[Northkeep] Blackberry Ratafia

[Horn, Trisha D.]

Okay, first off - YUM!  

Two questions: Would this work with most fruits and how long (yeah, like
it's going to make it through the day) would this keep, refrigerated,
once it's ready?  Sounds perfect for this weather...

Raghnailt (drooling a tad bit)

-----Original Message-----
From: northkeep-bounces at lists.ansteorra.org
[mailto:northkeep-bounces at lists.ansteorra.org] On Behalf Of Jennifer
Carlson
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 16:12
To: northkeep at lists.ansteorra.org
Subject: Re: [Northkeep] Medic!

Dairmaid's old family recipe does indeed work well.  I, however, prefer
my 
blackberry ratafia - it tastes better than whiskey.

Using that as a shameless lead-in:

Blackberry Ratafia:

Fill a mason jar with blackberries - frozen or fresh, it doesn't matter,
but 
if using fresh berries, crush them a bit.
Cover the fruit with (cheap) brandy or (cheap) vodka, screw on the cap,
and 
set in the fridge.
Once or twice a week, take the jar out and shake it a few time. After a
few weeks, the fruit will start to look anemic, as all the good 
stuff is getting pulled into the alcohol.
After about 4-6 week, drain the fruit.  Mix 1:1 with a simple sugar
syrup (1 
cup sugar dissolved in one cup hot water.)  Bottle.  Use.

For a serious dessert rush, put the drained fruit over ice cream or
pound 
cake.

The ratafia is great either as an aperatif, or at the other end of the
meal 
with dessert.  A couple of spoonfuls just before bed will calm your 
cold-irritated throat enough to help you get to sleep.  Of course, a
small 
glass of the stuff will help you get to sleep, too :)

In servicio,

Talana