Citrus Vodka Food

CITRUS VODKA

Steps:

• Fold 1 strip orange peel in half crosswise without breaking and thread onto skewer.
• Repeat with 1 strip each lemon and lime peels.
• Repeat, alternating remaining peels.
• Push skewer through neck of clean bottle.
• Being careful not to break peels.
• A chopstick may help this process.
• Fill 1 empty, clean 750-ml clear bottle with a cork.
• with vodka.
• Cork and chill at least 1 week and up to three weeks before serving.

LEMON INFUSED VODKA RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a 1-quart (or larger) jar, pour the vodka and add the lemon peels. Seal, shake, and let infuse for 4 to 7 days. Shake the jar daily and test the infusion after the third or fourth day to see how the flavor develops.
• Once the infusion reaches your desired flavor intensity, strain out and discard the lemon peels using a fine-mesh strainer.
• Bottle the lemon vodka under a tight seal. Store in a cool, dark place as you would other liquors, and use in your favorite drinks.

VODKA AND CITRUS CURED SALMON

Steps:

• Remove any tiny pin bones from the salmon with a pair of needle nose pliers or tweezers. Rinse the salmon under cold running water and pat dry. Place salmon, skin side down, on several large sheets of plastic wrap.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine salt, sugar, dill, vodka and lemon, lime and orange zests. Spread the sugar/salt/citrus mixture evenly over the fleshy side of the fish, pressing it into the flesh. Wrap the salmon tightly in the plastic wrap and place skin side down n a large baking dish. Place a flat glass or ceramic dish on top of the salmon and weight the dish with several heavy cans or a brick and refrigerate for at least 24 hours and up to 48 hours.
• Unwrap the salmon and rinse all of the cure off under cold, running water. Pat dry and slice diagonally into paper-thin slices.

CITRUS VODKA

Steps:

• Fold 1 orange peel strip crosswise in half without breaking. Thread onto skewer, shish-kebab style. Repeat with 1 lemon peel strip, then 1 lime peel strip. Repeat, alternating remaining orange, lemon and lime peel strips on same skewer. Guide citrus peel skewer through neck of empty bottle, pushing gently but being careful not to break any peel. You may find a chopstick useful in easing the peels into the bottle. Fill bottle with vodka. Chill at least 1 week and up to 3 weeks. Serve chilled.

STRAWBERRY BASIL LEMONADE [WITH CITRUS VODKA]

Steps:

• Combine lemonade, strawberries, and basil leaves in a small container, stirring well.
• Add vodka.
• Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
• To serve, remove basil leaves (if they're too wilted), and serve with ice and fresh basil leaves.

CRANBERRY CITRUS VODKA SLUSH

Steps:

• In a plastic container with a lid (or a pitcher with a lid), combine all ingredients.
• Seal and place in the freezer until frozen solid.
• Take out of freezer and let thaw.
• Drink when it has thawed and is slushy.
• Or put in blender and blend until slushy.
• Garnish with fresh cranberries, zest of a lime or an orange slice.