tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53986196650291212452024-02-19T13:16:53.201+00:00Mrs Portions' PotablesA journey into home-made liqueursMrs Portionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240180886586238966noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398619665029121245.post-1749640224235401562010-11-06T12:42:00.004+00:002010-11-06T12:48:26.539+00:00Damson plum liqueur<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Sp3YuF4ZF7sehiLdb3yS94eA9uhvtFqdIGlr1sc1TVCG7e6MV5XuZkUIr8BwDW0O4JLh5cYlyV7gxrKvhWapPNm3U8Qi0xwLodvxp7YE5W1wFvACDlMJM5MXFebo4gHAPfTtWUAaDQ/s1600/PICT0452.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPF3LDaM3O-s3APEvIqbooH7MIrWOddnpKSbjQPMcTQZYOmLFqzZQW3Kd-sll2Bhj10AHlsFgwvTjrYQZh290BNfisDsGOvddtbKEW4mzYEpYgAH876pQPTx5jxOyA2p8ZbrKdKom-A/s1600/PICT0396.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPF3LDaM3O-s3APEvIqbooH7MIrWOddnpKSbjQPMcTQZYOmLFqzZQW3Kd-sll2Bhj10AHlsFgwvTjrYQZh290BNfisDsGOvddtbKEW4mzYEpYgAH876pQPTx5jxOyA2p8ZbrKdKom-A/s320/PICT0396.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536416965170987778" /></a></span></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Having these beautiful fresh damsons to pick for free from my parents’ garden inspired Mr Portions and I to use them for something a little more exciting than jam.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Sp3YuF4ZF7sehiLdb3yS94eA9uhvtFqdIGlr1sc1TVCG7e6MV5XuZkUIr8BwDW0O4JLh5cYlyV7gxrKvhWapPNm3U8Qi0xwLodvxp7YE5W1wFvACDlMJM5MXFebo4gHAPfTtWUAaDQ/s320/PICT0452.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536416975717508546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Damsons are an often overlooked member of the plum family because people always think of the tiny tart variety that will burn through your teeth at twenty paces.<span> </span>These are more like eating plums and very fruity and sweet.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28jtlkIvj0-be6ihhEOfjQ-luIEJJ6tIomwbBgZ6IywzAYh61Jmo7ySPpJneZZ9j5HS54p6lv0b9NOlNBy3zNW_6OrHRCsAvEI4wvAKUWhIhp_HwVudWsfbs-ODfcvUsZvB2hUwxzMA/s320/PICT0402.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536416978213320642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 114px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />This is a rich, fruity liqueur – perfect for quaffing during the mists and mellow fruitfulness of autumn.<span> </span>It is syrupy and tastes like alcoholic prune juice; it’s deceptive because the booze isn’t immediately obvious but really packs a punch!<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Here’s what you need:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2lbs damson plums (or any other eating plum, such as Victoria)<br />2 cups caster sugar<br />2 cups vodka (we used Smirnoff Blue)<br />½ cup <a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/2010/07/polish-pure-spirit.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Polish pure spirit</span></a><br /><br />NB.<span> </span>If you don’t wish to use Polish pure spirit, simply replace it with extra vodka.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wash the damsons and pat them dry with a paper towel.<span> </span>Cut them in half and remove the stones – this is pretty easy as the damsons will be soft.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Place the prepared damsons in a <a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/search/label/bottles"><span class="Apple-style-span" >kilner jar</span></a>.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Add the sugar and close the lid.<span> </span>Shake.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8SiN_JZy3uTPlH-sDF6vZLDn70__WFV1Sr7_D2LL17qUSHsKIRpGrA6ct-Wz8jbeqWNOBV2rB0cfwfDJ9Ma_uKbDah9mWw0X6HWG0LpGzx3iM5ZW94AR-ioIIstoqO3eam5A6RWffQ/s320/PICT0397.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536416983199978530" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Add the vodka and Polish pure spirit and close the lid.<span> </span>Shake.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNSlFyssIjEX0S9db6nPrRW6ABD2JOwr580MYC6jUuQVICLDk861ipeKIDfWDuPdhTlqMkRlOtflxTf0V5Yb7WMQE3S_SF_2_DsKas6Cb989mmDwaCHhj2mC3umoNOOAFAx0J3aZTBw/s320/PICT0398.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536416990132050722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Leave in a quiet spot, at room temperature for 4 weeks and shake occasionally to ensure the sugar mixes in with the damsons and vodka.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28YAl8wd1SNpjSuYU6KwGAmEIuQqc4UJShqervyHanXlhwGgHNCkKqbMz2alVRZwPAHtqnV1_S3SvAlR6Eh31w3GylGbOYXCSXDmoMdDmEoC6UWNwOlPNYmrQwsnEYnXlXuo7t_yRGg/s320/PICT0397+(2).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536417304764741810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 269px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />When the month is up strain the mixture using a fine sieve or straining bag.<span> </span>Then move on to a more refined filter either<span class="apple-style-span"><span> lining a sieve with a butter muslin or <span> </span>a coffee filter (but this can get clogged requiring frequent changing of the paper).</span></span></span></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Unlike other fruits used for liqueurs, the damsons do not break down – this is what they’ll look like when you strain them out (they are extremely fiery so only eat one if you’re brave!):<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5KFKCcXVxULxAE4GK2nUbqrYknIr1flVGny8qEQpIIm4XfA6kZmDKNEB1W3DZujjJ7efX1IpOchf8jjuNcHlFC9inNr-gkPJahBARe9mkO3RFAcfNKx9IUCbfX1I-dE6axUIDr52iQ/s320/PICT0399+(2).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536417307084116658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 286px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Bottle your liqueur and age for a further month.</span></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Time to make, from start to potable: 2 months<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR" style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yield: approx 3 cups/750ml</span></span></span></span></p>Mrs Portionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240180886586238966noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398619665029121245.post-4896916091455522312010-10-18T17:40:00.003+01:002010-10-18T17:45:19.325+01:00Ginger honey liqueur<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Ginger, honey and single malt whisky – for many this would just about be heaven!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Mr Portions is a fan of whisky liqueur and viewed this as the ultimate honey-lemon cold remedy...in fact, since we made this it’s amazing how many “colds” Mr P has had!<br /><br /></span></span></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xbpAejuFYgnhobdSIu9urNeW3m6pIajkjk2UTvlrUlpEiB2QfXuFH2Q0oHv_T3LXhAMk8r0e_kAFLbmw9aLhdimb0LL_he0nWwDehuWsFLrSn4nPPkpgHacQgMchxdpWP-WLPeJhAw/s320/PICT0403.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529427441128838562" /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Here’s what you need:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1 cup honey<br />1 cup water<br />3 tablespoons fresh ginger root, peeled and chopped<br />1 lemon’s zest<br />1 ½ cups whisky (we used Talisker, as we had a bottle to hand) <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9e-0yHXDIZqLLYNIojaAVXkq_7FpCRrDz1obKshw980Fp4ceTBCkOssP1IyRu2DaQRi46ZCDTn_ietMXubsTEXLrr5IZtPzDW8EYirLCjA6O2mNPTrVM9dHA-BaLYjggQqPSL8zy_KQ/s320/PICT0395.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529427445195219266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 275px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Bring the honey and water to the boil – you will notice that a scum will form; this is beeswax.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Use a spoon to skim it.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Make sure you do this otherwise you might get nasties in your liqueur!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Boil the mix for 5 minutes.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This is the wax that would be in the liqueur if you skipped this stage:<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUmn2qVAoGNBKCVoZpUj1UUnhgazxtotEoSlUnS92iHI_hIytjbn2LZfO2ppKbOgCd5GHBC3zoDp1FXxhOfFXJlFttFwlDH_Qe7is5s5LBcuJKtanKqtCEW1FiUj0zymyBhls0AqFmg/s320/PICT0397.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529427450797005362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 317px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Add the chopped ginger and lemon zest and boil for a further 5 minutes.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wJpsgBGirhWc1zoL8OX95ebWZo7JBTX8qfN43DLsfVKE-KkXL6B873hgaqARvANQ1SvhUO0wu4bSZjnAKcdrjcrpNlhHStNGohimNp7OOdQFjbc3CT7eCNYv0HEAkJQB_ROD9uHBWw/s320/PICT0399.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529427459945507986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 270px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Remove from the heat and leave to cool until the mixture is warm but not hot.