Pot 'O Gold Lemon Limoncello Gelatin Shots (Cubes)

I've never been much of a shot girl, well, unless you count the occasional shot of tequila to ward off an aching head after an extreme day of dance (some of Liv's competition days have been known to reach into the 15+ hour figures...).  Years ago though, our social group welcomed my good friend Annie into its folds, and our gatherings were forever changed.

Arriving with a platter of multi colored cups filled with vodka-laced jello shots, the party always started when Annie arrived.  Unfortunately for us, Annie and her family have since moved to Colorado, where I'm sure the lives of her new friends have also change forever for the better while ours will always have a little piece missing.

With Annie's absence, I gave my own try at the jello shot realizing that these little bites of fun are seriously simple to put together, make a pretty splash of color on a plate, and are usually well received.

Research for our St. Patrick's Day event led to jelly shot recipes featuring ingredients including Sour Apple Schnapps and Lime Green Jell-O flavored with Irish Whiskey.  Another shot entitled the "Car Bomb", added Guinness Stout, Irish Whiskey AND Bailey's Irish Cream to packages of unflavored gelatine along with a touch of sugar for balance.  Perhaps it's the lack of Irish blood running through my veins, but I don't really see myself as a Car Bomb girl.

Hence, I moved my own direction, away from green and whiskey, and towards this light, lemony version of our prior success, the Margarita Lime Shot.  Using my husband's homemade Limoncello, we added fresh lemon juice from dad's lemon tree, a dose of sugar, a little water and two packets of our new friend, Knox Original Unflavored Gelatin.

With my plate of bright yellow cubes headed out the door, I mentioned that I didn't feel very St. Patrick's flavored when Liv once again came to my rescue.  It must have been the Irish blood her father passed down to her, but she smiled and said, "Mom, these must be Pot of Gold Cubes left by the leprechauns!"

Thanks Liv...

Limoncello Dreams (our favorite limoncello recipes)... Inspired by Limonoro in Sorrento

Sorrento, living a dream...

Nothing beats a frosty glass of homemade Limoncello.  Except... perhaps a glass of creamy Limoncello served by the maker in Sorrento.

Sorrento, October 2011

Sorrento, with its stunning vistas, bustling Piazzas, quintessential Italian window box lined streets, and lemons at every corner is a true Limoncello mecca.  Small bottles of the brilliant yellow liquid sold in adorable, must have little bottles line many of the tourist store fronts, but it was in the Limonoro shop located on Via San Cesareo, in Sorrento, where we thought we had died and gone to heaven.

With lemon aromas drifting through the front door one can not help but to step inside where one is greeted with an even headier aroma of lemon.  A smiling Italian man wanders over with a bottle of Lemon Cream (Limoncello with cream) and offers a sample.  Thinking, "Well... I don't really care for creamy drinks, but ok, I'll give it a shot", I accept the small sample and sniff before taking a sip.  While the nose was wonderful, the taste was out of this world!  Smooth and bright with lemon flavors, I was immediately sold as was my husband.

Limonoro Limoncello... how do you pick just one??

Luggage restrictions being a slight problem (I admit that it may have been me who had already done a bit too much shopping at this point in our Italian voyage...) we chose a few small bottles of the addictive Lemon Cream while picking up bars of Limoncello infused chocolates (why didn't I get more?), Lemon infused olive oil, frosted "Made in Sorrento" Limoncello glasses and other assorted souvenirs.

Though cracking the Lemon Cream bottle was sorely tempting as we returned to our ship, we thankfully resisted temptation and brought our precious bottle home.  Making a wonderful Thanksgiving treat, the chilled bottle was served at dessert for our holiday meal having everyone, including my "I don't like anything with alcohol" Mom asking for a smidge more and having all of us head to bed with dreams of Sorrento as visions of lemons swirled in our heads. 

