Homemade Orange Liqueur Food

ORANGE LIQUEUR

Steps:

• Wash the oranges well with soap and water.
• Pare very thinly the bright-colored rind from the oranges (no white).
• Blot the peel on paper towels to remove any excess oil.
• Put the peel in a 4 cup screw-top jar.
• Add 2 cups vodka.
• Close jar.
• Store in a cool, dark place for 2 days or until the vodka has absorbed the flavor.
• Remove the peel and add the remaining vodka, along with the superfine sugar.
• Close the jar and store in a cool dark place at least 1 month to age.

ORANGE-VANILLA LIQUEUR

Steps:

• Pare the peel from each orange in a spiral, producing a 1-inch-wide strip; try to get mostly the orange zest and leave most of the white membrane on the fruit.
• Put the peels in a saucepan with the 1 cup water plus the corn syrups and sugar.
• Bring to a boil and let boil, stirring constantly, 8-10 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and add the extracts.
• Let cool to room temperature and add the vodka.
• Pour into a jar or bottle with a tight fitting lid and let stand at least 2 weeks.

ORANGE COFFEE LIQUEUR

Steps:

• Wash and dry the orange thoroughly.
• Using the sharp end of a paring knife, prick the skin of the orange all over.
• Insert the 44 coffee beans into the orange.
• Place the orange in a 1 1/2 quart canning jar.
• Add the sugar cubes and vodka.
• Close the lid making sure the cover is tight.
• Turn the jar upside down.
• Shake for at least a minute or two to help dissolve the sugar.
• Store in a cool, dry spot away from the heat and moisture of a kitchen.
• Each day, shake the jar until the sugar is totally dissolved.
• Allow to set for the entire 44 days until the vodka turns to a pale lovely orange color and has a coffee-orange fragrance.
• To use, remove the orange and coffee beans. Strain the liquid through a fine-meshed sieve into pretty clear bottles or a clear glass decanter.
• Serve in small liqueur glasses at room temperature or slightly chilled. You can also add it to white wine. Makes a nice accompaniment to winter fruit or fruit compotes or alone as an after-dinner drink.

BLOOD ORANGE LIQUEUR

Steps:

• Make simple syrup by heating 2 1/2 cups water and 3 cups sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Lower heat and simmer 5 minutes. Let cool before using. Any extra will keep in the refrigerator for a month or so, and is good for sweetening iced tea, etc.
• Wash, dry and peel the zest from the oranges and lemons, being careful not to take any of the pith. Place in a large glass jar.
• Remove pith from two of the oranges. Cut up the fruit and add to the jar. (You will not use the remaining oranges in this recipe).
• Stir to smash the fruit a bit, add the vodka, ginger and lemon and seal the jar.
• Place in a cool, dry spot, away from sunlight for two weeks, swirling it about occasionally.
• Stir in the simple syrup, reseal, and again set aside for two weeks, swirling occasionally.
• Strain the liqueur.
• Filter it through a double layer of cheesecloth into a pitcher.
• Filter a final time through 2 new layers of cheesecloth into the final bottle.

ORANGE LIQUEUR CAKE

Steps:

• Sprinkle pecans in bottom of a greased and floured 10-inch Bundt pan.
• Set aside.
• Combine remaining ingredients except Glaze in a large mixing bowl.
• Beat 30 seconds at low speed of electric mixer, then 2 minutes at.
• medium speed.
• Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in.
• center comes out clean.
• Cool in pan 10 minutes; remove and let cool.
• completely on wire rack.
• Using a wooden pick, pierce cake at 1-inch intervals.
• Spoon Glaze over cake.
• Glaze: Melt butter in heavy saucepan.
• Stir in orange juice and sugar.
• Bring to a boil.
• Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat and stir in orange peel and liqueur.
• Makes 1 1/4 cups.