</span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sieve the mix to remove the solids, including any beeswax you missed on your first attempt:<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4810G2h68_hsVtZepRcEs-UrZYCaGZwm9oKTxbzONksFZNl3r78BK1zH_h960aXY1O1yzmfeQf_ZBvn7LwQA6Frg_MMh3tJhV5ISaDPisyvHn-Kd8r3z-YpAOZINw9cmOJCecVSGag/s320/PICT0400.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529427481570761762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 294px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Pour into a </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/search/label/bottles"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">kilner jar</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> along with the whisky and swirl around.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayRZmiZZ2AqzVgI1yve9lcDlkTGXrR8O4kvu0Uu6AjK-QxdJpnR7jpP4uCQxqOC1sfIjzA-bOE6nw0UCw2aAXDdhsoVEYJT3lJ-Stc9ZkJeQKhGGn3WdDRlEp0XCCBCj2TFUJ5ZkCEg/s320/PICT0402.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529427872773300898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 188px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Store in a cool, dark place for 4 weeks.</span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Strain the liquid through a coffee filter and pour into bottles.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The following photo shows the importance of filtering – on the left is the pre-filtered liquid, on the right post-filtering:<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkK5dStscEGIzb5TXFfE5PDul6H-ZFisO0enW_P9DFRxzVVIjlIvoUZtOJuxoMXzVmPo7YRncbQbuwQnjbH1ZzeE9C_L66f-ACSDi6m9vdqXxCLJKOLpRJdaXlqtzwyCRJJsH6N7IHag/s320/PICT0400+(2).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529427876052790706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 113px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Age 2 more weeks, then your liqueur is potable.</span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Time to make, from start to potable: 6 weeks<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yield: approx 2 cups/500ml</span></span></span></p>Mrs Portionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240180886586238966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398619665029121245.post-16093451114936105742010-09-27T17:06:00.004+01:002010-10-18T17:50:56.880+01:00Crab apple liqueur<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Mr Portions and I are determined to become more skilled in the art of foraging. It’s amazing how many fruits and berries around you in everyday life are edible. There may be no such thing as a free lunch but there are definitely free crab apples – easily identifiable as they are tiny apples.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_aDx70zarmyKOUt1dVbyMXbqPBPPsbMKqkXXXfr-Ct_GtZFSGrCSaxTHmV8owTWStHb3XpmZI2p49909exYO9p1Vnhx2o0VWf0-0xhfMd7BD5sJjDUxEepBBYCyHdQLQnhYf6KGqdw/s320/PICT0396.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521626070175773282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 279px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />In the name of research we each took a bite. I gagged more than Mr Portions as they are sour and I have a sweet tooth. The liqueur would definitely need sugar! We picked the crab apples before they got a red blush from the sun – we were looking to make a tart liqueur.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuz6cTEjzVT0r0AbEiiWolFHA9zzZIK9FtcVg939jMY2DuhUuZaTKWO0c9axP1N0Db2K7CPEyuIZW7Pu3GqBVULVtcAFRYyMEnS00hyphenhyphensJ2stiocKKEFGa5M8w-sCKE3EECzOeFz2hS7A/s320/PICT0396+(2).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521626083049349122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 143px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Here’s what you need:</span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4 cups of crab apples<br />4 cups caster sugar (I know this sounds a lot but crab apples are mighty bitter!)<br />2 ½ cups vodka (we used Smirnoff Blue)<br />½ cup </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/2010/07/polish-pure-spirit.html"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Polish pure spirit</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />NB. If you don’t wish to use Polish pure spirit, simply replace it with extra vodka.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wash, chop and core the crab apples. This is a bit of a faff as they are small and hard but it’s worth it so share the task and make witty conversation to pass the time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Place the prepared crab apples in a </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/search/label/bottles"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">kilner jar</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Add the sugar and close the lid. Shake.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Add the vodka and Polish pure spirit and close the lid. Shake.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbb7xZzYyxwfosRb1CDt7zhAiUvQT0pv8AeiSJs7yoVuTXsEe_RXHsUBr_axPKxggDjmESPDrtttx9zcXjn-Zt3ESz50gwAebXqItE0geWkx0dePfzUD6zbogbghea0VCU677LAfoayA/s320/PICT0408.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521626084018462194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Leave in a quiet spot, at room temperature for 4 weeks and shake occasionally to ensure the sugar mixes in with the crab apples and vodka.</span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When the month is up strain the mixture using a fine sieve or straining bag. Then move on to a more refined filter either</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> lining a sieve with a butter muslin or a coffee filter (but this can get clogged requiring frequent changing of the paper). Here’s what crab apples look like after they’ve been in a jar with vodka and sugar for a month:<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3m-FO7bo_umP1DNwmEEabHyQQbyfYcHWVz2KkQHuGyfgdMIoH10bOWqtJjABhGX4o8LDaaGG4nv0DwGks6HofEvjq6owbABhHc3VIkr4aWQhVu8fOQghIpP8th1_-vpEtVfI5wAWZA/s320/PICT0403.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521626090382071026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 282px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Bottle your liqueur and age for a further month. It was a touch “punchy” after a month but some people liked that – if you don’t, leave if another couple of weeks and try again...it will mellow over time!</span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Time to make, from start to potable: 2 months<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yield: approx 3 cups/750ml<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></p>Mrs Portionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240180886586238966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398619665029121245.post-47305723629718029912010-09-20T17:01:00.007+01:002010-10-18T17:50:39.890+01:00Blackberry liqueur.....<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">...or “Purple Gold” as I think it should be called.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This one is a stunner – of all the liqueurs we’ve made so far this is the most luscious, the smoothest, the most quaffable.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Can you tell how much I love it?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The only thing I’ve ever had that I can compare it to was a 40 year old exquisite port.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yes...it’s THAT good!<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccmtfBSrXJtaJBe5vxeGf4xUNEBIWtiREB3rM2CDB5KQ5pAhTy8EWJ_xfnLpqQLiSfcb4kvyDj01dLKBPStKRGOXJIMwf7cUj_CYVsjDO5Zd2PQvdz7U2yGD_X79uDySoz-UK6EDFug/s320/PICT0400+(2).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519027252268372994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Conventional wisdom says that blackberries come into season at the end of August.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I commute to work by train and could see lots of ripe blackberries at the end of July.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It must be down to the hot summer we had.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sadly, the train driver wouldn’t stop the train and let me get off to pick them, so Mr Portions and I went to our nearest country park and got foraging!<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGABqLuL6Npx1hAic-XKclClRP9DVIAps7OwXc2YmrNevkb5WICQ2MDoTIqtsAs_q0-teN4_5m-dKq5DCl1qi3Sjp4LAHgFzDVYLPSrwF1OFuQetfX4ebR5ZJGnUZrK7x00_bipFeNPw/s320/blackberries.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519027257568636178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 301px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />The blackberries available were big, dark, juicy and soft.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wild fruit is always so much softer than commercial fruit.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We picked lots more than we needed for this liqueur and feasted on blackberries until our fingers were purple.