-vanilla combination, or lime-mango-mint. The possibilites are fun and refeshing to think about, and people will be asking for more of your delightful liqueurs year after year!

Making Limoncello Liqueur From Scratch.

What is Limoncello?

Lemon Peels in Vodka

Source: Lani's Kitchen

Lemon Peels in Vodka

Source: Lani's Kitchen

Recipe to Make Limoncello

10 lemons, just peels, no pith (I've seen anywhere from 8-17 in various recipes)
3 ½ cups sugar (This amount is entirely up to you. You may prefer it more or less sweet.)
3 cups water
3 cups vodka

1.) Don't worry about getting too picky about your lemon zest, the syrup that you'll be mixing in later will disguise any minor bitterness brought by a little pith.
2.) Pour the vodka over your peels. This part isn't precise, your basically marinating here. Every recipe is different with regards to this. Lemons are strong, they won't let you down.
3.) Let this sit for at least a week. They won't turn bad in the high-alcohol environs of the vodka.
4.) When the vodka smells refreshing and citrus-y and you're ready to make the syrup, boil the water and sugar (stirring to prevent any sugar scorching on the bottom of the pan.). Reduce this to a simmer, dissolving to a thin syrup. Set this aside to cool.
5.) Strain the vodka from the peels. Dry or compost your peels. Julienned and dried, you may yet use them in myriad recipes.
6.) Stir together the lemon-flavored vodka with the cooled syrup. Bottle and age for a few more weeks.

Limoncello

Source: Lani's Kitchen

Cocktail Recipes With Limoncello

Trying Other Options

Recipe to Make Limoncello.

10 lemons, just peels, no pith (I've seen anywhere from 8-17 in various recipes)

Limoncello

Source: Lani's Kitchen

Cocktail Recipes With Limoncello

Trying Other Options

Vodka is a neutral-base alcohol. The strength is mostly up to the individual. Most recipes call for between 80-100 proof. It doesn't interfere with the flavors that you may wish to infuse for your liqueur. Steeping is the process that infuses the flavors that you're looking for. And filtering removes the solids. Finally, you just make a simple syrup by heating sugar and water. Cool this down and stir it in to your lovely new spirits. Funnel this into sterilized, pretty bottles, let it mellow a couple of months, et Voilà! You have liqueur!
I had some vodka left after pouring it over my lemon peels. I had a small yield this year with my plum tree, (after two amazing years of fruit!) so I opted to pit a few into a jar and pour the vodka that was left over these. These took a bit longer to steep than did the lemon peels, but in time they emited a lovely, rich, fruity smell. Next time I may add a clove or ginger root and a slice of apple, or a vanilla bean and a lemon peel. I may be onto a great gift idea.
Experiment with fruits, herbs, and spices. Fill your jars or bottles with fruit, but take it slow, perhaps, with your spices. Keep notes and refer to these as you may or may not wish to keep, or tweak a recipe.
This recipe would be delicious with orange peels or lime peels. Think of an orange-vanilla combination, or lime-mango-mint. The possibilities are fun and refreshing to think about, and people will be asking for more of your delightful liqueurs year after year!

All Indian men to understand and appreciate these facts and should keep their better half very happy.

An excellent tribute to all House Wives and particularly to Indian Housewives.

An article was recently in circulation that had appeared in The Hindu Newspaper on the Marriage Caterers and how they could be an apt case study for the IIMs on their excellent Management skills.Just like Businesses& calls for qualified IIMs and the like for running the show, has anyone thought of Home Management particularly of a traditional Indian household.Has anyone thought of the Conventional middle-class Indian Housewife.Is she not the best Manager that could ever have set foot on this earth - in real life???although many are of the opinion that women are relegated to mundane household functions, has anyone ever thought of the activities that she carries out 24 x 7? most management skills that are taught of which the IIMs boast and for which they are highly paid, are also essential for running a traditional home.The Indian traditional middle-class. The husband is mostly a (literally) sleeping partner - only financing the requirements.He comes into the picture mostly as a Consultant or for major Project Planning needs like Purchasing a house or for children's marriage.

The housewife plans all daily/weekly/monthly/yearly actions for the benefit of the household / her family. All her plans are her mind Forget a Business's Annual Plans and Long Range Plans - everything relating to the future requirement of the family is already well thought out in her mind and she goes about executing it with her meager resources,including all course corrections.She is the best organizer that you could ever come across not only for the day to day cores for her and her family, but also for the future actions.

She directs all actions relating to the household every day.Whether she has servants or not, whether other family members help her or not.whether her finances would help her have additional hands or not, all daily needs of the household are met without fail - thanks to her.

She is the main center-pin for coordinating for all the actions of the family - for getting things done, for complaints resolution etc. Everything/everyone revolves round her.

Very rarely does the husband ever know or get involved in controlling things at home - it is the wife who is the monarch of all that she surveys - directly or indirectly.

She could probably be the best Time Manager.Her duty hours are 24 x 7 all the year round life long. She does not get Casual Leave or Sick Leave or Annual Leave nor does she get paid forOvertime.

She manages the finances, all the expenses&ensures that the monthly requirements are met. Whatever her husband gives her, she manages the entire show within that. She also creates reserves for the future major expenses like education/marriage/medical etc

She might not be educated but her cash flow management is always exemplary.

Man Management:

Every housewife could be an example of an excellent Man Manager- she has to tolerate her husband and his office worries that he carries home, her children's problems, her inlaws'etc., resolving all issues without any demur and to the satisfaction of all.She could beat any HR Manager hands down in Human Relations.Sense of belonging:

Who can ever dispute herselfless dedication to the well being of her family ? She is "there" always partaking in everything whether it be happiness or sorrow.Love and Compassion.

Who can ever dispute the love and compassion that she showers on her family. Her shoulders are always available for all the family members to lean on. She is the best solace be it for the children or the husband.

She knows the likes and dislikes of everyone and satisfies one and all. She meets surprise demands of visitors/guests.

With whatever is available within her resources/budget she meets all demands, the best Works Manger you could come across.

Her Inventories which include many perishables are always well controlled Most family members do not even know what is in the Quality:

Her food is always appreciated for taste and rarely does she waste or produce rejects.

She maintains the entire house very well and in an orderly fashion.

Has she undergone any special training on TQM or Six Sigma or 5S or qualified for ISO or other Management concepts?

She has to wear different caps for different roles that she plays every day from morning to night:

As a family member - as a daughter (daughter-in-law), as a wife to her husband, as a mother to her children, as the housewife to meet all her daily cores etc.

As the CEO, as Works Manager, as a Works Manager, as a Materials Manager, as a HR Manager, as an Admin Head, as a Quality Head, etc etc.

Whatever be her woes she rarely exhibits them - probably her only solace is the Puja room!

Most earlier housewives never got the so-called Degrees - She probably could never go to a Bank or a Post Office or use a computer So what her deeds are far far greater- her Universal Knowledge is far far superior.

The typical Indian Housewife not only manages the household exceptionally well, she also brings up her children as good citizens inculcating all good values, see to it that they settle properly in life and above all continues to serve one and all for ever in life, tirelessly without a demur.

The greatest thing about her is that her actions are never for "Returns" except that she longs and prays for the well-being of everyone to be Healthy and Happy in Life....... This list is never ending.

I may further add that this is applicable even more to our India.In these countries they have to work much Harder than India. No maids and No Drivers available unlike India.

Long Live the Conventional Indian middle-class Housewife.

She is the Greatest MANAGER that the World would ever see.

My Life & Wife.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

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