Sufficiently inspired and sufficiently supplied with a grocery bag filled with lemons from my dad's tree, my husband was up early two days ago with peeler in hand.  Some 25 lemons peeled and placed in our Limoncello jar, he had vodka pour over the peels in no time and our own version of Limoncello is currently steeping in the pantry and will be ready for holiday gift giving and baking.

Lemon Peels steeping in Vodka

Within less than 24 hours the vodka already had a brilliant yellow hue and the wonderful bright aroma of lemon.  While my husband's recipe stays fairly constant, the steeping time is open for discussion.  Our original Limoncello post from March of this year has his directions somewhat vague to "allow the mixture to rest for several weeks".

Here is where you can easily adjust the recipe time to suit yourself and your time constraints, we have seen recipes with "resting" times from as short as 5 days stretching to the "several weeks" that my husband uses.  I believe that most of the flavor and oils will be released from the lemon peels within the first 8 - 10 days and the lemon infused vodka will ready to be turned into the tempting Limoncello we love.

Limoncello is a wonderful homemade holiday gift and can be packaged in cute little Limoncello Bottles which can be found at World Market and Crate and Barrel.  Package a small bottle with a bag of homemade Limoncello Biscotti or a tasty, bursting with flavor Limoncello Lemon Cake and you are assured gushed over gift giving status.

Mr Liv Life's Limoncello Recipe

Limoncello Lemon Cake

Limoncello Biscotti

Limoncello Lemon Cheesecake Squares

And while we didn't use Limoncello in the following recipes, Lemons are indeed the star and I'm thinking a dash of Limoncello wouldn't hurt a bit:

Lemon Lime Gelato

Tuscan Lemon Muffins (bonus poem by Liv!)

Glazed Lemon Buttermilk Cake

White Bean Salad with Lemon Vinagrette

Lemon Drop Jell-O Shots

Join us for the next stop on our itinerary, Taormina...

Limoncello Lemon Cake.... for our dear Monet

Sometimes life just isn't fair.  Running through our everyday lives it's just not fair that the traffic on the highway is at a total stop.  My daughter sometimes thinks it's not fair when a friend of hers may get a special treat and she doesn't.  My son doesn't think it's fair that he has to walk home from the golf clinic he is assisting instead of me giving him a ride.

Be that as it may, one of our special friends in the blog world truly knows the meaning of life not always being "fair".  Our lovely Monet, of Anecdotes and Apple Cores, touches the heart of nearly everyone who is lucky enough to cross her path.  Her blog, filled with enchanting stories and enticing recipes, has me stopping by often and leaving with a smile on my face... except for the times when her stories leave me in tears, my heart breaking for her and her family.  

Life has thrown a few heart wrenching tragedies into Monet's life as of late, burdening her with more than any one person should have to deal with in their young lives.  Our thoughts and prayers continue to flow her direction, hoping to provide some sort of comfort during these ever so difficult times.

Through difficult times though, an occasional ray of sunshine falls.  Lizzy, of That Skinny Chick Can Bake (and yes she can!!) and Kate, of Kate's Kitchen, took on a project to send our love Monet's direction.  With recipes from friends around the world, Lizzy and Kate put together a touching compilation of comfort recipes along with notes of thoughts and prayers in the form of a scrapbook.  Lizzy has a list of these recipes on her site, and Monet requested a reposting of the recipes today.

Limoncello Lemon Cake always brings a smile to our face, and with hopes that the bright, lemony flavors would bring some sort of peace and happiness to Monet, if even for a moment, I was humbled to be a part of Lizzy and Kate's project.  Dazzling lemon essence and a comment of "Like cake from heaven!" describe the textures and flavors and will hopefully bring a little sunshine into your life when in need.

Bright with zesty lemon, this light and tender cake won't last long on your table.  One batch makes three smaller loaves or one large.  Topped with a sweet lemony glaze the cake is nearly irresistible!  Limoncello or lemon juice may be used interchangeably with equal heavenly success.

Becky's On Line Bake Sale!

