I made fresh orange juice with some lemon juice also squeezed in. My hand hurts from juicing the billions of oranges – I made nearly a gallon. I believe that they are Valencia oranges and Meyer lemons. Hurray for SoCal family with citrus trees! Added some tequila and made a ‘horny bulls’. The lemon tartness really adds a great effect in the margarita direction.
Made two batches of hard apple cider. Collected funky leftover frozen apples from trees around town. One is prickly pear juice and mesquite pod and the other is cardamom pod and vanilla bean. Bubbling away in their jars now – tucked in out of the light by towels.
Just made two infused brandies. One has apples, hazelnuts, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, vanilla and a whole pear. Thinking of some brandied pear hand pies in my future, or maybe just a fancy party snack. The other has a romantic focus with cherries, damiana, rose buds, rose hips, vanilla bean, and cardamom.
In the fall I pick tiny plums from old neglected plum trees from around downtown. This fall I had a bag that I just stuck in the freezer to do something with later. Then, while cleaning the freezer I accidentally left these plums out and they thawed. Since I have a little cough I decided to do something easy with them to enjoy and celebrate with later. Plum brandy! I have loads plum sauce put up already. I’ll soak the plums in brandy for a while then mash the plums with the brandy and soak some more over the course of several weeks and then strain through a very fine cloth. I use a ‘nut milk bag’. I did this last year with both gin and brandy and gave it out and took it as a camp warm up on backpacking trips. No sugar just the plums and liquor. Amazing and fruity!
stigmastylepistil 