Things You\’ll Need

• Vegetable brush

• 8 limes

• Paper towels

• Vegetable peeler

• Large bottle with cap; at least 1 qt.

• 1 750-ml bottle of vodka (25.36 oz.)

• 2 cups sugar

• 2 cups water

• Strainer

• Cheesecloth

Choose limes that are bright green.

You can infuse vodka with a variety of ingredients, mostly fruit, and limes work nicely to make a lime liquor. The lime liquor makes a nice after-dinner drink, or adds lime flavor to other drink concoctions. Try adding lemon zest in the recipe for a lemon-lime liquor, or simply substitute the lemon for lime to make a Limoncello. Start your liquor with any type of vodka; this is one instance when it is not necessary to use a good brand-name vodka, as the final product will taste the same no matter what you use.

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Step 1

Scrub eight limes with a vegetable brush to remove dirt, germs and pesticides. Dry well with paper towels.

Step 2

Peel the outer layer of the skin from all the limes. Leave the white pith on the lime. The pith will make the liquor bitter and should not be used. Place the peels into an empty bottle.

Step 3

Pour the vodka into the bottle over the lime peels, using a funnel to avoid possible spills. Place the cap on the bottle.

Step 4

Place the lime liquor bottle in a spot where it can stay for about four weeks without being disturbed. The vodka will take on the flavor of the lime and will turn a slight yellow color, much like Limoncello.

Step 5

Bring 2 cups of water and 2 cups of sugar to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir the sugar until it dissolves. Pour this simple syrup into the bottle with the lime liquor and let it sit for another four weeks.

Step 6

Strain the lime peels out of the lime liquor using a strainer and cheesecloth. Your liquor is now ready to drink. Keep it in the refrigerator for optimum flavor.

Tip

Wrap a ribbon around a pretty, decorative bottle and give the lime liquor as a gift.

Non-dairy milk alternatives have become a huge industry in recent years. It's a great option for people with lactose intolerance or who prefer to avoid animal products. Almond milk is also very easy to prepare from scratch, and there are many benefits to making it yourself. For starters, commercial nut milks are full of additives such as preservatives and stabilizers. Also, homemade versions taste completely different (and in my opinion, much better). If you haven't tried making almond milk from scratch, here's everything you need to know.

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Things You\’ll Need

• 1 cup raw almonds

• 3 cups filtered water + more for soaking

• Blender

• Cheesecloth or a nut milk bag

• Colander or fine mesh strainer

Tip

There are two options for straining the milk as seen in Step 6: a nut milk bag or 2 to 3 layers of cheesecloth placed inside a fine mesh strainer or colander. If you're planning on making homemade almond milk on a regular basis, a nut milk bag is an inexpensive investment that will save time and money in the long run. It separates the liquid quickly and can be reused, whereas cheesecloth can only be used once.

Step 1: Gather your Ingredients and Tools

Make sure to use filtered water and raw almonds for best results. This recipe can be scaled up or down using the same ratio. For a creamier milk, use a 2:1 ratio.

Step 2: Soak the Almonds Overnight

Place the almonds in a container with a tight fitting lid and cover with cold, filtered water by at least 2 inches. Place in the refrigerator and allow to soak overnight.

Step 3: Drain the Almonds

Drain the almonds through a colander or fine mesh strainer and give them a quick rinse.

Step 4: Add Almonds to Blender with Filtered Water

Place the almonds in a blender with 3 cups filtered water.

Note: this image shows 2 cups almonds + 6 cups water.

Step 5: Puree

Turn the blender on low for 20 to 30 seconds to chop the almonds, then slowly turn the mixer up to high speed and puree until the mixture is white and frothy.

Step 6: Strain

Option 1: Nut Milk Bag

If using a nut milk bag, place the bag over a large bowl. Pour the liquid into the bag, and then thoroughly squeeze to separate the milk from the pulp.

Option 2: Cheesecloth

If using cheesecloth, place 2 to 3 layers in a fine mesh strainer set over a bowl. Pour the mixture into the strainer. Carefully wrap up the cheesecloth and squeeze to separate the milk from the pulp.

Tip

You can dry out the leftover almond meal to use in baked goods. Turn the oven on its lowest heat setting, spread the pulp in a thin layer on a baking sheet, and bake until dried out.

Tip

Since homemade almond milk does not contain stabilizers, natural separation will occur. Shake or stir before serving.

Tip

You can substitute the almonds with other raw nuts. Excellent options include cashews, pistachios, macadamias, and hazelnuts.

More Recipes by Jennifer Farley

For more delicious drink recipes, check out some of these favorites:

Coffee Hack: How to Use a French Press to Make Espresso

Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur Recipe

Add This Homemade Orange Liqueur Recipe to Your Bar Cart

Pomegranate Gin and Tonic Cocktail Recipe

Things You\’ll Need

• Bleach

• 10 gallon plastic bin

• 22 quart or larger pot

• 40 oz. can of malt extract (in the flavor of your choice)

• 8 cups of either white sugar or corn syrup (corn syrup is preferred)

• 12, 2 liter plastic bottles

• Thermometer

• 1 packet of brewer's yeast

• Hydrometer

• 24 tsp. of white granulated sugar

• Hose clamp

• 74 inches of vinyl tubing

Homemade beer brewing is a lot less difficult than many believe it to be. Although there are a wealth of expensive kits available, you can successfully brew beer without them. Many of the ingredients needed to brew your own beer are common household items while others are more specialized and expensive, but will likely be good investments if you plan on brewing at home often. Another perk of home brewing without kits is the freedom to personalize your brews.