Limoncello and Limoncello Lemon Biscotti

Happy Melanoma Monday!!  Hopefully with spring upon us and the much welcomed and anticipated increase in temperatures (unless you are south of the equator...) you have been using your sunscreen.  After returning from my beach walk last week with a slight burn I've returned to my somewhat forgotten ritual of slathering up each morning.  My fingers are crossed that this bit of protection will not only keep my skin cancer free but perhaps slightly less wrinkled as I work my way through my 40's.

Chocolate Granola

Becky, of Baking and Cooking, a Tale of Two Loves,  is holding an Online Bake Sale where you can bid on items from some of your favorite bloggers with all of the proceeds going to Relay for Life with the American Cancer Society.  Being a 15 year melanoma survivor, this issue is close to Becky's heart and she is also working as Team Captain for her county in the Relay for Life effort.

Chocolate Decadence Cookies

Our Limoncello and Limoncello Lemon Biscotti is currently up for bid along with Chocolate Decadence Cookies from the esteemed Chef Dennis, Kate from Diethood's Chocolate Granola, Gina from SP Cookie Queen's Cranberry Chocolate Chunk Cookies, and Brooks from Cakewalker's Mayan Toffee, just to name a few.  Join me over on Becky's blog to see which of your other favorite bloggers has some of their incredible treats up for auction for this wonderful cause!

Mayan Toffee

Becky's premise to "Please join my team or make a donation to help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer and more birthdays." is one that touches my heart.  Please help her with her goal to raise $1,000 for the cause!

Place:  Baking and Cooking a Tale of Two Loves

Time:  Ends Tuesday, May 3rd at 9 PM EST

Proceeds:  All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society

Cranberry Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Lemon Biscotti and Limoncello for Becky's Online Bake Sale

I'm having trouble getting past lemons this season!!  With another bucket of Dad's lemons on our doorstep I'm still searching for uses for the tart zests and juices.  While we have had Lemon Chicken, Lemon Muffins, Lemon Bread, Hummus with Lemon and Lemon Limoncello Cheesecake with our own homemade Limoncello we are still on the search for new and exciting lemon recipes to try (Feel free to link to some below if you have a suggestion!).

When Becky, of Baking and Cooking, a Tale of Two Loves, approached us about her online Bake Sale to benefit the American Cancer Society on May 2nd, lemon was obviously our first thought.  Putting some of our homemade Limoncello along with a bag of Lemon Limoncello Biscotti together I think we have a winner!

The highest bidder will receive a Limoncello Bottle with 200 ml of Limoncello made from lemons from my dad's tree along with a bag of our favorite Lemon Limoncello Biscotti, we'll also throw in a few of our favorite lemon/limoncello recipes!  Info on Becky's Bake Sale can be found on her site with bidding starting on May 2nd.  Becky is a 15 year melanoma survivor and is participating as Team Captain for The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in her county.  She is making a difference and you can too!

Using our own Limoncello, the Lemon Limoncello Biscotti receives a second dose of lemon from a helping of zest bringing even more of a lemon flavor to the table.  Somewhat delicate in taste, these cookies are ideal with an evening tea or prefect with your morning coffee.  I can also personally attest that they just may curb any afternoon snack craving you may be experiencing.

Bid on our package on May 2nd and we'll be happy to get a box in the mail to you quickly!  If Lemon is not your thing, be sure to visit Becky's site and check out the other bakers that she has on board.  I'm sure you will find some of your favorite bloggers in the midst with offerings that will help make a difference.

Limoncello Lemon Cheesecake Squares in Yosemite

The natural wonder of the Yosemite Valley has held my rapture since my dad took me there on my first visit as a child.  In the beginning I simply loved the raging of the waterfalls, but as I studied geology in college (I'm a bit of a rock geek - Geology Minor) I began to look at the Valley in a new light with an understanding of how the glaciers, rock falls and avalanches, and water have carved and eroded the Valley to its present day beauty.

