Especially for Jaki x (Strawberry Vodka)

Strawberry Vodka Recipe

(Simple list)

1 bottle of vodka

Enough fruit to fill 3 large jars

1 large bag of castor sugar

Clean the fruit, throw away bruised or squashed fruit. Hull the strawberries (take off the green leafy part and white centre) and prick each a few times with a fork or cocktail stick. The damsons just need to be washed - easy.

Wash, rinse and sterilise your jars and lids - either with boiling water, in the dishwasher if they can go in one or put in the oven at 140 degrees centigrade (after washing and rinsing) for half an hour.

Fill each jar with the fruit, add sugar up to a third of the jar and fill just about to the top with the vodka.

Put the lid on after the air bubbles have stopped and you have topped up the vodka.

Turn the jar upside down a number of times to allow the sugar to dissolve into the vodka.

Now the hard part

Put it away in a dark cool place. Take out every few days (or when you remember) and swirl.

I've heard of people using the vodka after 7 days but that is a weak infusion in my books and I want a rich flavoured, thick, liqueur-like vodka.

After 3 months strain the contents of the jar through a piece of clean muslin into a bowl. Tie an elastic band around the cloth once you have emptied the jar of liquid and hang it above the bowl to continue dripping (you could squeeze with your hands but you will mush the fruit).

Decant the liquid into sterilised bottles and save the fruit for a special trifle - delicious and a bit naughty!

So Jaki, let me know how this goes. A long wait until Christmas but well worth it!

edible gifts for Christmas - peppermint creams with chocolate

Peppermint creams.

A very easy present to make, and wrapped nicely they look a treat.

After whipping up 1 egg white until frothy (not stiff) add it to a bowl of the sifted icing sugar (12oz) and stir bit by bit until the mixture turns stiff and dough like. Add 2 drops of peppermint essence.

Split the mixture leaving one half white and rolled it out into a sausage shape and cut into slices. Press each little slice into a disc using your thumb.

To the other half of the mixture add some food colouring. Here green was added, 4 drops only.

And there we are - Peppermint Creams. Put into the fridge for 24 hours to set.

Next - CHOCOLATE

Now that looks so much better doesn't it!

These little things are going into a box with other handmade goodies, biscuits, jam, chutney, strawberry vodka. Wish I had a friend who would make a parcel like this for me!