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Sanitize and Brew

Step 1

Wash and sanitize all of your tools in warm soapy water. Rinse well before combining 1 tbsp. of bleach with 1 gallon of water and soaking materials in the solution. Rinse away all traces of bleach.

Step 2

Fill your bin with 2.7 gallons of cold water. Fill the pot with 7.5 quarts of water and put it on the stove to boil.

Step 3

Pour the malt extract into the pot of boiling water. Stir and allow to continue boiling for about 20 minutes. Add sugar or corn syrup to the mixture and continue to stir. When that ingredient dissolves, immediately pour the solution into your bin of cold water.

Step 4

Fill the bin with liters of cold water (you can use your 2 liter bottles for this) until the temperature of the brew reaches about 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the yeast to the bin and stir.

Step 5

Place the top on the bin. Allow the beer to brew for six days at room temperature. Do not open the bin during that time.

Bottling

Step 1

Find out if your beer is ready after six days. Use a hydrometer to determine the relative density: light beer should be about 1.008 while darker beers will be between 1.010 and 1.015.

Step 2

Place the bin on a steady table. Arrange old newspaper or other protective materials around the base of the table to catch spills. Arrange the 2 liter bottles on the floor near the table in preparation for bottling.

Step 3

Add 2 tsp. of white granulated sugar to each 2 liter bottle. Attach the hose clamp to the vinyl tubing and siphon beer from the bin to the bottles. Be sure to leave a small amount of space at the top of each bottle for air.

Step 4

Tightly cap off each bottle. Invert each bottle to dissolve the sugar in the beer.

Step 5

Store the 2 liter bottles in a warm, dark place for two days before drinking. Keep them in a cooler, dark area after the two-day period.

Things You\’ll Need

• 12 oz club soda

• 2 teaspoons cherry flavored syrup, such as Torani

• 2 teaspoons lemon juice, fresh or reconstituted

• maraschino cherry, optional

Cherry Phosphate

Cherry phosphates are as American as apple pie – and this diner staple can be made at home, too. Try making these drinks for a summer barbecue or a burger and fries dinner.

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Step 1

Use a tall glass (like the Coca Cola glass pictured), with plenty of room for ice.

Step 2

Pour club soda into glass. Stir in cherry flavored syrup and stir.

Step 3

Add lemon juice and stir again to combine.

Step 4

Add ice cubes and garnish with maraschino cherry, if desired.

Step 5

Finish with a drinking straw, and enjoy!

Tip

Cherry flavored syrup is about $4.00 per bottle; look for it in the coffee aisle, next to the creamers and gourmet coffee.

Warning

Use club soda that hasn't been opened to ensure it's fizzly, not flat.

Things You\’ll Need

• Ice chest, cooler or large, heavy-duty trash bags

• Protective gloves

A keg is a small barrel that store beverages.

A keg is a small barrel containing around 30 gallons of liquid, primarily beer. Use a keg to store beverages for a few hours or a few days. Keeping the keg cold until needed is critical, and dry ice is an inexpensive solution. Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide and often is used to preserve foods and beverages. There are safety precautions, however, when using dry ice.

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Step 1

Buy the dry ice as close to the time of the event as possible. Buy 1/4 pound of dry ice per 5 gallons of beverages you want to keep cold, suggests the Dry Ice Info website.

Step 2

Place the keg in a very large ice chest or cooler. Make certain the ice chest or cooler is large enough to hold the keg. Another option is a trash bag that holds at least 40 to 50 gallons.

Step 3

Place the dry ice around the keg in the chest, cooler or trash bag. Be sure to use insulated gloves when handling the dry ice.

Step 4

Close the ice chest or cooler tightly or securely tie the trash bag. This keeps the dry ice from sublimation, or turning to carbon dioxide gas at a slower rate. (Most ice melts and becomes a liquid, which then evaporates, but when dry ice melts, it immediately turns to gas and skips the liquid phase. This process is called sublimation.)

Step 5

Keep the container of dry ice in a well-ventilated area, and keep windows open in a room where a keg is stored with dry ice. Even in an airtight container, the dry ice melts, releasing a small amount of carbon dioxide.

Step 6

Remove the keg from the ice chest, cooler or trash bag when it is needed.

Step 7

Dispose of the dry ice by placing it in a well-ventilated room. The Dry Ice Info website states that the dry ice melts at room temperature and turns into gas.

Warning

If it is a keg party, keep an eye on the room with the melting dry ice so that an intoxicated person doesn't wander in and possibly succumb to the gas fumes.

Dry ice also can freeze beer, so don’t exceed the amount suggested in Step 1.