Make ahead xmas gifts??

[Greenfingerpaula]

I thought about the lavender, can't do that until next year though as I only have baby lavender plants now!


🐞Every ☁has a silver lining🐝Every 🌸 has a 🌿

[Greenfingerpaula]

What could I do with the dried rose petals, little drawer bags?

What's the best way to dry them?


🐞Every ☁has a silver lining🐝Every 🌸 has a 🌿

[Greenfingerpaula]

And how do you make chilli vodka??? Intrigued, have lots of chillis!


🐞Every ☁has a silver lining🐝Every 🌸 has a 🌿

[Nicos]

I have Calva on the go for a Crimble gift.

Calva= black cherries in apple brandy.

[Greenfingerpaula]

Wow Nicos that sounds AMAZING..... Have you got a recipe to share


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[Nicos]

Ha!
one sealable jar
1/2 - 3/4 fill with washed and then dried fresh cherries
one dessertspoon(ish) of sugar
fill up to top with Calvados- or apple brandy- or brandy

shake from time to time and store in a cool dark place.

Try and resist having a sip to see how it's going on....you'll just be left with alcoholic fruit and no booze!!!

you can do the same basic recipe with vodka or gin with most fruits! ( elderberries,sloes,blackcurrants,raspberries,plums,cherries,blackberries,hazelnuts to name a few I've made)

....my favourites are binley's raspberry vodka and my blackcurrant vodka or my hazelnut calvados!

[Greenfingerpaula]

O M Gosh I think I just died and gone to heaven LOL - I'm waiting for the blackberries at the bottom of my garden to come through so I can pop them in the freezer for things like this..... Raspberry vodka - mmmmmm!!! Thanks for the ideas


🐞Every ☁has a silver lining🐝Every 🌸 has a 🌿

[Greenfingerpaula]

Quick question..... How do you dry out your cherries?


🐞Every ☁has a silver lining🐝Every 🌸 has a 🌿

[Nicos]

dry as in patted dry with a towel
Leave the stones in if you wish

I usually use 3/4 litre le Parfait jars- but in all honesty a jam jar would work just as well.
We went to a wedding a couple of years ago - and their favours to the blokes were small pots of cherries in calvados. Looked nice with a bit of hessian and rafia attached to it.!

[Greenfingerpaula]

Sorry I thought you meant dry out - blonde moment!!!

Sounds lush


🐞Every ☁has a silver lining🐝Every 🌸 has a 🌿

[Greenfingerpaula]

Would these jars be ok for projects like this?


🐞Every ☁has a silver lining🐝Every 🌸 has a 🌿

[Nicos]

yup!

just add sugar to taste ( remember you can always add more later- but you do need some to help bring out the flavour!)

[Greenfingerpaula]

Brilliant - the OH is gonna love me spending money on ANOTHER new hobby heehee!!


🐞Every ☁has a silver lining🐝Every 🌸 has a 🌿

[Greenfingerpaula]

Do you make the blackberry vodka in the same way?


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[scarey55]

Yup, I've got some blackcurrant Voddy on the go at the moment and also Quarante Quatre:

Prick an orange 44 times and put in a Le Parfait/Kilner jar, add 44 lumps of sugar, 44 coffee beans and top up the jar with Vodka. I use a 1 litre Le Parfait jar. Google a recipe for quarante quatre because they do vary a bit, some add cloves.

ETA: The 44 tastes a bit Cointreau ish Will post pics a bit later if you like.