Here is a recipe for homemade Orange extract. Of course you could make Lemon – or Lime – extract if you preferred, but I think Orange is probably more useful. I’m already having thoughts about making Orange and Clove extract for festive recipes towards the end of the year – I might have to go easy with the cloves though..
The great thing about this is that Oranges – or Lemons, or Limes – are available all year round, so you can rustle up a batch any old time.
Here’s a 250-300mls jar with the carefully shaved rind of a lovely unwaxed orange – paddling happily.
Day 1
Orange Extract:
- Pick a suitable jar – about 250-300mls capacity, with a really good seal – a Kilner-type jar is ideal. Wash and dry it, or put it through the dishwasher to make sure it’s properly clean.
- Wash and dry one or two oranges – preferably unwaxed. If they are waxed, give the skin a gentle scrub with a vegetable brush to remove as much of the wax as possible. Dry the fruit.
- Using a potato peeler, gently remove thin layers of the orange zest. Do your best not to take any pith, as this gives the whole thing a nasty bitter taste.
- Put the orange peel into your chosen jar
- Top off with about 300mls Vodka.
- Seal and put into a cool dry place.
- Shake every couple of days.
- This should be ready in 3-4 weeks..
- Decant into dark glass bottles and have fun using it!
Think about adding a capful to a Madeira cake, to a Victoria Sponge, or to your favourite Pancake recipe – the options are endless! I put a capful of (bought) Orange Extract into some Rhubarb recently, which I then roasted – the flavour was delicious!
1 week
2 weeks
I started writing down recipes in an old copybook when I was about 16. With 6 children at home, my Mother was always glad of a hand in the kitchen, and really allowed us to experiment - as long as we washed up afterwards, and left the kitchen immaculate! Having a tidy kitchen has followed me through my life, as has the habit of writing down my favourite recipes; except that these days I write them for my website, and add photographs when I can. The website really started when it occurred to me that my daughter might like to have these recipes when I've forgotten them. In my early days of cooking for family and friends, I used to phone my Mum all the time to ask her for the recipe for some of our favourite family dinners. She rarely had a recipe to hand - I think, like me, she made a lot of it up as she went along.. So welcome to Eating for Ireland - these are the recipes that my friends and family having been eating these past 40 years.. yes, I truly am ancient! They are tried and tested, and have worked for me for all that time - I have updated them as new ingredients became available - I really hope you'll find something that you can make into a family favourite of your own. You don't have to tell anyone where you found these great new dishes that you're serving up - it can be our little secret, but I'd really love it if you could give me a sneaky 'follow' on Facebook and Instagram.. So off you go - have a good rummage around, you're bound to find something new! My sincere thanks to all of you who have found a recipe that you liked and dropped me a line to tell me - I really do love to hear from you! Happy Cooking! Becks xx