Some of the herbs from my garden, along with the apples my neighbour gave me, are now being preserved for cooler days; liqueurs for sipping by the fire on a winter evening, and some sage honey, said to be good for coughs and sore throats…
The liqueurs are tried and tested recipes. The honey is a first for me, but since my pulmonaria honey was such a success I decided to try this out.
Sage Honey
Simply wash and dry about 12 sage leaves. Chop and put in a clean jar. Pour over 500g (1 lb) of clear, not too strong, honey. (I used Acacia honey). Seal and store for a week. Then do a taste test. If it gets too strong, strain out the leaves and reseal. 😀
Apple liqueur
Peel and thinly slice apples straight into a clean jar filled with schnapps (40% alcohol). (Note: German schnapps contains no added sugar, so if in doubt use brandy or even vodka). I used 700ml apple schnapps and about 300g apples. Add one stick of cinnamon, seal the jar and leave on the windowsill, but not in direct sunlight, for four weeks. Strain out the apples, and add 250g sugar. Leave another 2 weeks. Strain again if you want a really clear liqueur. This keeps very well and is quite sweet and fruity.
Herb Liqueur
- 3 sprigs sage
- 3 sprigs basil
- 2 sprigs rosemary
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 1 sprig mint
- 3 bay leaves
- 750ml Southern Comfort
- 225g crystalized sugar
- Peel of half a lemon
Wash and dry all the herbs and put them in a sterilized jar with the sugar and lemon peel. Cover with the alcohol and leave for 2 weeks in a warm, but not sunny place. Shake occasionally. After the two weeks are up, strain and sieve. It is ready to drink, but it will keep for ages. We still have a drop left from last year!
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Coming up tomorrow: my recipe for elderberry liqueur!
Now these are yummy winter treats to try!
They are perfect on a cold night! 😀
They call me “one wiff of the cork – Merrill” so I’m not likely to make these… but they sound so very delicious. My girl friend loves to experiment with making wines (for family use and for fun) I hope you don’t mind if I show here these. She’ll love them. 🙂
Spread the word Merrill! (I can only drink a tiny glass before noticing the alcohol too!)
Gotta make that sage honey…it probably is better than plain for coughs and sore throats…
Apple liqueur might be even better, though 😉
You’re probably right! (Perhaps I should make some more!) 😉
These are beautiful. It should be nice by your fire this winter, sipping the fruits of your labor.
Yes, it reminds me of summer, and of picking herbs and fruits on warm days… Still, hope we don’t need a fire for some weeks yet!
Was für eine Apfelsorte (apple) hast du verwendet?
Leider habe ich keine Ahnung! Die Äpfel sind von meinem Nachbar und die Bäume stehen schon länger. Ich weiß nur sie sind eine sehr alte Sorte. Und ziemlich süß. 😀
I like the idea of sage honey. Catching a cold won’t seem half as bad if it’s an excuse to have some tasty honey!
You’re right. I quite like the sound of it too… hope it tastes as good as it sounds!
yummy! Sage honey sounds lovely x
I think so too… Thanks for your comment!
Not only do they sound good they look good too. Beautiful honey. Very nice Cathy.
And they TASTE good! 😉 Thanks Strawberryindigo!
Mason jars make everything better. Definitely using one of these for a night by the fire pit. Thanks.
Glad you like the recipes! 😀
You could just leave them on the windowsill, they are so pretty! Do you have a recipe for rosemary? I have two plants that will be going by in the next month. They are doing great in the garden, but I have never been able to winter one over.
I bring mine indoors and it’s fine, but takes up more and more space! I made rosemary shortbread in the spring, and I bet a rosemary-infused honey would be awesome! (I might try it in fact!) Here’s the link to my shortbread – https://wordsandherbs.wordpress.com/2012/06/20/rosemary-shortbread/
Thanks, I will try it. I think our house is too hot for rosemary. My husband likes it warmer than I do.
Look forward to trying these recipes! I just purchased some local honey at a Farmer’s Market 🙂 The evenings are getting cooler here in Tucson and perfect for the yummy liqueurs!
Hope you try making some Tj! I’m thinking of trying other herbs in my next jar of honey!
I never thought about using apples for liqueur. Good idea! I got loads of peaches yesterday maybe I´ll try making a liqueur out of them.
Sounds good too!
Man they look so GOOD! Can you cook them down and make more like a syrup? Then all the Good Stuff cooks off though 😦 You have made me hungry and I have FF Cottage Cheese and Blueberries to look forward to 🙂
Have a Wonderful Weekend!
My great grandmother from over in Hungary(sp) or that area LOVED Elderberry Wine maybe I should stop painting and get fresh berries from around here I normally leave them for my feathered friends no wonder they are so chipper 🙂
Our feathered friends have got PLENTY here! LOL! There are so many fallen apples on the footpaths at the edge of the woods! Have a good weekend too Eunice! 😀
My Pear tree got forgotten with all that has been going on at our place 😦 and Yellow Jackets(bees) have been going crazy for the ones that have fallen and been run over. I saw your tree I know you have a bunch of VERY Happy birds there.
I have maybe 50 pears still on tree so high up they say never cut back the pears but mine LOVES IT he took one third off 3 years ago and it is bigger than it was then! Time for some tiding up around here after being stung last year by 100+ I am all set I had 200 of them on my legs thankfully not all felt the need to KILL ME lolI will wait for a VERY cold Frosty morning to tackle the area where I built a berm and planted perennials I think I shall pull them out and leave just a row of Forsythia’s and some Blue Spruce as a buffer for Privacy and maybe a Ruggosa Rose that will keep intruders out and the bees can do their thing and I can prune in January 🙂 got to all get along here lol
Roses are good as a border – we have a wild one that the bees just adore! 😀
Yes all along my property then I could take down the POSTED SIGNS that say Keep Out! lol I love bees that make everything in this garden GROW 🙂
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