</span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Here’s what you need:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3 cups fresh blackberries<br />1 lemon’s peel<br />2 cups vodka (we used Smirnoff Blue)<br />½ cup </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/2010/07/polish-pure-spirit.html"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Polish pure spirit</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />3 cups </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/search/label/sugar%20syrup"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">sugar syrup</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">NB.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">If you don’t wish to use Polish pure spirit, simply replace it with extra vodka.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wash the blackberries and place in a </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/search/label/bottles"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">kilner jar</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Mash them so they start to release some juice and flavour.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Add the vodka and Polish pure spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Seal the jar and swirl the ingredients round.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Store in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLg2nHt6EoTT4e0ykpEKLlAkFhEjtkt3-DU5tO7LDR4LWh6So4093kRrJ1__Uimldbi13lRWA53puXh7aeCawusEdy18NfXmbSurbyV4KSQl7cVQCCgDrogO7wOyG6-m-wX56kahtOw/s320/PICT0412.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519027260482224322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Add the sugar syrup and reseal the jar.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Swirl around to ensure contents mix.</span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Store in a cool, dark place for a further 2 weeks.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nh-0doYtFNok0knlY9sodMiBN32R6iUK2DDhmA81kwwAjbfy5dofQ3JTz_h1mlYdrNszlQWy14r-XXYSwcxuUbIduG6Wf9BC32h0gZpR4ogHFIQ_BIgu3ZUIROL9pHlpnQmI-c2cdQ/s320/PICT0401.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519027267620593346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Strain the mixture through a fine sieve or mesh and mash the raspberries to ensure you get as much juice and flavour from them as possible.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When you’ve squeezed all the ‘guts’ out of them they will look like this:<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYRf-tAR6ex2_UU1tGG3TVFuJIKX6T-1iijY871xB-Biqgc71TZwJi9dCnhaLMszTM75d3rdQGtRwi13q0skMXgx0KYevXwayhylbvXJstFcHJX8caW3SSF0su4rToZNkGx5Lc83hkQ/s320/PICT0402.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519027277488481506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 245px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Once strained, you can start filtering – line a</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> sieve with a coffee filter; this filtered the liquid very effectively – but be prepared to change the filter several times as it clogs.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We found this a particularly laborious liqueur to filter – it took lots of filter paper changes and 6 hours!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">On the plus side, the gorgeous colour of the liqueur provides some interesting effects on the filter paper:<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunWjB66_H9Ps5wsAKVlGomcCpHBiGH3J0UZw9FuJegxtMGLAh_SvCie4lrxJ8hwa91WMMPTL95H-jIbmQ1uCDRvLEWGagE2S0BXYAKJkaU2I7TI8d5xrAs-KH8ZOp_ZX4foD01gJDCw/s320/PICT0407.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519027657312792098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />The liqueur wasn’t full and fruity in flavour after filtering so we aged for a further 2 weeks.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciM4WneF2TGiZ_KelwAybhdWMy5usjmB-7rjArGpI_zg-lZn5e8K4_akQFQxYqbTh4cRsfOij5qYDt8rc33CfANaY7aChXuedWh0Pl_G6c4iy02od73K4UQatA67UXxfk-TXM3oSRlw/s320/PICT0395.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519027666039811970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />After waiting the extra 2 weeks re-filter and b</span></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ottle your now-potable liqueur!<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaWS8ilkkaAGC7irzNU-FfkkmmAj-bu-CHEtF0VJGAUM9zd72Mf4QjuV3I7dIdCpXeBlY-BbM9UfLDjWHb7YIn7F67POr5DboGDqSIxjANjoYtLMgLlrQCgxxQbAUkbFKBigTGbP7nw/s320/PICT0398.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519027669176432162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 111px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cheers!</span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Time to make, from start to potable: 6 weeks<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yield: approx 4 cups/1 litre</span></span></span></p>Mrs Portionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240180886586238966noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398619665029121245.post-76619981099812820592010-09-06T18:41:00.003+01:002010-10-18T17:50:24.966+01:00Mr Portions’ tart Applicious liqueur<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZIGqzKszOg-YkjxkKpiFxhJMXBhI68mQEvCVjg4gsZvcyBQZQFGHKwgv34kpV-nEsorbTc8BRc6bgb_ntTtl9m1YuHcriTyMfI5XkHHumiqr6h9d-tQvHChNb3hRGZlLRszN31bJhw/s1600/PICT0410.JPG"></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckOE9AYgKalhK0DrbAOGAJTXonqwJTvOVvyKOSU80NNLmblUU6RibRibIxaPEgKtr70DYGsEFJLTdxjiFuT6JMPlS9GiEfruLjG6Ae43aZXRgLxMhLMoQO3wfzWRSfgKdpz79BsqYkQ/s1600/PICT0407.JPG"></a></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QHmMzgD9xz-6319WTMCGDP5oPEHyfWS8it7aPsi3B3Amczaut2H5OnWB8T0ppRRnQb5i7Gq14_VUIiPo7e1jEpY7wiQ70pDl3msi6TQN_c0OcyvdhT89KVY3j2fc1ysH_R1bn_duUQ/s1600/PICT0399.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QHmMzgD9xz-6319WTMCGDP5oPEHyfWS8it7aPsi3B3Amczaut2H5OnWB8T0ppRRnQb5i7Gq14_VUIiPo7e1jEpY7wiQ70pDl3msi6TQN_c0OcyvdhT89KVY3j2fc1ysH_R1bn_duUQ/s320/PICT0399.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513857888115481602" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Our last batch of </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/2010/07/applicious-liqueur.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Applicious</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> was delicious (don’t worry – there’s no charge for the poetry), but Mr Portions, being a tough and manly sort, found it a little too sweet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So here’s our more butch version of it – man’s Applicious!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Method, volumes and maturing times are exactly the same, the only difference is the apples used.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckOE9AYgKalhK0DrbAOGAJTXonqwJTvOVvyKOSU80NNLmblUU6RibRibIxaPEgKtr70DYGsEFJLTdxjiFuT6JMPlS9GiEfruLjG6Ae43aZXRgLxMhLMoQO3wfzWRSfgKdpz79BsqYkQ/s1600/PICT0407.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckOE9AYgKalhK0DrbAOGAJTXonqwJTvOVvyKOSU80NNLmblUU6RibRibIxaPEgKtr70DYGsEFJLTdxjiFuT6JMPlS9GiEfruLjG6Ae43aZXRgLxMhLMoQO3wfzWRSfgKdpz79BsqYkQ/s320/PICT0407.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513857899829985250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 320px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Here’s what you need:</span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4 Granny Smith apples<br />1 Bramley apple<br />1 lemon’s peel<br />1 ½ cups vodka (we used Smirnoff Blue)<br />½ cup </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/2010/07/polish-pure-spirit.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Polish pure spirit</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />1 ½ cups </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/search/label/sugar%20syrup"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">sugar syrup</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">NB.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">If you don’t wish to use Polish pure spirit, simply replace it with extra vodka.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Core the apples then coarsely chop – there is no need to peel the apples. Place in a </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/search/label/bottles"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">kilner jar</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and add the lemon peel.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZIGqzKszOg-YkjxkKpiFxhJMXBhI68mQEvCVjg4gsZvcyBQZQFGHKwgv34kpV-nEsorbTc8BRc6bgb_ntTtl9m1YuHcriTyMfI5XkHHumiqr6h9d-tQvHChNb3hRGZlLRszN31bJhw/s1600/PICT0410.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZIGqzKszOg-YkjxkKpiFxhJMXBhI68mQEvCVjg4gsZvcyBQZQFGHKwgv34kpV-nEsorbTc8BRc6bgb_ntTtl9m1YuHcriTyMfI5XkHHumiqr6h9d-tQvHChNb3hRGZlLRszN31bJhw/s320/PICT0410.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513857905736176242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Add the vodka and seal the jar.