Even as a wee-one I was thrilled to come home with photos of the falls, the sheer granite faces of El Capitan, and the stunning views of Half Dome.  With a stop at Tunnel View being somewhat of a tradition, I've always yearned for that dazzling clear Valley shot, you know the one... with the cerulean blue skies, perfectly lit rocks and crystal clear air.  Unfortunately Mother Nature has not been on my side and all of my visits have also included haze, fog or rain.  With spring currently shining down on us I brought high hopes for my "perfect shot" of the immense Valley on this Spring Break trip.

Leaving San Diego early Wednesday morning had us dressed warmly and driving through a chilly out of season rain storm.  Arriving at our host destination in Oakhurst (we stayed with friends about an hour outside the Valley) some 6 hours later we all felt overdressed in the 74 degree weather, and we doubted the weather guy's forecast of snow within the next 24 hours.

This weather guy, however, was right!  Some 16 hours later we were back in the car, dressed in the warmest clothes we had with us along with borrowed gloves, hats and jackets.  Heading into the Yosemite Valley for our lunch reservations at the esteemed Ahwahnee Hotel the snow covered trees flew by.  Branches heavy with a few hours of snow glistened in the sun that occasionally popped through the stormy clouds.  Moving up and down in elevation our views ranged from brilliant blooming Red Buds to more snow laden trees and vistas.  The Merced River raged alongside of us in places and meandered in others providing stunning scenery for our hour plus drive.

Lower Yosemite Falls

Dazzling vistas greeted us upon our entrance to the Valley with El Capitan soaring above our car.  Bridal Veil Falls fell gracefully over the granite walls and the snow covered meadows entertained squirrels and deer, the bears however did not show themselves.

A stop at the Yosemite Falls provided us with a rare sight in the lava-like flowing Frazil Ice.  Frazil Ice provides dramatic natural ice flows which begin in the falls of Yosemite, but only during proper weather conditions and usually only in March and April.  Our friends who have had literally hundreds of days in the Valley had never seen the incredible Frazil, but on this day we were all excited to view this rare treat.

The Ahwahnee Hotel, our lunch destination, holds beauty, history and a most perfect location in Yosemite Valley in that the site for the Ahwahnee, once a village of the native Miwoks, was chosen because of its exposure to the sun and stunning views of Yosemite's icons – Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and Glacier Point.  Giant fireplaces are available for guests to warm their chilly fingers in addition to the magnificent dining room lined with floor to ceiling windows providing stunning views of the gushing Yosemite Falls.  Described as the "crown jewel of Yosemite dining", the dining room boasts a 34-foot-high beamed ceiling with large sugar pine trestles that complement the room’s granite pillars.  The exterior of the hotel was designed to reflect the natural beauty of the Valley and to blend in with its beautiful surroundings.

The Ahwahnee Hotel with a Bacon Burger and French Onion Soup

While the room is indeed magnificent, the food was "fine".  Nothing special, however I do believe it tasted just a bit better sitting in front of one of those floor to ceiling windows while watching the snow fall in front of the ravishing Yosemite Falls.  Basic restaurant fare included burgers, sandwiches, soups and salads with a few more substantial entrees including beef, lamb and pasta.  A child menu is available which happily includes ice cream.  Aggressively priced (burgers are $17), the meal is worth it simply for the view and surrounding ambiance.  Our hosts frequent the dining room often and have had what they described as incredible meals (especially breakfast) in addition to the so-so meals that we experienced on our visit.  Service was impeccable, the views were beyond belief and the room itself was breathtaking.

Snowy view from Tunnel View

Heading back out for our Valley Tour we entered lightly falling snow which lent a somewhat magical feel to our surroundings.  The trees were covered and glistening, the falls were gushing, and the fog meandered about the tops of the giant granite monoliths, hiding Half Dome from our view.  While our trip to Tunnel View provided an exquisite elevated view of the entire Valley, the cerulean blue, crystal clear skies once again eluded me, providing instead a different but no less incredible frozen wonderland.

Back home, dinner was filled with the laughter of good friends reminiscing about our day in wintery Yosemite with jabs between my kids of who threw the best snowball.  We set our faux Ugg boots by the fire to hopefully dry by morning (note:  Ugg boots are NOT waterproof!) and as we thawed out our frozen and very wet toes we enjoyed a ray of sunshine in the Limoncello Lemon Cheesecake for dessert.

