LIMONCELLO

This delicious, sweet lemon liqueur, whose origins are from Southern Italy, is inexpensive to make and a real treat. Remember that it takes 80 days to make, so you have to start planning early if you want to give it as a gift.

• 12 lemons, washed
• 2 bottles (750ml each) 100 proof vodka
• 4 1/2 cups sugar
• 5 cups water

Wash the lemons well in warm water. Peel just the zest of the lemons into a 4-quart mason jar. Add one of the bottles of vodka, stir, and store in a dark closet at room temperature for 40 days. On the 40th day, make a syrup in a large saucepan by stirring the sugar and water together and bringing to a boil. Let it boil for around 5 minutes and then remove from heat and cool. Add the syrup to the mason jar along with the second bottle of vodka. Place back into the dark closet for another 40 days. Use a coffee filter or several layers of cheesecloth to strain the limoncello into smaller bottles which can be stored in the freezer.

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