</span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Place jar in a cool, dry spot away from any direct sun.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Leave for 2 weeks but pick the jar up and swirl it every so often.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">After the two weeks has passed, add the sugar syrup then return the jar to its cool, shady</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">place for another 2 weeks.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Again, swirl the jar now and again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When it’s ready to filter your liqueur and fruit will have turned a rich ochre – full of mellow mists and fruitfulness.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Strain out the fruit using a filter bag.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Filter the liqueur through a fine sieve or mesh mashing the apples to ensure you get all the juice and flavour out of them.<br /><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFYHHgfjZXz2-bQdaJlaVtB9FC3tfSJAslDZsmDLQ9kIZIxGa8nD5lWBbMHpRE4ON_7EgfaoK_GaKaY9m2ZyWL9i5C4nyyNYacjPR8gWmMFmxjt3UsekR-tO9MZIJDNzvExaWJHWsxQ/s1600/PICT0396.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFYHHgfjZXz2-bQdaJlaVtB9FC3tfSJAslDZsmDLQ9kIZIxGa8nD5lWBbMHpRE4ON_7EgfaoK_GaKaY9m2ZyWL9i5C4nyyNYacjPR8gWmMFmxjt3UsekR-tO9MZIJDNzvExaWJHWsxQ/s320/PICT0396.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513857914023704658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 320px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />You will have to filter at least twice to ensure that all the apple flesh is removed and you have a clear, pulp free liqueur.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We found that lining the sieve with a butter muslin (you could use a coffee filter but this can get clogged) filtered the liquid very effectively.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Clarity is your goal!</span></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Bottle your now-potable liqueur! <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Time to make, from start to potable: 4 weeks<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR" style="line-height:115%; Georgia","serif";mso-ansi-language:FR"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yield: approx 3 cups/750ml</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR" style="line-height:115%; Georgia","serif";mso-ansi-language:FRfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR" style="line-height:115%; Georgia","serif";mso-ansi-language:FRfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Mrs Portionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240180886586238966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398619665029121245.post-11795351102891881482010-08-28T15:11:00.004+01:002010-08-28T15:18:33.281+01:00Carrot ‘cake’ liqueur<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfJy5HbMZ8e76lHbGgoyw81JDsqHzUaRVKnr7hZxWmgBdx_6w91M1AbwZ9tyrEU_a1AQVGTgHMHCsNxgqY7be-_mMfak_8pncZ3hh4Fjux2XiXgfUNn1FVoC-THT2aw_n7FqfeXimsg/s1600/PICT0410.JPG"></a></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPD5PmzakFKG8kfFvh7UzZSXlujMIkaL_Ry09y1CoUTGS0Pq5SZZirlNSME4O4D4KH2GqckItwBj_ibGMIMGAEwXCl1nmRQfxQvG9WtuufhxCa87FiwvjbH44LNXxktBun65F5p81pqQ/s1600/PICT0396.JPG"></a></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEu-f0OmTZbvgUd4U-flJ9kvzuTTSRtgwyqJB-6FujE8FZ5rVWPFbpcQLdDpgls74GVujL3H9TUHb7rnqu6RNNOwofDbqK2ESlk51Vi6Q1DxlvLkJdBBZmqGR-zG_BqA8xLGAEUfNRQ/s1600/PICT0397.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 204px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEu-f0OmTZbvgUd4U-flJ9kvzuTTSRtgwyqJB-6FujE8FZ5rVWPFbpcQLdDpgls74GVujL3H9TUHb7rnqu6RNNOwofDbqK2ESlk51Vi6Q1DxlvLkJdBBZmqGR-zG_BqA8xLGAEUfNRQ/s320/PICT0397.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510463968000542594" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />When one is friends with a baking luminary such as </span><a href="http://www.thecakedcrusader.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Caked Crusader</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> you cannot fail to have some of that cake passion (aka obsession) rub off on you.<br /><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPD5PmzakFKG8kfFvh7UzZSXlujMIkaL_Ry09y1CoUTGS0Pq5SZZirlNSME4O4D4KH2GqckItwBj_ibGMIMGAEwXCl1nmRQfxQvG9WtuufhxCa87FiwvjbH44LNXxktBun65F5p81pqQ/s320/PICT0396.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510463976291935074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Mr Portions told me I was insane for devising a carrot cake liqueur and still makes a ‘puke’ face every time I mention it…but I am nothing if not persistent; I even managed to get him to grate the carrots!</span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I took the flavours of a carrot cake e.g. carrot, cinnamon, and walnut but also added sultanas for some natural sweetness. The biggest decision was whether to use vodka or rum; while I suspect vodka would have given the purest flavour I thought rum far better suited the warm and spicy flavours. Plus, if I was making a carrot cake I would far rather it contained rum than vodka.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As I type this I am laid low with a heavy cold – this liqueur is soothing my throat better than any medicine. It’s sweet but with a strong kick of alcohol and, even with my dulled senses, I can pick out the sultanas and spice.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Would it be too incestuous to make a carrot cake and include this liqueur in it? Or how about serving it neat, with a cream cheese frosting float?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Here’s what you need:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3 fresh medium sized carrots – we grated them to increase the surface area<br />¾ cup walnuts – roughly chopped<br />½ teaspoon cinnamon<br />1 cup sultanas/raisins<br />1 ½ cups rum – we used golden rum<br />½ cup of overproof rum<br />1/3 cup </span></span><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:windowtext;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/search/label/sugar%20syrup"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">sugar syrup</span></a></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">NB. If you don’t wish to use overproof rum, simply replace it with extra golden rum.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Place the carrots, walnuts, cinnamon, sultanas and rum in a </span></span><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:windowtext;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/search/label/bottles"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">kilner jar</span></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and leave for 2 weeks, ideally somewhere cool and out of direct sun. Here are the dry ingredients in the jar:<br /><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfJy5HbMZ8e76lHbGgoyw81JDsqHzUaRVKnr7hZxWmgBdx_6w91M1AbwZ9tyrEU_a1AQVGTgHMHCsNxgqY7be-_mMfak_8pncZ3hh4Fjux2XiXgfUNn1FVoC-THT2aw_n7FqfeXimsg/s320/PICT0410.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510463987085978146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Here they are after we added the rum. It is acceptable, at this point, to feel vaguely repulsed and doubtful that this enterprise will turn out well:<br /><br /></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFVNuvJ0aYxEyylEOUF0uyx8r3syDBTznPz4AlhcmS_K9eG3USzQjFyVXepBZJB6JyhtFPb82eXe-k3nZEBFc_WCNfMmm2KwHFuUVX4hFYAr4IeWvqIQ-oYXh5ehV04JdTMmM1Gf2SA/s320/PICT0412.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510463992091672626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />When the 2 weeks have passed, strain the mix and mash the carrot and sultanas so as to get all the juice and flavour from them.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKUllD4aU0LU05Ixg6Uji3VVTXvEB78EfHGleloodecl7BpK1trF-h7Oh-6L_pcBrPuJ6vyaYBZz65ADnpaxPt5RqGgOr1jqmCMdbKXwxIy2IuNYwtMZOdnP83XZK1-AfQ9Tmiy8oTQ/s320/PICT0410+(2).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510464004650628066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Do this several times until the liquid is free of any pulp. You end up with something that looks like greasy tomato soup:<br /><br /></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBuEZABP_q14yUxAx1Z7d4-Hc-TKqiXlKE6kUU775yaOQMUcNme0otmHaHYsjfZiJpcFdugBNjpwHbmE5wsAw_9I8nD1WQE0stvupMfPyMp0LjO2TaRkQ5FH48KwTL7tAx8hSEJLhTA/s320/PICT0416.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510464427255369298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 308px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />I think the contents of the straining bag look like a brain. Stop me if I’m making this all sound too attractive!<br /><br /></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hkolFG3GFlV-ooAeUTFAOWDB_95GFnC7yva-J6xVHom_Fp3zrIrqtNJDjwpUDCzZLxwL7-m9Dm9YjiGUEj_4g7ljQRKUoVVAF3qagRNM8XFjUaqY4I_852j-96L6YEmZVijcP3eLHw/s320/PICT0414.