"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

Hello Friends!

Friends, Romans, countrymen...y'all. Foodies, gardeners, artists and collectors - let's gather together to share and possibly learn a thing or two in the mix.

Donna Baker

Monday, December 14, 2015

Happy Day To Me




Well, today I turned somewhere north of thirty.  If you remember, I tried using my first crop of limes to make a limoncello.  I have tried it with lemons, but never limes.


Only the skin of the fruit is used in the making.


Add the rinds to the strongest grain alcohol on the planet and place in a dark cupboard for weeks or months.


It turned out beautiful.  Limoncello, when the syrup is added, turns cloudy, opaque.  Not so with the lime one.


This stuff will literally kill you if you drink too much of it, though that would be impossible I think. Surely the liver would fail and the imbiber become comatose before they could drink very much of it. I took one tiny sip and that is it.  It almost brought me to my knees.  I felt the heat go down my throat and all the way down my esophagus.  So much for a little drinky winky on my birthday.  Oh my heaven and stars.  I am saving this for cough medicine or the flu.

28 comments:

It's Just Dottie said...

I don't have limes but many ,many Meyer lemons and oranges....

Elephant's Child said...

Yummo.
It sounds almost worth having the flu for...

angryparsnip said...

Happy Happy Birthday.
Let there be cake !

cheers, parsnip

donna baker said...

Dottie, I have made it with Meyer lemons, but never oranges. I have also used vodka instead of grain alcohol and it is milder. The Italian kind is made with grain alcohol. I am going to have to harvest my citrus when I go back to the farm.

donna baker said...

Child, you certainly wouldn't care whether or not you were sick. This stuff could be weaponized it is so strong.

donna baker said...

Thank you so Parsnip.

RachelD said...

Was it W. C. Fields who used to call it a "little Lime-bation"? Someone of that ilk and era.

This is one of the most beautiful homemade elixirs I've ever seen---like all the shades of green in all the jungles there are, distilled into clear spirits with the strength of a rowdy ox.

Happy Birthday to YOUUUU!

Don't blow them out til your breath clears of fumes.

rachel

Frances said...

Wishing you a very Happy Birthday, Donna!

Having tasted some limoncello homemade by an Italian lady (and quite enjoyed the opportunity) I think that your lime-based version might be even better. I love your description of that sip.

xo

elaine said...

Happy happy Birthday to you Donna. Your limoncello looks beautiful even if it is practically undrinkable perhaps you should add soda or lemonade to it. How many peelers do you actually need!

Sharon Tomlinson said...

Happy Birthday Donna! I was wanting something just like you described to drizzle down my throat just this past week. I had limoncello in Italy and loved it. Must try making my own.

donna baker said...

Like lime gasoline must taste Rachel.

donna baker said...

Thank you Frances. I guess I am just not a drinker; alcoholic beverages are wasted on me.

donna baker said...

Thank you Elaine. I bought several peelers because you can't leave any white pith and it is difficult to do.

donna baker said...

It is really easy to make and ou can adjust the amount of sugar syrup and the type of alcohol. I store mine in the freezer, but usually give it away. Thank you for your birthday wish.

La Table De Nana said...

Loved seeing the title of the post:)
Happy Birthday Donna..I know I am late..but you just told us..
I have no clue what age north f 30 is..but it suits you..
That's quite a glass too:)

Ry @ Sotto Il Monte Vineyards said...

Happy Birthday! Still celebrating I hope:)
Limoncello is a favorite of mine. I make it on occasion and sip it slowly!
One bottle lasts a very long time.....
Cheers!

Ry @ Sotto Il Monte Vineyards said...

By the by ...... Love your new house!

donna baker said...

Way north of thirty, Monique. I do believe I am older than you. I'll have to find something else to drink in that little shot glass. Like Dr. Pepper. Thank you dear.

donna baker said...

Always a treat to hear from you Ry. You are one of the first blogs I followed. Nice to hear from old friends. Thank you.

donna baker said...

Thank you. So do I and I will love it more when I can figure out all the switches and gadgets and the like.

Michelle said...

I do love Limoncello.....in fact I need a new bottle....

Happy Birthday! Hope it was a great one!

donna baker said...

Thank you Michelle. If only it tasted like lemon jello.

jerilanders said...

Okay, now that you are feeling nice and woozy, FESS UP! How far past thirty?! I confess to turning 62 in October. That booze looks like the "green fairy", very pretty, but lethal.NOW, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

donna baker said...

Thank you dear Jeri. 64 and I can't believe it. Don't tell anyone.

Share my Garden said...

My citrus trees are undercover now for the winter - and hating it, getting covered in black mould. England is not the kindest climate for them and I'll have to get to work with a soft cloth and warm water. My Meyer lemon is by far the most prolific and last year my neighbour made limoncello with some of the fruit that I gave her. Your lime cello looks wicked! Belated birthday greetings to you. (64 years old - you're still young!)

donna baker said...

So glad you can grow them in England too. I think they'd probably grow anywhere as long as they were kept warm. I have had the black mold too and did the same thing. A book I read said to water sparingly in the winter and especially not let them stand in water to help with the mold. I do love all my citrus though. I'm going to take cuttings after the first of the year and put in smaller pots. I made the mistake of putting my plants in giant pots and thus giant plants grew that we can hardly move inside and out. Live and learn. Thank you for your greetings.

Curtains in My Tree said...

happy Belated Birthday girl

never heard of such a drink LOL

I have a cousin named Donna Sue Baker lives in Flrida

donna baker said...

Thank you. Jeri said in the above comments that it looked like the outlawed 'green fairy' or absinthe, but it is really more like her wicked green fairy stepmother. I think you'd pass out on this before the hallucinations began.