Chef Meg's Italian Herb Seasoning

Forget buying packets of seasonings. They're expensive and often full of salt. Save sodium and money by making this easy herb blend. Use it in sauces, soups, stews, on meats... anywhere you want to add Italian flavor without fat or sodium!

1 TBSP Mediterranean oregano, dried
1 TBSP basil, dried
1 TBSP sage, dried
1 tsp rosemary, dried & crushed
1 tsp  red pepper flakes

Makes about 1/4 cup.

Combine spices in a mixing bowl. Store in an airtight container away from direct sunlight for up to six months. Before using, crush herbs between your fingers to release more flavor.

Number of Servings: 4

Homemade Lemoncello or limoncello

(Italian Lemon Liqueur)  is one of the most popular drinks today.

NOTE: Do not throw the lemons away - squeeze the juice out, add even quantities of Lemons juice and sugar and shake in a bottle until sugar is melted. This makes a wonderful cool drink especially if you use soda water to thin the syrup.

15 lemons - peeled with a potato peeler
2  bottles of  750 ml Vodka (100% proof)
5 cups water
4 cups sugar

Peel lemons with potato peeler (only the yellow/green peel). Place peels in a large glass jar and cover with one bottle of vodka. Leave in a cool place for 21 - 40 days.

Make syrup by mixing sugar and water over a medium heat. Keep stirring until sugar is melted, then cook syrup for 5 minutes. Cool down.

Strain lemon peel and add the liquid to the syrup together with second bottle of vodka. Mix well and bottle. Leave again for 40 days (if you can!!).

If the vodka is of a good quality, you can freeze the lemoncello.Serve over crushed ice.

Homemade Cranberry Liquer

This is as close as I come to making my own "moonshine".... You will need to plan ahead for this one... allow 2 weeks.... 12 days if you're really pressed for time. The prep time is quick, the wait time before bottling holds you up.

12 days
20 min prep

Makes 1 Quart - You'll probably want to make more!

• 1 lb cranberries

• 4 cups superfine sugar, divided

• 1 cup water

• 3 cups 80 proof vodka

Combine cranberries with 2 cups sugar.

Add water and boil 4-5 minutes until skins start to pop.

Remove from heat and cool.

Put in a mixing jar, one of those large glass sun tea jars works great!add vodka and shake vigorously.

Cover and leave to infuse at least 7 days, shaking or stirring occasionally. Refrigerate.

Pour thru a coarse strainer and discard berries.

Let rest 3-4 days.

Without shaking the jar, decant only the clear liquor into another jar, leaving white residue in the original jar.

The white residue can be put thru a paper strainer (I use an unbleached coffee filter) until liquid is clear; add the strained liquor to the already decanted liqueur.

Combine liqueur with 2 more cups of sugar and shake vigorously until sugar is absorbed.

Let clear overnight and bottle.