Upsides to the Down Economy/ Homemade Limoncello

We had dinner at a friend's house the other night and I wanted to bring a thoughtful hostess gift. A bottle of wine is always an option, but I wanted something a little different that reflected some thought in the matter. Since we were having an Italian meal, I decided to make Limoncello from scratch. It is not very hard, but you do have to plan ahead since it needs at least 5 days to make. I made the Limonello (recipe to follow), poured it into an empty wine bottle and tied the recipe to the bottle with some raffia. Voila! A thoughtful and delicious gift, enough to sample at the dinner, with plenty left over for our host and hostess. I loved this idea so much, I put some grapefruit peels (we got a basket of grapefruit for Christmas from a friend) in a beverage server and covered it with vodka. Inspired by the Organic Sunshine Martini at Season's 52, the vodka absorbed the flavor of the grapefruit, making it citrusy yummy! I added some fresh grapefruit juice and simple syrup to make my martini and it was delicious.

Limoncello
Giada De Laurentis

Ingredients
10 Lemons
1 (750 ml) bottle vodka
3 ½ cups water
2 ½ cups sugar

Directions
Using a vegetable peeler, remove the peel
From the lemons in long strips (save lemons
For another use). Using a small sharp knife,
Trim away the white pith from the peels;
Discard the pith. Place the lemon peels in a
2 quart pitcher. Pour the vodka over the peels
And cover with plastic wrap. Steep the lemon
Peels in the vodka for 4 days at room temp.

Stir the water and sugar in a large saucepan
Over medium heat until the sugar dissolves,
About 5 mintues. Cool completely. Pour the
Sugar syrup over the vodka mixture. Cover and
Let stand at room temp overnight. Strain the
Limoncello through a mesh strainer. Discard the
Peels. Transfer the limoncello to bottles. Seal the
Bottle and stick in the freezer, at least 4 hours and
Up to one month.