Limoncello And Mint Sparklers Food

LIME-ONCELLO SPRITZERS WITH MINT

Steps:

• To make limoncello: Using a vegetable peeler, remove the peel from the limes in long strips (reserve the limes for another use). Place the lime peels in a 1-quart jar. Pour the vodka over the peels and screw on the lid. Steep the lime peels in the vodka for 1 week at room temperature.
• Stir the sugar and water in a large saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Cool completely, then stir in the vodka mixture. Strain the liquids into bottles, pressing on the peels to extract as much liquid as possible. Seal the bottles and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours and up to 1 month.
• To make spritzers: Fill 4 tall glasses halfway with ice. Add the mint leaves. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, coarsely crush the mint leaves into the ice. Pour some limoncello over, and stir to blend. Add a splash of club soda and serve.

LIMONCELLO SPRITZERS

Steps:

• Add ice cubes to pitcher. Pour the seltzer in and mix in the limoncello. Pour into individual glasses. Garnish with a lemon slice on the rim of each glass.

LIMONCELLO LEMON SORBET (WITH OR WITHOUT MINT)

Steps:

• Combine 1 cup water, sugar, and fresh mint leaves in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a light boil, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in lemon zest. Let syrup cool slightly, about 10 minutes.
• Mix remaining 1 1/2 cup water, lemon juice, and limoncello liqueur into syrup.
• Pour mixture into an ice cream maker; churn according to manufacturer's instructions, 10 to 15 minutes. Freeze until firm, about 6 hours.

LIMONCELLO AND MINT SPARKLERS

Steps:

• Combine mint and limoncello in a bowl, then gently bruise mint with a pestle or wooden spoon (to release flavor). Chill, covered, 1 hour.
• Pour limoncello through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher, pressing firmly on mint and then discarding it.
• Just before serving, stir in lemon juice, sparkling water, and enough ice to fill pitcher.

LIMONCELLO AND MINT SPARKLERS

Steps:

• Combine mint and limoncello in a bowl, then gently bruise mint with a pestle or wooden spoon (to release flavor). Chill, covered, 1 hour.
• Pour limoncello through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher, pressing firmly on mint and then discarding it.
• Just before serving, stir in lemon juice, sparkling water, and enough ice to fill pitcher.

GIADA'S LIMONCELLO MINT SPRITZERS

Steps:

• Coarsely crush the ice cubes, then fill 4 tall skinny drink glasses halfway full with the ice.
• Add 1/4 cup mint leaves to each glass and, using a muddle stick or the handle of a wooden spoon, crush the mint leaves together with the ice (this is called "muddling").
• Add 1/2 cup limoncello to each glass, and stir.
• Add 1/4 cup of club soda to the top of each drink, and serve.
• Note: on the show, Giada made her own limoncello from limes rather than from lemon, vodka, and simple syrup, with a week or marinating; if you can find a lime-based limoncello in the store, wonderful (we've only made it ourselves at home) - but otherwise you can use conventional limoncello.
• Also, you could quarter a lime and put each quarter on the edge of the glasses, so that guests could add a squeeze of lime juice into their spritzer.

LIMONCELLO SPARKLE

Steps:

• Combine the limoncello and Cointreau in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake moderately, and strain into a champagne flute. Top with champagne. Garnish with a long lemon peel.

LIMONCELLO SPARKLER

Steps:

• Pour limoncello into a chilled Champagne coupe. Top with prosecco. Serve with rosemary.