urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:fairyofthenorth fairyofthenorth fairyofthenorth 2008-10-26T13:56:56Z urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:fairyofthenorth:2520 2008-10-26T13:56:56Z 2008-10-26T13:56:56Z And utterly undrinkable. Yeuch! urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:fairyofthenorth:2159 2008-02-10T14:36:03Z 2008-02-10T14:36:03Z don't ask Because they've been rattling around in my head all afternoon. M has been making holes in the plaster in the spare bedroom to put in some new plug sockets so we can turn it into a study if we need to. <br />This being M, a very large drill (think road-drill) was required. The room is now missing huge chunks of plaster, so the plasterer, who thinks he has a minor patching job to do, is going to be well impressed. <br />Meanwhile, I've got a beautiful headache. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:fairyofthenorth:1845 2007-12-23T01:05:24Z 2007-12-23T01:05:24Z A friend gave us a bag of damsons and a recipe for damson vodka about 18 months ago. Here's what I did with them:<br /><br />In a ratio of roughly 2kg damsons to 1kg sugar to about 2250ml of vodka:<br /><br />Use a pin to stick the damsons full of holes. <br />Put them in&nbsp; Kilner jars with the sugar.<br />Tip in the vodka.<br />Drink what won't fit in the jars. Kepp the bottles and caps- you'll need them later.<br />Seal the jars.<br />Leave in a cool, dark place for 18 months, tipping the jars upside down occasionally when you remember to. <br />After at least 6 months, preferably longer, decant the liquid (you're supposed to strain it through muslin, but I just used a funnel) back into the bottles.<br />Drink.<br /><br />Keep the damsons, chill them in the fridge, remove the stones with a sharp knife (better if you don't do this after drinking the damson vodka).<br />Melt some dark chocolate (the fair-trade stuff from the co-op is ideal) and dunk the damsons in it (I used a teaspoon to roll them around), then leave them on greaseproof paper to set. <br />You now have delicious damson vodka chocolates. Hic.<br /><br />Preparation time: 18 months.<br /><br />I'm trying to make some greengage rum now. Not sure how that will turn out. If it works, perhaps white chocolate for the greengages? urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:fairyofthenorth:1664 2007-12-16T22:16:55Z 2007-12-19T14:42:53Z none Hello, JS, if you're reading this. How's the weather in Azerbaijan? Hope you got back safely. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:fairyofthenorth:1058 2007-11-08T17:16:49Z 2007-11-08T17:16:49Z EC, singing But most of the entries are invisible, except to friends- sorry if that seems rude!&nbsp;