Refreshing Beverage of the Week
Here is a great easy idea for a holiday gift — or just an excuse to drink, you decide. It’s for tangerine liquor, but give yourself a week to let the flavors infuse. This makes 2 1/2 cups.
Ingredients
6 tangerines
2 cups vodka
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
Procedure
Remove the thin outer coating of the tangerines with a sharp vegetable peeler. Avoid the white pith layer, as it tends to be bitter. Spread the peels on a rack on a baking sheet and let sit at room temperature till they are dried — which will take from 12-36 hours depending on the level of humidity. Now place the peels in a clean jar with the vodka and let sit for a week, shaking the mixture every day. Sip on occasion to test the strength of the flavor. When you think it's strong enough, strain out the peels and save for flavoring drinks or sauces. Now make the simple syrup with the water and sugar and let cool, and then add the vodka. Pour mixture through a funnel lined with a coffee filter into a clean and festive jar. Cap and store indefinitely at room temperature. Voila!
