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| The start of my cordials and brandies 2012 |
I went to New Hampshire last week to visit my sister Shelley Laine. She lives in a delightful antique farmhouse. I brought her Lobsters from Gloucester and she brought me blueberry picking at a nearby field of cultivated blueberry bushes. We picked, literally gallons of blueberries. I am thrilled because I love them and make all kinds of muffins and pies with them all winter.
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| Shelley on the right, me on the left in fron of the blueberry bushes |
My sister, Shelley showed me what she does with some of her blueberries, which is to make Blueberry Cordial. We sampled some of hers after a fantastic Lobster dinner in her antique dining room. She collects crystal and she served the blueberry cordial in a fantastic crystal decanter and really beautiful sweet tiny cordial glasses. It was like having desert on top iof dessert. I think the art of after dinner drinks is largely forgotten but I would like to see a resurrection soon!
While I was visiting Cape Cod, I visited a thrift store there and bought this etched decanter for $5 and the small glasses I found were 6 for $7. I plan on making a gift o this during the Christmas Season with one of my Cordials.While I was away my husband found some really impressive blackberries and bought them for me so when I returned I decided to make both Blackberry Brandy and Blueberry Cordial for the Holiday Season. You mix the berries with brandy or vodka and shake them every once in a while and they are ready after two months. They must be kept in a dark cabinet. I look forward to doing another post once the cordials are finished but I wanted to show you how to start them now, because now is the time to start them.
Blueberry Cordial
Glass Quart Jar container
2 cups Vodka
1-2 cups Chopped Blueberries (I put them thru the food processor on a quick pulse)
1 cup Sugar
Mix together and shake every couple of days for 2 months, strain thru cheese cloth and then decant into a pretty decanter or glass container. Serve in small crystal glasses as an after dinner drink. You can also flavor a champagne or sparkling wine cocktail with a bit of the Blueberry Cordial.
This makes a fantastic Holiday Gift and now is the time to plan it when berries are in season. I know you can make it with frozen berries in a pinch but what could be better than your own hand picked Blueberry Cordial. I happen to know that the berries I picked in New Hampshire were Organic which is a nice thing too!
Blackberry Brandy
Glass Quart Jar container
2 cups of Brandy
1-2 cups of chopped blackberries (I put them thru the food processor on a quick pulse)
optional: You can add sugar to this if desired or you can wait and flavor to taste with a sugar syrup after the two months of shaking. Personally, I don't really like sugar in my brandy and enjoy the tart Blackberry taste without it. It is a matter of personal taste.
Mix together and shake every couple of days for two months, strain they a cheese cloth and then decant into a pretty glass container. Serve in Brandy Snifters. You can warm the Blackberry Brandy and serve it in the snifter warm. It is really a wonderful after dinner drink! The Warmed Blackberry Brandy is the perfect dark winter drink after a wonderful meal, best enjoyed in front of a roaring fire!
I pulled together a few jars of cordial and brandy and I am planning on a few more. I am going to try it with Raspberries too! I may even try my hand at Lemon Cello which you make with Lemons and Vodka. Hope this was inspiring for you! I know visiting my sister and imbibing some of her special Blueberry Cordial was such a treat, I was guided to come home and try it myself. Happy Concocting!
Kind Regards, Melissa Abbott
UPDATE: to read about the decanting process: http://www.gloucestergourmet.com/2012/12/decanting-blueberry-cordial-and.html
