It's sad to think we're moving into Autumn and towards Winter but, to cheer you up when the nights start closing in and the kids have walked puddles of muddy slush all through your kitchen, here's a delightfully warming recipe I picked up from Good Housekeeping magazine back in 2011. The good news is that this only needs a month at most to mature and doesn't need any specialist equipment, so you can easily start it in the next month or so and it'll be ready for Christmas. Then all you have to do is pop on your slippers, curl up with Strictly and enjoy a tiny tot of this gloriously rosy liquid sipped from your favourite glass.
Despite having pasted this recipe into my recipe scrapbook six years ago (how is it that long ago?) this is actually only the second time I've made it. Though not due to any fault of it's own, that's for sure.
As the recipe makes just over a litre, last time I made it I gifted small bottles to a small number of friends and family, along with a jar each of my homemade fig, date and onion chutney. It felt so nice to be able to gift something I made myself, but if you decide to keep the lot to yourself I certainly won't blame you!
What you'll need:
750ml white or dark rum
425g caster sugar
425g mixed frozen fruit
1tsp vanilla extract
When I originally made this liqueur back in 2011, the primary purpose was to use up a glut of raspberries from the garden, however this time I picked up a bag of frozen smoothie mix from Sainsbury's and removed the bits of banana.
How To Make It
1. Put all the ingredients into a large clean bowl, stir well then cover with cling film. Leave it in a cool, dark place to infuse for at least two weeks or up to a month.
I found I had to peel back the cling film and stir again once or twice over this period to encourage the sugar to dissolve.
2. After this time, all of the sugar should have dissolved and the liquid will have deepened to a beautiful dark red, almost the colour of red wine.
Strain through a sieve lined with kitchen paper into a large jug or a lipped bowl. I used a bowl as I was less likely to accidentally tip it over! I also learned my lesson from making my red gooseberry wine and used a plastic sieve rather than a metal one.
Then use a funnel to decant into a large sterilised bottle (or a few smaller ones if you want to make gifts of it). I used a classic 1 litre Kilner bottle as I love the look and wanted to be able to showcase it proudly should it make an appearance with company present.
Then use a funnel to decant into a large sterilised bottle (or a few smaller ones if you want to make gifts of it). I used a classic 1 litre Kilner bottle as I love the look and wanted to be able to showcase it proudly should it make an appearance with company present.
The liqueur will keep for up to six months (but I bet you'll have drunk it by then!)
Disclaimer: this is not a sponsored post, just a documenting of my attempt to follow the recipe.
Disclaimer: this is not a sponsored post, just a documenting of my attempt to follow the recipe.
Ooooo fantastic idea! This looks like fun x
ReplyDeletepopping back from #Blogstravaganza looks yummo! x
DeleteAnother yummy recipe! Xx
ReplyDeleteOoh yummy! Sounds delicious, might have to give it a try! (If I remember...ha!)
ReplyDeleteThat looks so good. Great recipe.
ReplyDeleteBack from #blogstravaganza.
DeleteLooks yummy! Can't believe Christmas is getting closer already! Xx
ReplyDeleteoooo come to mama! =]
ReplyDeletePopping back from #TriumphantTales. Thanks for joining us, I hope to see you back next week!
Deleteoh and #Blogstravaganza haha!
DeleteWhat a brilliant idea for Christmas! X
ReplyDeleteOh yum! This would make a great grist massive gift and it looks pretty straight forward to make too xx #blogstravaganza
ReplyDeleteThat looks lovely. I think I'll use this for Christmas gifts this year! THANKS #blogstravaganza
ReplyDeleteOo what a delicious homemade gift for someone lucky!
ReplyDeletePopping back from #Blogstravaganza! Thanks so much for co-hosting this week, it's great to have you! Xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a fab idea. This looks like a drink that I might be able to make too, thanks for sharing :) #Blogstravaganza
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic idea. Thanks for sharing your recipe X #Blogstravaganza
ReplyDeleteThis sounds delicious and perfect for christmas x
ReplyDeleteForgot to add #blogstravaganza x
ReplyDeleteLooks yummy!I like the idea of doing it for little gifts #Blogstravaganza
ReplyDeleteLooks delicious! I'm not sure I could give it away! #blogstravaganza
ReplyDeleteThat looks so lovely! I think I may have to make some of this for Christmas #blogstravaganza x
ReplyDeleteOh my word, this looks and sounds delicious! What a great idea to make your own gifts #blogstravaganza
ReplyDeleteYou are so talented - this looks absolutely lovely. The way you can just get raspberries from your garden etc just sounds like my idea of heaven! And I adore homemade gifts - the world is ridiculously commercialised these days and I love it when you can give or receive something totally unique, made for you especially. Had a chuckle at the "To Me From Me" on the bottle's gift tag - my kind of present haha!! xx #Blogstravaganza
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea for a present for someone. #Blogstravaganza
ReplyDeleteIt sounds delicious and looks a lovely colour too. It would look great in fancy bottles as I gift I bet. #FabFridayPost
ReplyDeleteSounds delicious and so easy to make! I bet they are well received gifts #blogstravaganza
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