A sure fire way to wow your guests is to serve them chilled limoncello as your event winds down. Limoncello is an Italian liqueur made from lemon peel, sugar and alcohol. I first had it as an after dinner drink in Italy.
Besides serving as a digestif, I've made Lemon Drop Martinis pre dinner and Sgropinno, a combination of lemon sorbet or gelato, limoncello and prosecco, for dessert. Limoncello is excellent poured over strawberries or a mixed fruit salad and a fabulous ingredient for treats such as muffins, lemon bars and cheesecakes. Since its served chilled, it makes a perfect signature drink for showers, wedding and special events in the summertime.
Keep a bottle in your freezer. These serving glasses from Napa Style and Crate and Barrel make being served limoncello an event in and of itself! Caravella Limoncello and Molinari's Limoncello di Capri are two of the best selling brands.
This limoncello cooler was recently aired in an episode on the Food Network. For these, I use Tom Collins glasses, chilled, and frozen blackberries. I highly recommend using the frozen fruit over fresh to help keep the drink cold.
Blueberrry-Limoncello Cooler Giada De Laurentiss
- 1 (750-ml) bottle limoncello liqueur, chilled
- 1 cup sparkling water, chilled
- 1 cup fresh or frozen
blueberries *see Cook's Note
- 5 fresh mint sprigs, lightly crushed, plus extra for garnish
- Crushed ice
In a pitcher, combine the limoncello, sparkling water, blueberries, and mint sprigs.
Fill highball glasses halfway with crushed ice. Pour about 1/2 cup of the limoncello mixture over the ice in each glass.
Garnish with mint sprigs and serve.
*Cook's Note: If using frozen blueberries, add them to the pitcher just before serving.
Here's a savory recipe utilizing limoncello. I'd throw some lemon slices in ad the end to add panache to the finished dish. As Ina Garten would say....how bad can that be?
Pasta Fresca Nettuno 4 oz of fresh home-made pasta already boiled. Fry zucchini gently with onion, add limoncello and let it evaporate, mix in saffron, an finally, the smoked mozzarella cheese, a ladle of the water used to boil the pasta, basil, and Parmesan cheese, another dash of limoncello, mix and serve.
Resources
Grand Wine Cellar
I have had amazing customer service with this online retailer!
Wine Chateau
Napa Style
Crate And Barrel
Limoncello
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