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510464435867856802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 303px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />We started with the straining bag to remove the major pulp, then we lined the sieve with a butter muslin before moving on to a coffee filter. This took hours (I’m not exaggerating – we had to split it over two evenings) and got clogged many times but filtered the liquid very effectively. This was the point when I started to think, “maybe this won’t end up being poured down the sink.”<br /><br /></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9bZ_s7XvakXdNiscXjZTt6WMG1A1kPrPEs8lI2JoYJPLAS0GmWvbOou6-vwgXb6Fh8kGS_mFL-SX8z170ifOy1SdrVjgzcs9Jx0aahTV_zT534mJdmIxpLamoaGYab3kGJzG3owdyQ/s320/PICT0422.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510464445138996674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Add the sugar syrup and leave to mature for a month:</span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyl8HAYxv-vFCt21-ZpSL9oD07lPskJ7YrYW2l-cUpiG3PDiU3d6Cw477ttbtBNO06i4anadQ5xdPUcKOfYx1ev-gNPvcVZCiWIsXqucG2T9nqM13bVML54tH1uqCgs1UJWwIHFZQSAw/s320/PICT0424.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510464451995980498" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 108px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Bottle your now-potable liqueur!</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Time to make, from start to potable: 6 weeks<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yield: approx 1 1/2 cups(ish)/400ml<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p>Mrs Portionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240180886586238966noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398619665029121245.post-41601787832742902802010-08-15T11:15:00.003+01:002010-10-18T17:50:10.324+01:00Raspberry liqueur<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzgBjyTeVon-XQtBIa5AWKvQicz8PuBRtKTvq6A_vqrbhldJWU0ISvmQZqCS30EOACjDvnIk3XwVY3YZwHTABcJOps7_itoKSWRBIXGscdOFqR9yZLRb6y7ghSt49c-K8RVDVTfpB4w/s1600/PICT0405.JPG"></a></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4ufegKda5Pk0QZP7Oim4cvdeZMWLzmRhN3WUdBxa3SJNsZeFAo9n417WoGGcg4MU7Gr_AH73CD1-IG6vzTZfBG9kL1z6Ae-ZvEQ1zJ6Du6-AmB4NrL_316D213k3gShr2UQKOWhR9g/s1600/PICT0442.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 166px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4ufegKda5Pk0QZP7Oim4cvdeZMWLzmRhN3WUdBxa3SJNsZeFAo9n417WoGGcg4MU7Gr_AH73CD1-IG6vzTZfBG9kL1z6Ae-ZvEQ1zJ6Du6-AmB4NrL_316D213k3gShr2UQKOWhR9g/s320/PICT0442.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505578852325904738" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Mr Portions just “happened to have some raspberries” that needed using pronto. Funny coincidence, eh? What better use for them than becoming raspberry liqueur?<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Here’s what you need:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2 cups fresh raspberries<br />2 cups vodka (we used Smirnoff Blue)<br />½ cup </span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/2010/07/polish-pure-spirit.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Polish pure spirit</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />1 vanilla bean<br />Pinch of allspice<br />½ cup </span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/search/label/sugar%20syrup"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">sugar syrup</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">NB. If you don’t wish to use Polish pure spirit, simply replace it with extra vodka.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wash the raspberries and place in a </span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/search/label/bottles"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">kilner jar</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. Mash them gently just so they start to release some juice and flavour.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzgBjyTeVon-XQtBIa5AWKvQicz8PuBRtKTvq6A_vqrbhldJWU0ISvmQZqCS30EOACjDvnIk3XwVY3YZwHTABcJOps7_itoKSWRBIXGscdOFqR9yZLRb6y7ghSt49c-K8RVDVTfpB4w/s1600/PICT0405.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzgBjyTeVon-XQtBIa5AWKvQicz8PuBRtKTvq6A_vqrbhldJWU0ISvmQZqCS30EOACjDvnIk3XwVY3YZwHTABcJOps7_itoKSWRBIXGscdOFqR9yZLRb6y7ghSt49c-K8RVDVTfpB4w/s320/PICT0405.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505578853953868098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 297px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Add the vodka, Polish pure spirit, vanilla bean and allspice.</span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Seal the jar and swirl the ingredients round.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_fWecU0UFi1sRMfDkLDBohjBduC0DSz-2EfzbHiBcXD2CCt-1XVgyxaCuuLZn1XOjYOw2AleAKf7uyfX8Q7tHRCFYi4w82S2wAuDQw7ZCdsC7jvAfWsTQk77FXjoOHLJU4KVXbeqcg/s1600/PICT0406.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_fWecU0UFi1sRMfDkLDBohjBduC0DSz-2EfzbHiBcXD2CCt-1XVgyxaCuuLZn1XOjYOw2AleAKf7uyfX8Q7tHRCFYi4w82S2wAuDQw7ZCdsC7jvAfWsTQk77FXjoOHLJU4KVXbeqcg/s320/PICT0406.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505578864992270770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 320px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Store in a cool, dark place for 3 weeks.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuI3Gv1rkk-7MZbniBlcL79A6dSJTinqInw0FI090g2Od-Vk9uJQbnOtBV6iminC1oG4GqIX4h6KTE3YeRoU_ICHUK5_exI_ixBGUGI2wk16JbOria1ssyh9K45_qzUDSGlBM1SQZfQ/s1600/PICT0398.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuI3Gv1rkk-7MZbniBlcL79A6dSJTinqInw0FI090g2Od-Vk9uJQbnOtBV6iminC1oG4GqIX4h6KTE3YeRoU_ICHUK5_exI_ixBGUGI2wk16JbOria1ssyh9K45_qzUDSGlBM1SQZfQ/s320/PICT0398.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505578871497230066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 320px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Strain the mixture through a fine sieve or mesh and mash the raspberries to ensure you get as much juice and flavour from them as possible. You may have to do this more than once to ensure all pulp is removed. Action shot of filtering:<br /><br /></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NHxQ6nVUhrd1HgE4QsynNjSRG7rtyiQkJK4docXE7RlYU6A3iHqhA13etWHZYm0g9qsnjoX7in37RO9DJ7JwE3QFIa1ELAadl6DncJoKLowIhkFFNM6rR-jcYMGJ6DMx100_eoNgmQ/s1600/PICT0418.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NHxQ6nVUhrd1HgE4QsynNjSRG7rtyiQkJK4docXE7RlYU6A3iHqhA13etWHZYm0g9qsnjoX7in37RO9DJ7JwE3QFIa1ELAadl6DncJoKLowIhkFFNM6rR-jcYMGJ6DMx100_eoNgmQ/s320/PICT0418.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505578876988629570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 274px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />We found that lining the sieve with a coffee filter filters the liquid very effectively but you do need to change it as it clogs. I always find it fascinating what’s left after straining and filtering – this looks like mincemeat and look how limp the vanilla pod has gone:<br /><br /></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2_WiQuQ5iBoJbexcJ5vk3IiFcyYWzNajzCf35aFR7un1qi5QKQO6cRnn_ogbrBxidcxzOA9zSGHsUL_XJ-GbilKSd1kA-JRbG2TXItBi1jQY4lzaZsppdG5X0O-V18Wn8p2Erpl9Tg/s320/PICT0417.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505579319130176466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Pour back into kilner jar and add the sugar syrup (to taste), maturing for a further 3-5 weeks:<br /><br /></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-VZpJ0pp8bPL47d6V0ej2do5hWnfAWXBT1nHNeoaNYRBIuri-9y4e-dhQYb-5qEDWjFPxgc3XIsIOEAnGuBygQCmNS-YUftMo8kRJZirOFId1nt1dc2lENfDGZa3_jSxFyjeChWK0A/s320/PICT0424.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505579322844092226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Filter again, and bottle your now-potable liqueur! Although the liqueur is now potable, you might find it a little “robust” and wish to age it a bit longer. I certainly found it a touch punchy for my taste!</span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif"font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Time to make, from start to potable: 6-8 weeks, although you may wish to age longer<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR" style="line-height:115%; Georgia","serif";mso-ansi-language:FRfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yield: approx 2 cups/500ml</span></span></p>Mrs Portionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240180886586238966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398619665029121245.post-57750489246875002482010-07-26T18:11:00.005+01:002010-10-18T17:49:54.060+01:00Applicious liqueur<div style="text-align: center;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></u></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqV6VJtEEq2PxicuZQnb5bmkvrniNFb0GR9KUVR3NyyPDeW_MLPBCZw1G3veEC-NJwLYuge0ujr-iEp5sbhGnsvswB6hWrVDRHPGJ5G3JKnhabGHOGMgclppyAuio5TPxzmE6dIdGBsw/s1600/PICT0430.JPG"></a></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_ZdSKGDMmM3-HEGeWQp5TqHE-rlwYLJvejGVKmdBcS1a7s1l7WtRkeuIdQIrEqitRvijJoXpW5gfyd93IemiiNgDTg_0fe3h8YxtUOfPgWS9KXvswQM0rXFpt4kucsG_7PRRkEocDQ/s1600/PICT0435.