Brewin’ Up Some Christmas Moonshine

It’s Celebrate The Small Things Day. Something I’ve achieved each week, no matter how small. If you’re interested in doing the same thing sign up here at Vicki’s blog.

Today, I’m going to be completing the second step in something I started a month ago: a batch of moonshine–hooch, booze, white lightning. Actually, it’s yellow lightning: Limoncello to be exact, an Italian lemon liqueur traditionally made from the zest of Femminello St. Teresa lemons steeped in grain alcohol until the oil is released. Only I used vodka and Trader Joe’s lemons, fourteen of them, which I zested at night while watching TV.

Steeping Limoncello

This second step consists of boiling up a simple syrup (sugar and water) and adding it to the brew.  And then in 20 days or so I’ll strain the mixture through triple-folded cheesecloth into these cute little bottles and seal them. Voila! Christmas gifts for my family and friends. And a jar of vodka-steeped zest to jazz up my fish dishes. Maybe, I’ll even have a bottle of Limoncello left over for myself to add to the one I got from the friend who showed me how to seal the bottles. Check it out below, all nice and frosty from the freezer. Cheers!

Chilled Limoncello

By the way, Limoncello recipes abound on the web, mine is a three-page deal from said friend, if you like I can type it up and email it to you.