Giada has once again provided a luscious finish to our meal, this one bursting with lemon flavors and with an excuse to use our freshly made Limoncello.  The addition of ricotta added a slightly different and lighter texture from the traditional all cream cheese cheesecakes and the lemon biscotti crust urged the lemon flavors even higher.  Bringing smiles all around the table, Limoncello Lemon Cheesecake was the ideal finish to our awe-inspiring day.

Limoncello Lemon Cake

Lemon throws a ray of brilliant sunshine into our lives.  Spring at its best, a dazzling lemon cake brightens up even the worst of days.

Using a dash of our freshly made Limoncello in the batter along with the zest of a lemon, Liv and her friend gobbled up the glazed slices as we made our way to their afternoon dance class.  With much of the fat replaced by yogurt I felt as though they were getting a treat I could feel good about.  For an adult version Limoncello is used in the sugar glaze as well as the cake, easily subbing out plain lemon juice and zest for the kids.

The smiles on the girl's faces flashed a bright spot into my somewhat dark day.  With comments of "like cake from Heaven", this bright Lemon Cake is dedicated to Monet (Anecdotes and Apple Cores), my friend Annie and their families.  Monet's sister, Pam, rose to heaven yesterday, joining her 13 year old son after a heart wrenching recent tragic auto accident.  In addition to Pam, my friend Annie lost her mother, Yoshi, to cancer on the same day.  Such painful events, yet we know the heavens shine a little brighter with their presence.

Bright with zesty lemon, this light and tender cake won't last long on your table.  One batch makes three smaller loaves or one large.  Topped with a sweet lemony glaze the cake is nearly irresistible!  Limoncello or lemon juice may be used interchangeably with equal heavenly success.

Limoncello

Living in Southern California, and more particularly near my dad, we have an abundance of citrus.  Dad's "groves" (he has a small plot of land but lots of trees!) include lime, orange and lemon.  His mature lemon tree produces nearly year around and supplements the baby tree that we have growing in our own "groves".  With literally hundreds of the yellow fruits ripe at any one time we try to find recipes to use them up as it just breaks our heart to toss them if we can't find an eager recipient.

Limoncello is just the type of recipe that makes you feel good about using lots of the produce.  Using a vegetable peeler, my husband peels strips of rind as thin as he can from the lemons and places them into a jar.  While the peeling does indeed take a bit of time, the completion of this section of the recipe simply calls for "pouring vodka over to cover".  The citrusy jar then goes into the closet for a rest until we remember it is there, usually about 4 weeks or so.

I'm always amazed how quickly the liquid takes on a brilliant yellow hue and emits a most lovely lemony scent.  Within 24 hours the oils from the rind have already begun releasing into the vodka giving the color and scent.  After a good 4 week or so rest, the vodka is ready to be "cut" with a simple syrup of water and sugar.

A quick internet search will turn up dozens of recipes, all somewhat different.  I found one recipe calling for a steeping time of 4 days and another asking for 44+ days.  I also found great variations in the amount of simple syrup used as well as the water/sugar ratios leading me to believe that this beverage is a bit of an imprecise science and that you really can't go wrong.

Next year's lemon crop!

Cutting the Lemon Vodka is indeed imprecise involving variations and personal taste.  My husband has made the Limoncello twice with the lemons being riper the second time.  The riper lemons seemed to release a more citrusy flavor requiring less of the simple syrup than the first batch with less ripe lemons.  His advice was to mix up the simple syrup and add in batches rather than all at once, adjusting to suit your taste and making sure that you haven't gone too sweet.

Brilliant in color and rich with a delightful scent this Italian beverage makes a special treat over crushed ice on a warm summer day (or even a cold winters day, for that matter...).  Limoncello can also be a tasty addition to baked goods and glazes adding a lovely lemony boost to the finished product.