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_ZdSKGDMmM3-HEGeWQp5TqHE-rlwYLJvejGVKmdBcS1a7s1l7WtRkeuIdQIrEqitRvijJoXpW5gfyd93IemiiNgDTg_0fe3h8YxtUOfPgWS9KXvswQM0rXFpt4kucsG_7PRRkEocDQ/s320/PICT0435.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498264722211965186" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Apple liqueur is divine! We love it neat, diluted with lemonade or as a component in a cocktail – Applicious Martini anyone?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It is worth spending time filtering your liqueur to ensure it is crystal clear; our Applicious just cries “drink me!”:<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqV6VJtEEq2PxicuZQnb5bmkvrniNFb0GR9KUVR3NyyPDeW_MLPBCZw1G3veEC-NJwLYuge0ujr-iEp5sbhGnsvswB6hWrVDRHPGJ5G3JKnhabGHOGMgclppyAuio5TPxzmE6dIdGBsw/s320/PICT0430.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498264731910655938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 208px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />This liqueur is soooooo smooth! We are definitely going to experiment with sharper apples (probably a mix of Granny Smiths and Bramleys) because some drinkers found it a little sweet – rather like a dessert wine. However, I have a sweet tooth and it was perfect for me!<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Here’s what you need:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">5 eating apples – we used Gala for their sweetness but if you prefer tart apples go for Granny Smith<br />1 lemon’s peel<br />1 ½ cups vodka (we used Smirnoff Blue)<br />½ cup </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/2010/07/polish-pure-spirit.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Polish pure spirit</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />1 ½ cups </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/search/label/sugar%20syrup"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">sugar syrup</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">NB. If you don’t wish to use Polish pure spirit, simply replace it with extra vodka.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Core the apples then coarsely chop – there is no need to peel the apples. Place in a </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/search/label/bottles"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">kilner jar</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and add the lemon peel.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-clNgXGmYQYT-5HHO3BExMPrWoEOZpMsqZxnY3ayT6EIcs1TXaBcDWL0ZVItFmelBaq5Ra9noWarC2UE9ilgf8cIJrB9Wg5DHs2VT6QpltU7fHfKZOUw-53YZLLREtr_98p92n2O4A/s320/PICT0395.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498264742164036402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Add the vodka and seal the jar.</span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Place jar in a cool, dry spot away from any direct sun. Leave for 2 weeks but pick the jar up and swirl it every so often.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">After the two weeks has passed, add the sugar syrup then return the jar to its cool, shady place for another 2 weeks. Again, swirl the jar now and again.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeW4seSjLkg6ohR062VJ7FRcUThtR0FDx4uLKO6quyXzla56khQlRQP2mkFwEVUGJBN3QPznnESZGZhwkOm3bEd6rpL2UAHDLwfQvognigLyWB8xD89wLYYZConmiHfB7zpP0MhjQdw/s320/PICT0398+(2).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498264743941624722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />When it’s ready to filter your liqueur and fruit will have turned a rich ochre – full of mellow mists and fruitfulness:<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KmwE0vkGKviYzHxFIctqkhyphenhyphenOXAgAYN87n13v1Car-4ME7Q_l92ncSD9PsYkJcI5la_FLk0yXepMn4bvix8Bn1R_4KlmrNtW84IIqlWEmnocZj3O99GJgKtVUWPIuosYgwBrIxesJng/s320/PICT0397+(2).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498264756219797442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Filter the liqueur through a fine sieve or mesh mashing the apples to ensure you get all the juice and flavour out of them. We start with a bit of brute force with the straining bag:<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga86IDCBK2pRr7Bjtx33C6-uT2qv4UjS9rEJ1yZY5mYA74cP3_ZtToU49D2F1A4dzZLH9KwNpRrmCBVnOeDE5nrKoLl-q1-k9TVjxnIElYGk1IaaAnMQVwLmlgcRXWXYHO2egF5I0lxQ/s320/PICT0399+(2).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498265394162043682" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />This is what was left in the straining bag after we had wrung it dry:<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGh3T1tib3YGc4t5NoqWIEO9DGVTzFGPanc0qa1-wRP8E9tpKA2jeMPiKzXhzctDbm6Dx6okbsw3YO-UroCefCfPwfgvYMhAoq0B23PZ_zGPSJid_ZGuIhb557VYLfrENj-nJ3s-dd_w/s320/PICT0406.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498265406532341890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 278px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />You will have to filter several times to ensure that all the apple flesh is removed and you have a clear, pulp free liqueur. </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We found that lining the sieve with a butter muslin (you could use a coffee filter but beware this can get clogged and you'll have to change it frequently) filtered the liquid very effectively. Filtering takes time - hours! Ensure you leave enough time as you don't want to rush. Clarity is your goal!<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGuOD13FwOtvdq-W0y8qVVUO1S0stP721q0Cpgv2N8ithN9m0uKLMbK5ZecMEbO7OZV9j0b7eXxBOIMkuZs7hHwnhiDJUBJtL-tFHEtFUWX5MPgRJgiM7-Wigpo5HWet08OKtEE8qKQ/s320/PICT0401+(2).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498265411938733506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 275px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Bottle your now-potable liqueur!<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSQYn0P3maOwQL4TOYFMUfEnjjszeDnwzrMKKEhZdX5fK_b7rys5PBvgoE9virIJkse5sucRXBOPyHeiv-PTuRoT-wqW5AANqJi-JverI09-vx0jOVW3B1iUeeskHFn2fZ9xLOcP0HA/s320/PICT0396.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498265419936853842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 131px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Time to make, from start to potable: 4 weeks<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR" style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yield: approx 3 cups/750ml</span></span></span></p>Mrs Portionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240180886586238966noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398619665029121245.post-46735598249162035272010-07-20T19:40:00.008+01:002010-10-18T17:49:28.948+01:00Almond liqueur<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrwZYe2Jsvt7nZjTcjPWANxja404sDIFTpAKxCs15Et2-PxaRPdj_a5YlWNgAZuIopBtM27w3Wj-M4eCo9QkKkMnhLmwoJi68lpGWQCArH9XU0y_KlRzV81916veDJIrjuBmKlVX-NA/s1600/PICT0400.JPG"></a></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIuGFu1Z0oY-5hmhxbvqL01wTMTVSgfd1zx7r0asNkqfutq9_RDiYRw6w6SjAh07621kOqzQR-zASn9QPw4dtX5qqcHUUvw3eqKXTljMjzR2TMF-aIMtvQeiaNscw0UY74I7TKIH8bA/s1600/PICT0397.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 202px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIuGFu1Z0oY-5hmhxbvqL01wTMTVSgfd1zx7r0asNkqfutq9_RDiYRw6w6SjAh07621kOqzQR-zASn9QPw4dtX5qqcHUUvw3eqKXTljMjzR2TMF-aIMtvQeiaNscw0UY74I7TKIH8bA/s320/PICT0397.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500371397128250322" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This is a multi-tasking liqueur. You can drink it neat, add it to coffee, use it in baking/desserts or – for extreme naughtiness – reduce it to a syrup in a saucepan and pour it over ice cream!<br /><br /></span></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrwZYe2Jsvt7nZjTcjPWANxja404sDIFTpAKxCs15Et2-PxaRPdj_a5YlWNgAZuIopBtM27w3Wj-M4eCo9QkKkMnhLmwoJi68lpGWQCArH9XU0y_KlRzV81916veDJIrjuBmKlVX-NA/s320/PICT0400.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500371406855157026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />Mr Portions selected this liqueur as he is a big fan of Amaretto. For this kind of recipe where you want to get maximum flavour from the nuts, it’s best to buy them whole and chop them just before needed. We used this handy gadget to chop the nuts:</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbEbMtbpzoTqZXvIonh39NaES6sjzFLX2EokEgZC7ePcnh9OTK7zKpRPLgu4WxUwiYxUMPVWhETwtb79B9h6UBaGuULRQ5WslCCPVADqE1vuhKV_BcA1YF454uGDo4hx7Kw0BWlRbfQ/s1600/PICT0402.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496060929192987666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 196px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbEbMtbpzoTqZXvIonh39NaES6sjzFLX2EokEgZC7ePcnh9OTK7zKpRPLgu4WxUwiYxUMPVWhETwtb79B9h6UBaGuULRQ5WslCCPVADqE1vuhKV_BcA1YF454uGDo4hx7Kw0BWlRbfQ/s320/PICT0402.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here’s what you need:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; Georgia: "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">½ cup (85g) chopped almonds – make sure they’re unsalted!