Sunday 22 June 2014

Gin Infusions, Summer Cordials and Home-made Cocktails

Gooseberry Gin Martini

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You will need:

2 Measures of Gin
1 Measure of Gooseberry infused Gin
1 Splash of Elderflower Cordial
A couple of fresh gooseberries for decoration and and ice-cube or two

Of course the trick is to have the home-made ingredients to hand.

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Gooseberry Gin Recipe

If you are fortunate to have a glut of gooseberries one summer or can find some going cheap then this makes an interesting and tasty gin infusion.

You will need:

1 Litre of the cheapest gin
500 g of top & tailed and washed gooseberries, use pink ones for a lovely colour to the infusion
250 g sugar

Sterilise a preserving jar and fill with the gooseberries which you have halved or crushed. Add the sugar. You can use more or less sugar according to taste. Aim for less now and sweeten later if the infusion is too sour. Top the up the jar with as much gin as will fit in.

Leave to infuse for 6 to 8 weeks. Strain through a muslin cloth and transfer to sterilised bottles. Sweeten to taste if necessary.

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Elderflower Cordial Recipe

In the early summer you can make a delicious cordial from Elderflowers.

You will need:

25 to 30 Elderflower heads freshly picked with the insects shaken off and quickly rinsed
1.5 Litre of water
Zest of 2 Lemons and 1 Orange
Juice of 2 Lemons and 1 Orange
1 kilo of sugar
50 g citric acid (optional)

Put the flowerheads in a large bowl with the zest, cover with 1.5 litres of boiled water and leave to infuse for 24 hours.

Strain the infusion through a muslin cloth and return to a pan with the sugar, the juice and the citric acid. Warm gently until the sugar is dissolved. Leave to cool and then transfer to sterilised bottles.