Limoncello is a Little Bit of Sunshine to Finish Your Dinner
Getting ready for Christmas
I started with the first thing I needed to do for my “Christmas Baking” last night. Do I mean Christmas cake or shortbread? No. I don’t do them quite this soon as I know we will have to bake again before Christmas actually gets here.
Somehow they get consumed by somebody and by somebody I mean me! Sure my husband and son will have a few and then they are done. So I can only come to the conclusion that I am that thief.
Don’t say keep it in the freezer, cause there is nothing like a frozen cookie! I will start those goodies the second week in December. At the same time, I will make the treats that I do for gifts. They are quick and easy and I will write about them another time. Closer to the time I do the baking.
Due to my Italian heritage, I like to try to make Italian goodies. I try that is if they are not too difficult. So I have the ultimate Italian gift that is easy to make. The fact is that you do the first part now and then 2–4 weeks later you finish making it. This will allow you to gift them or for your own enjoyment.
I am talking about Limoncello. It is a visually stunning and delicious tasting liqueur. Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy. My father was born in the region of Calabria, so I think of it as a tribute to where he was from.
So how do we make this? Well here is the first part.
Limoncello Recipe
Ingredients for the First part.
8 to 10 medium-sized lemons (preferably Meyers but whatever is available)
1 cup vodka (choose a flavorless one)
Directions.
Wash the lemons and then cut them into quarters.
Wash 2 pint jars.
Divide the quartered lemons between the 2 jars.
You need to fit all the lemon pieces right to the top of the jars.
Pour ½ cup of vodka over the lemons.
Seal the lids and shake.
Put the jars in a dark place and every day for the next 2 to 4 weeks take them out and shake them.
That’s it for now.
Now if you have done this, then start on the next part of the recipe!
Second Part — 2–4 weeks later. If you are my style of cook you don’t want to rush things.
Ingredients
2 cups of water
2 cups of granulated sugar
2 cups of vodka
Directions
Strain the lemons, reserving the liquid.
Transfer the lemons to a large pot with the water and sugar.
Set over medium-high heat and cook until the liquid is syrupy. This will take about 15 minutes.
Cool mixture and strain into the reserved liquid.
Add 2 cups of vodka to the liquid.
Pour limoncello into clean bottles and put in the freezer until ready to serve.
That’s it.
At this point, a lot of people that are real cooks will tell you how many calories and how many carbs are in each tablespoon of this liquid.
I will tell you but really if you are not drinking the whole bottle don’t worry. One liqueur glass is about 1–2 tablespoons. Each tablespoon contains 35 calories and 5 gms of carbs.
This is a beautiful way to end your dinner. A glass of limoncello and a sliver of chocolate.
Can you think of a better finish to a meal?
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