A Limoncello Toast to the New Year
The year 2013 is behind us. Today, many of us will be toasting in the New Year. On toastsbook.com, I learned that the clinking of glasses during a toast began during the Christian era. Many believed that the bell-like noise that was heard during the clinking of glasses kept the devil at bay because he was repelled by bells.
Another belief for the clinking of glasses was that all five senses should be used when toasting so that the greatest pleasure was derived from the drink. The drink should be:
- Tasted
- Touched
- Seen
- Smelled, and
- Heard – with the clink of the glass
Some interesting New Year’s toasts that I found on the same website are:
Here’s to the bright New Year
And a fond farewell to the old;
Here’s to the things that are yet to come
And to the memories that we hold.
In the New Year,
may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship,
but never in want. ~ Irish
However you choose to ring in the New Year, limoncello is a wonderful beginning to a cocktail.
To make your own, remove the peel from 10 lemons, and place them in a 2 quart pitcher. Pour the grain alcohol over the lemon peels and cover the pitcher with plastic wrap. Steep the lemons for at least 4 days at room temperature.
After the lemon peel has steeped, mix together the sugar and water in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the sugar dissolves. Cool the sugar mixture completely.
Pour the cooled mixture into the pitcher with the lemon peels and the grain alcohol. Let the mixture set overnight.
Strain the mixture to discard the peels. Pour the limoncello into bottles. Seal the bottles and store in a cool place.
The limoncello will keep for 1 month.
I made this limoncello for my daughter’s wedding favors. They were a big hit.
For a holiday drink, place one ounce of limoncello into a champagne glass and fill the glass with Prosecco.
Happy New Year!!
Homemade Limoncello
By Published: January 1, 2014
- Yield: 1 750 ml. bottle
- Prep: 30 mins
A Limoncello Toast to the New Year The year 2013 is behind us. Today, many of us will be toasting in the New Year. On toastsbook.com, …
Ingredients
- 1 750 ml bottle grain alcohol
- 10 large organic lemons
- 5 cups water
- 2 1/2 cups white sugar
Instructions
- Remove the peel from 10 lemons, and place them in a 2 quart pitcher. Pour the grain alcohol over the lemon peels and cover the pitcher with plastic wrap. Steep the lemons for at least 4 days at room temperature.
- After the lemon peel has steeped, mix together the sugar and water in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the sugar dissolves. Cool the sugar mixture completely.
- Pour the cooled mixture into the pitcher with the lemon peels and the grain alcohol. Let the mixture set overnight.
- Strain the mixture to discard the peels. Pour the limoncello into bottles. Seal the bottles and store in a cool place.
The limoncello will keep for 1 month.
