Limoncello

Ingredients

1 (750-milliliter) bottle vodka
peel from 8 lemons, cut into wide strips (yellow part only)
4 lemon leaves (optional)
2 cups sugar 2 cups water

How to make Limocello

I used this for some Christmas presents, and it went over very well!  This recipe makes two 750 ml bottles.

Put the vodka and the lemon peels in a glass bowl or jar and store for 1 week in a cool, dark place for 1 week.

After a week, make a simple syrup be bringing 2 cups of the sugar and 2 cups of water to a boil in a large pot.  Boil 3-5 minutes and remove from heat.  Make sure you have about 750 ml of the simple syrup (you don't want too much), and discard the rest.  Strain the vodka mixture into the simple syrup and mix together.  Pour into decorative bottles.

Then, in boiling water, blanch the lemon leaves for 10 seconds and add to the bottles.