I Am Delicious

Christmas Dried Fruit Compote

Dried Fruit Compote is another example of traditional Polish recipes for Christmas. It is one of the 12 dishes that should be served on Christmas Eve dinner. Very easy to prepare, takes less than one hour. You will love it as much as I do. Also you can serve it both chilled or hot. 

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 l water
• 250 g dried plums
• 300 g dried apples
• 200 g dried pears
• 100 g raisins
• juice of 1 lemon
• 3 Tbsp powder sugar
• 40 g vanilla sugar
• 1 Tbsp whole cloves
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 2 Tbsp ground cinnamon 

Method:

1. First you need to rinse and soak all the fruits for approx. 30 minutes in hot 2 l of water. Later, move the fruits into a large pot, together with water they were already soaking. Make sure you have about 2 liters of water, if needed add some more.

2. Add sugar, cloves, lemon juice and cinnamon into the fruits. Cook for 30 minutes, adding more lemon juice or sugar to taste.

3. Filter the compote and you can serve it chilled or hot. I like both and cannot even decide which one I prefer. I love to serve it with Christmas cookies or a gingerbread cake for a dessert. 

ENJOY!!! 

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Dried Tropical Fruit Vodka - Tincture

Another example of traditional home made vodka from Poland. It is perfect for cold winter days. This is not a difficult process but you need to be patient as vodka needs to wait in a cold dark place for a few months. The longer, the better. This is a special vodka. Alcohol is pretty strong - can be above 60%, however you do not taste it at all. Your vodka tastes and smells with tropical fruits and has a beautiful dark gold colour. 

Prep Time: 5 minutes 

Wait Time: 3-4 months                                  

Ingredients:                                       

• 150 g dried dates
• 200 g dried apricots
• 200 g dried figs
• 150 g raisins
• 2-3 cinnamon stics
• 2-3 Tbsp dried cloves
• 1.5 glass of sugar
• 2 glasses of water
• 0.75 l of 95% spirits (grain alcohol)
• 1 l 40% pure vodka

Method: 

1. In a large pot mix all the dried fruits with entire alcohol. 

2. Ready mixture pour into a large 5 l jar and close well. Keep the jar in a dark cold but dry place. I keep mine in a basement.

3. After 3-4 weeks pour alcohol into water with melted sugar. Do not pour water into alcohol but alcohol into water. Then you have to filter well the mixture using bandage or gauze. Filter 2-3 times until liquid is clear and does not have any dried fruits.

4. Pour tincture into bottles. Close well and keep in a basement for minimum 3 months.

ENJOY!!!

Home Made Coco Vodka - Tincture

Tradition of preparing your own vodka in Poland is very long. This is not a difficult process but you need to be patient as vodka needs to wait in a cold dark place for a few months. The longer, the better. This is a special vodka. Alcohol is pretty strong - can be above 50%, however you do not taste it at all. Your vodka tastes and smells with coco. Just give it a chance and try to prepare your own vodka.

Prep Time: 10 minutes 

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Wait Time: 3 months                                  

Ingredients:                                       

• 400 g coconut chips
• 400 ml sweet condensed milk
• 400 ml no-sugar condensed milk
• 300 ml milk
• 1 l of 95% spirits (grain alcohol)
• 500 ml 40% pure vodka
• 2 vanilla sticks

Method: 

1. In a large pot mix coconut with normal milk and cook until boiling. Then add both condensed milk and stir well. 

2. Turn off the heat and keep stirring. Do not boil anymore.

3. Once the mixture cools down, add entire alcohol and vanilla sticks. Mix well.

4. Ready mixture pour into a large 5 l jar and close well. Keep the jar in a dark cold but dry place. I keep mine in a basement.

5. After 3 weeks filter well the mixture using bandage or gauze. Filter 2-3 times until liquid is clear and does not have any coconut chips.

6. Pour your tincture into bottles. Close well and keep in a basement for minimum 3 months.

ENJOY!!!

Amaretto Peach Heaven (in Polish: Podniebna rozkosz Amaretto)

Amaretto Peach Heaven is light and so easy to prepare. Once you try you will love it - same as my friends and neighbours. Simply Delicious. 

Prep Time: 15 - 20 minutes

Ingredients - 6 servings:                                       

• package of amaretto biscuits 
• Greek yoghurt - approx. 600 g
• 150 ml amaretto liquer
• 350 g sliced peach from a can
• chocolate chips to decorate 

Method:

1. Crush 2 amaretto biscuits into each dessert glass.

2. Pour a bit of amaretto liquer on the top of crushed biscuits.

3. Add a layer of greek yoghurt and a layer of sliced peach. 

4. Repeat the siquence adding one crushed biscuit onto each yoghurt layer until all the yoghurt and fruits have gone.

5. Crush one more biscuit on the top of each glass.

6. Decorate with chocolate chips or anything else you wish.

7. Serve chilled. 

ENJOY!!! 

Home Made Lemon Vodka (in Polish: Cytrynowka)

This vodka is one of the most favorite vodkas among my friends. Mostly due to the fact that you don't taste alcohol at all...but believe me it is really strong...approx 70% and the best part is - no headaches and grumpy moods next day guaranteed :-) Also it really helps when you feel the flu is attacking you - have 1-2 shots and the virus will be gone.

Prep Time: 10 minutes                                    

Cook Time: 10-15 minutes

Ingredients:                                       

• 1 l of fresh lemon juice - from approx. 1.5 kg of lemons 
• 1 l of light honey - best is honey from lime tree - it must be light color, clear, with liquid consistency
• 1 l of 95% spirits (grain alcohol) - be aware that in some countries it is forbidden to sell such a strong alcohol, however in Poland you can get it quite easily
• you can also add a few tangerines

Method: 

1. Mix alcohol with fresh lemon juice - together with the pulp but no seeds.  

2. Cool it on low heat oven and stir well. Add slowly spoon by spoon the honey. Keep stiring all the time.

3. Make sure you will never  get the mixture boiling otherwise your alcohol % will evaporate together with the steem.

4. after about 10-15 minutes when the mixture is well mixed and the honey fully melted, put it aside for a few minutes until it cools down a bit.

5. Pour the mixture into bottles and keep refrigerated for at least 2-4 weeks letting all the ingredients to mix well together.

6. Serve cooled.

ENJOY!!!

When I was in Africa, very similar alcohol was called 'Medicine' as it was supposed to help you with the digestion of the crocodile carpaccio or ox tail gulash killing all the bacteria :)