<br />Dash of almond extract<br />1 ¼ cups vodka (we used Smirnoff Blue)<br />¼ cup </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/2010/07/polish-pure-spirit.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Polish pure spirit</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />Dash of cinnamon<br />1/3 cup </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/search/label/sugar%20syrup"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">sugar syrup</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; Georgia: "><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">NB. If you don’t wish to use Polish pure spirit, simply replace it with extra vodka.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; Georgia: "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Place all the ingredients in a </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/search/label/bottles"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">kilner jar</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and leave for 2 week, ideally somewhere cool and out of direct sun (obviously, we didn't leave it on the windowsill - it's just for photographic purposes!):<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhil2MZ5SdSVTxdtjDw4Gj7NhcEfcLKNQhxz_G_bWFALDT_xXjqJBP4lU__6HvYaTn-9VOb2fzbCxINxK-wn4edgTdkGl83Y7Kc6rPBAa0LpIhnFbiWZjDLb6Bxg9UOcAXBFirbOxeHlA/s1600/PICT0395.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496060936315245810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 206px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhil2MZ5SdSVTxdtjDw4Gj7NhcEfcLKNQhxz_G_bWFALDT_xXjqJBP4lU__6HvYaTn-9VOb2fzbCxINxK-wn4edgTdkGl83Y7Kc6rPBAa0LpIhnFbiWZjDLb6Bxg9UOcAXBFirbOxeHlA/s320/PICT0395.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This isn’t the most attractive maturing liqueur you’re ever going to see! Close up just to really highlight its ugliness:<br /><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeTziN1l_GM_lP7gjlP5kZAR9S8sYL9agSketAsoauXilpSxVpVK9Az2Dh_2WE7ZKnVfiW_UK-QE_S8SgwBKI4xnBm3rYpvgjhW0Leoq9Z1nU7KjaCGfLl771WU0OTK_TKpc8FgciXA/s1600/PICT0397.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496060944750986290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 207px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeTziN1l_GM_lP7gjlP5kZAR9S8sYL9agSketAsoauXilpSxVpVK9Az2Dh_2WE7ZKnVfiW_UK-QE_S8SgwBKI4xnBm3rYpvgjhW0Leoq9Z1nU7KjaCGfLl771WU0OTK_TKpc8FgciXA/s320/PICT0397.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Filter and taste – it might need a little more sugar (ours didn’t). Do this several times until the liquid is free of any nuts. </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We found that lining the sieve with a butter muslin (you could use a coffee filter but this can get clogged) filtered the liquid very effectively.<br /></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; Georgia: "><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here’s our first straining, using a straining bag:<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincm9IttDEvjz8i6nMQ-QX9qIU9yDvdyLlAd9oByDmf5HWnIlWelHs04lXV_-s7O3ZWiGmYvtSq5AlDpBLHJPRymV0uLiXwdv5RPxT4c2wy6CirtOQtsMG1emz-VzDHL0sXp9ma3wnkg/s1600/PICT0400.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496060955198762178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 246px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincm9IttDEvjz8i6nMQ-QX9qIU9yDvdyLlAd9oByDmf5HWnIlWelHs04lXV_-s7O3ZWiGmYvtSq5AlDpBLHJPRymV0uLiXwdv5RPxT4c2wy6CirtOQtsMG1emz-VzDHL0sXp9ma3wnkg/s320/PICT0400.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Inside the straining bag:<br /><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:georgia;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496061521366950386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 314px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkeAsCchyphenhyphenr01Q4B5uymXAHBTXTw9Ru0yJiBP4PfF2wON2f1tbs-zfexroe7syRWT6Tn9WK3zUsrjwEU2LU1awqotBqP8orLUDaoZ0bKz_cfknylLm2pxccjG89m5xXgR0YJaQm9lXwg/s320/PICT0398.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Our precious liqueur – liquid gold:<br /><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-family:georgia;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496061528007375922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 255px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkaVQ9Ij6k2t5w2RYDYPEpn69Ct9InX42yv-a7H0qSGYYQz5s0apVI2uwapICx1OhIkQKGTVlq15W8f6XTg7bc3WigsyftDa6Thv3VEji0qkWvg0Xx89IeZQwsL4Dzf7qCPzIcO1PQyg/s320/PICT0401.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Age for a further 2 weeks.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; Georgia: "><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bottle your now-potable liqueur - if it looks cloudy (ours did) then don't be afraid to filter it once more, before bottling; it's worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; Georgia: "><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">These dinky little bottles are ideal for giving tasters to family and friends. Come on...you didn't think we'd give away big bottles, did you???<br /><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; Georgia: "><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEBYcJ0BjTOFk4HnrCSj3a_8k_n-IGjNy93jWt9hbUmo2xDKCSp_vPzvkQOzfRqMSDxMM9OG4BC0LAy67-1lPWKh_yy4ldAuHQKU5ay7CHvJ7NSXv2mmVPMeiS5Brpt_LOSHawSEntg/s320/PICT0401.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500371410615592386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 146px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></span></p><div><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; Georgia: "><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; Georgia: "><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; Georgia: "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; Georgia: "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; Georgia: "><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Time to make, from start to potable: 4 weeks<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; Georgia: "><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yield: approx 1 cup/250 ml<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; Georgia: font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Mrs Portionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240180886586238966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398619665029121245.post-9026905098170568082010-07-14T14:28:00.007+01:002010-10-18T17:49:03.827+01:00Pineapple liqueur<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3LimdsTVLfIW3eGjiuwuXluBvTWmw-9kBZT7HbLUQ3hF0w4AVugmR_ZsBI5G54kc8HND8qDQawAbX-d-a-JSqotjYo61XM8mkp0VuBZSgVRmDed-Pgm4IenG1uLNFwC_ZOtnWRWveA/s1600/PICT0406.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3LimdsTVLfIW3eGjiuwuXluBvTWmw-9kBZT7HbLUQ3hF0w4AVugmR_ZsBI5G54kc8HND8qDQawAbX-d-a-JSqotjYo61XM8mkp0VuBZSgVRmDed-Pgm4IenG1uLNFwC_ZOtnWRWveA/s320/PICT0406.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502956318552843778" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Ah pineapple! I have always thought pineapple to be one of the kings of the fruit world and I don’t even mind the way you can feel it’s acid burning into your teeth.</span></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This pineapple liqueur is delightful turned into a long drink with cold lemonade, but is equally indulgent neat. It has a tropical taste; we were surprised at just how strong the pineapple flavour was - it's zingy and refreshing. There's also a warming burn of booze - not rough but punchy!<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAg7HI1RCT387YmTnjzH-lvFMaVh18W6DvHCVpktzOT0K7YH24TfBnCDtnlTAHzfKrzYME9fkmggf4EMAwn2kwljhNmseuQTdEl-NiBAV7BrtHlnK4VGQTjKIZU0WjeKXTh3GXdU0h3Q/s320/PICT0404.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502956309182331074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Here’s what you need:</span></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2 cups fresh pineapple cut into chunks (we found that a large pot of ready prepared pineapple from M&S was just enough)<br />1 ½ cups vodka (we used Smirnoff Blue)<br />½ cup </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/2010/07/polish-pure-spirit.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Polish pure spirit</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />½ cup </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/search/label/sugar%20syrup"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">sugar syrup</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">NB. If you don’t wish to use Polish pure spirit, simply replace it with extra vodka.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Place the pineapple, vodka and Polish pure spirit in a </span></span><a href="http://mrsportionspotables.blogspot.com/search/label/bottles"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">kilner jar</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and leave for 1 week, ideally somewhere cool and out of direct sun:<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Eok4u7BKL4u1Hm11d34kCGR-IiuiN-pCXVoVmtHUpNBeZ4-k1cz_uwKYCBWnCDniHpkmpcBwXqauH-nWNigxNZBprDkopDQMsPhe_OssmUsmzzH1386G-gZH8_I8TB2KZ-lEOBdr3Q/s1600/PICT0407.