Homemade Christmas Gifts - Sloe Cordial
Sloe Gin is very popular, but I've made it in the past and it just lurks in my drinks cabinet and ends up getting thrown out. So this year I decided to make
Sloe Cordial a non-alcoholic cordial that can be topped up either with alcohol i.e. Gin, Vodka, Prosecco, dry white wine or with non-alcholic mixers like tonic water, soda water or lemonade.
I froze my sloes after picking, mainly because I didn't have time to make the cordial, but the freezing also helps break down the sloes and mimics the frost you are supposed to have had before picking them. I was rather pleased that I had because I was contacted by
Pattesons Glass with the offer of some jars or bottles to review. I decided to go for the bottles and make some gifts for Christmas.
Pattesons have a fantastic range of glass bottles and jars which are ideal for those of us
obsessed with keen on preserving in all it's forms, they are also great for styling in food photography and I'm sure you will be seeing more of these bottles in future posts. Jars are not too difficult to get hold of, but a great range of interesting bottles like the ones in the photograph above are much less widely available. I have plans for some flavoured vinegar for the larger bottles. The only drawback with these bottles is that they are only available in fairly large quantities. You can order a
sample set of three different bottles or jars for £10. If you want to order bottles, then you may wish to get together with a group of friends and share the bottles between you, as 50 is the minimum order. Pattesons also sell
Le Parfait jars in smaller quantities which are ideal for preserving.
Sloe Cordial
1kg Sloes
1 litre water
Juice of 1 lemon
Granulated Sugar (80g per 100ml liquid)
1. Bring the sloes, water and lemon juice to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
2. Break up the cooked sloes with a wooden spoon or potato masher, don't bother about the stones as they will be sieved out later.
3. Simmer for a further 10 minutes.
4. Pour the mixture through a sieve. If you want your cordial to be clear you should line your sieve with a muslin and don't push the pulp through. I didn't do that and although the cordial is perfectly fine it isn't clear.
5. Clean the pan and pour the juice back in, add the sugar and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved.
6. Bring to the boil an simmer for another 10 minutes. Cool and bottle in sterilised bottles.
To drink, add 10 parts water to one part cordial.
I received a range of glass bottles from Patteson's Glass, I was not paid for this review and all opinions are my own. Labels: bottles, Christmas, cordial, gifts, glass bottles, glass jars, homemade gifts, jars, non-alcoholic, Pattesons Glass, Sloe Cordial, Sloes
Paprika Spiced Mixed Nuts
This is a very quick and easy recipe to make some lovely spicy nuts to nibble with your drinks on Christmas Eve or before dinner on Christmas Day. They are also perfect for a last minute gift.
Paprika Spiced Mixed Nuts
500g mixed nuts
1 1/2 tbsp coarse sea salt
1/2 tsp smoked sweet Spanish paprika or hot paprika (Pimenton)
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1. Preheat the oven to 200C. Place the sea salt and paprika in a mortar and grind with the pestle to a fine powder.
2. Place the nuts on a baking tray and toast in the oven for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and giving off a tasted aroma. Watch after 7 minutes because they burn quickly. Pour into a heatproof bowl.
3. Drizzle over the olive oil and stir to ensure all the nuts are lightly and evenly coated. Add extra oil if necessary. Sprinkle with the salt and paprika mixture and stir again.
4. Transfer to a small bowl and serve at room temperature.
I used the hot Pimenton and the nuts are not too spicy, just nicely piquant! Perfect with a nice chilled glass of Fino Sherry, red or white wine or even a beer.
Labels: almonds, brazil nuts, hazel nuts, homemade gifts, mixed nuts, Nuts, paprika, pimenton, smoked paprika, snacks, walnuts
