Amaretto

Can you believe we're just under 13 weeks away from Christmas? Thinking about that makes my head hurt. I'm desperately holding onto flip flops and t-shirts and pretending like the cooler weather isn't sneaking in, making those two things a distant memory for next 180 or so days.

But why am I talking about Christmas in September? Because Camilla, the writer behind Culinary Adventures with Cam, decided to make all of her Christmas gifts this year and figured some other bloggers might want to join in, so she created an event called Hand-Crafted Edibles. There is a category for each of the next 12 weeks leading up to Christmas. We have a choice to post for all 12 weeks or just the ones that appeal to us. I have quite a few recipes in mind for the other categories, so expect to see quite a few more posts from me with the tag, #handcraftededibles

This first week we are sharing those good old libations with you. I actually debated on sitting this round out because I'd already made limoncello a few years ago and didn't think there were any other libations that would be easy enough to make for the sporadic drinker like myself. But then I found recipes for amaretto.

One of the first mixed drinks I ever had was an amaretto and coke. Sweet with an almond flavor, you can hardly even tell that you're drinking alcohol. I hadn't had one of those drinks in ages and of course, now immediately wanted one after seeing just how easy it is to make amaretto.

Amaretto
Source: Bellalimento
Servings: 3 ½ cups
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Ingredients:
1 ½ cups water
1 cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar, packed
2 tbsp. almond extract
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups good-quality vodka

Directions:
1. Add water, sugar and brown sugar to a saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until the mixture begins to boil. Stir with a wooden spoon, cooking until the sugars have dissolved.
2. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 15 minutes.
3. Stir in the almond extract, vanilla extract and vodka. Transfer to containers and store in a cool place.

This is the easier of the two ways to make amaretto and provides you with amaretto that is ready to drink immediately. The flavors will improve with time, if you're able to keep it around that long. So check out what the rest of us made below!

#HandCraftedEdibles -

In an effort to make all of her holiday gifts this year, Camilla at Culinary Adventures with Camilla invited some of her favorite foodie bloggers to share recipes for hand-crated edibles. Over the course of the next twelve weeks, we'll be sharing recipes from libations (this week's theme) to cookie platters. Hope you'll follow along for inspiration.

Cheers to these gals and their lovely libations!

• Culinary Adventures with Camilla posts her recipe Nocino (Green Walnut Liqueur)
• Amy's Cooking Adventures writes about her Lemon Infused Vodka
• Nichole at Cookaholic Wife whips up some homemade Amaretto
• Rebekah of Making Miracles inspires you to make Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur

Next week, check back for our handcrafted spice blends. Or check out our #handcraftededibles pinterest board.