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 205px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493754052600443970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Eok4u7BKL4u1Hm11d34kCGR-IiuiN-pCXVoVmtHUpNBeZ4-k1cz_uwKYCBWnCDniHpkmpcBwXqauH-nWNigxNZBprDkopDQMsPhe_OssmUsmzzH1386G-gZH8_I8TB2KZ-lEOBdr3Q/s320/PICT0407.JPG" /></a></span></span></p><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />When the week is up, strain the mix and mash the pineapple so as to get all the juice and flavour from it:<br /><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjKEQla1cEGvH13evtHa3WAukCSUxUqQjYgKmU1xtkS2YFE_soGSIQ445cFd0txeskLRRBBwv6_-wVPydoRDJYYuFoKspiEf3RCj0PlxzVBFnw9TJxekWyqGTsWUVB4TryNrXDKU7rg/s1600/PICT0400.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 255px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493754050675653602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjKEQla1cEGvH13evtHa3WAukCSUxUqQjYgKmU1xtkS2YFE_soGSIQ445cFd0txeskLRRBBwv6_-wVPydoRDJYYuFoKspiEf3RCj0PlxzVBFnw9TJxekWyqGTsWUVB4TryNrXDKU7rg/s320/PICT0400.JPG" /></a></span></span></p><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Do this several times until the liquid is free of any pulp. We found that lining the sieve with a butter muslin (you could use a coffee filter but this can get clogged) filtered the liquid very effectively.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Add the sugar syrup and leave to mature for a month:<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " class="Apple-style-span"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 203px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493754210941991906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpL6PdINlMiLupu1nPlzd28BJbnWxXKU01Gi8fe8Gb6fngNAoEwwsZSSmyl9nRXlKUKZ5d1PluqiuRgPMH7STqOoqLCihGY6PznwYYnjeOCWw1y5oKg5aRYv8k1hHZDtx4i3_5BtgYcw/s320/PICT0399.JPG" /></span></span></p><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Bottle your now-potable liqueur!</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Time to make, from start to potable: 5 weeks<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yield: approx 2 cups/500ml<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px" class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p>Mrs Portionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240180886586238966noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398619665029121245.post-80131686884156834492010-07-14T14:11:00.005+01:002010-07-14T14:17:51.681+01:00Bottles<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You will need two types of bottle: maturing bottles and serving bottles.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JQ7PqS10qdjJN-3TOY7MOwmVPoZxD2aAfOy0OGaHLyBC10LmfKsiEKFsJWS2gsXueC-DNK_X86NuH-6i2K5rA1JP10Vb9i5YUfFxJkk4BTtbbfuObfcw44n1PYO46eom1B8LDq_Pwg/s320/PICT0398+(2).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493750155525568226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />We like to mature our liqueurs in kilner jars as they are clear (so you can see how the contents are progressing) and easy to clean. They also have a strong air and watertight seal.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqWncpdzZrKzIPExrwzVOXFr_1pH_uxxsjnubARXH4gZTq0rBtw8-TvkXYTZEJFDo8J3ttuDUqeYnfoaIyVpHww7lG7t7dNtmb-QjzCZttNwA12GvpsR8_XMrmPen6JyBPdzGF9oqWQ/s320/bottles.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493750145173474562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We bottle our liqueurs in "Grolsch style" bottles and have found an excellent supplier for these - </span><a href="http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/index.php/swing-top-beer-bottles-500ml-21.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">BrewUk</span></a></div><div><br /></div></div>Mrs Portionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240180886586238966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398619665029121245.post-9282081089741138002010-07-14T14:00:00.003+01:002010-07-14T14:06:39.159+01:00Polish pure spirit<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4YXaVlvBlMxqN5T9JulK_BjmDYVMWYQKB669QZ5Gtr0C9F0O0aBi-b0S280D7oCDXwqV6OKUmw19EDUWiQ7HKrZLB2PLsbHZwtu65nzyEYUCk12v0qWiHkIg7Rva2t5Z7AV-tkmBIQ/s1600/PICT0398.JPG"></a>To make a well-flavoured liqueur with a good kick you need good quality strong vodka (or other spirit where specified). Normally, we use Smirnoff Blue as this is 45% as opposed to the standard 40%.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It is also recommended to use </span><a href="http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-5129.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Polish pure spirit</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> - an incredibly strong spirit ranging from 79%-90% proof. Obviously, this is dangerous stuff in the wrong hands (or mouths!) and you must never drink it neat. Seriously - this stuff could kill you!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4YXaVlvBlMxqN5T9JulK_BjmDYVMWYQKB669QZ5Gtr0C9F0O0aBi-b0S280D7oCDXwqV6OKUmw19EDUWiQ7HKrZLB2PLsbHZwtu65nzyEYUCk12v0qWiHkIg7Rva2t5Z7AV-tkmBIQ/s320/PICT0398.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493747484780106530" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As it is such a potent product you may not see it on the shelves of your off licence but, if you ask, they may well stock it and store it under lock and key. If you don't want to go through the embarrassing rigmarole of explaining how you're not an alcoholic but need it for home-made liqueurs then I recommend buying online!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It's not cheap but worth using sparingly in your liqueurs. </span></div>Mrs Portionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240180886586238966noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398619665029121245.post-22438797537236568102010-07-14T13:41:00.004+01:002010-07-14T13:55:04.248+01:00Basic sugar syrup<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Most liqueurs will require you to add sugar syrup at some point in the procedure. Some liqueurs require special syrups, but if the recipe merely says ‘sugar syrup’ this is the one to use.</span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sugar syrup is Mr Portions’ speciality and he makes a batch when it’s needed, knowing that any leftover syrup will happily keep in the fridge for up to a month.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here is </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Chez Portions’</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> stash of syrup waiting to be called into action. It stores nicely in the fridge door:<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ukR2L2FjDR7TavbA2NpyQH8TF8DZwygXo7Ot7jzQEYg1nlQgU8Jh5enAK6SStBZdeiDyPp_ywhATinIk-uUrLyfAbw7nhyiK1TXBz9r1COoQr_gTphEr3XILd3B-DIgVfsYSHPtJ_A/s320/PICT0399.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493741901516161154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />Here’s what you need to make sugar syrup (note: liqueur recipes are usually given in cups and we find it easier to use cups, particularly when dealing with liquids):</span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2 ½ cups water<br />3 cups caster sugar<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Place the sugar and water into a saucepan and stir occasionally over a medium-high heat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lower the heat and let boil gently (not a mad bubbling, spitting boil!) for 5 minutes.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJEnSWTvH0fbPfQXBUgpK5FoCUemo1ZFAbdg0N4Z4RmQpIKNVBFvoCchCL6RavOyrmBH01-cwhIBW1h4r6bN3AqKuG-0T1Ow522W4659xtDZeZ_jXTqbtO4JtbufkyieFMPfWSGCh4w/s320/PICT0396.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493741890394964050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 272px; " /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />Remove from the hob and leave to cool in the pan.</span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Add to liqueur mix as recipe indicates.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Any leftover liqueur can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Georgia","serif"font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This recipe yields approximately 4 cups of syrup, which amounts to just over 1 litre.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cheers!</span></span></p>Mrs Portionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240180886586238966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398619665029121245.post-62895355150607088722010-07-12T19:12:00.000+01:002010-07-12T19:13:18.160+01:00WelcomeHello everyone and welcome to my adventure in potablesMrs Portionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13240180886586238966noreply@blogger.com0