Limoncello icy cold Italian lemon liqueur served as an after-dinner apéritif. (Also, a great additive to fruity desserts and martinis!)

We have experienced an unusual winter here in Virginia – two snow days! Surprisingly, I actually had two weekends off. I’m glad I was able to be productive with my time. The result of the last snow day was this little piece: “When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Limoncello” Yup, long name.

OK – I know that the usual saying finishes with lemonade but lemonade is a little too tame for how I’m feeling.

The usual phrasing is used to encourage optimism and a positive can-do attitude in the face of adversity or misfortune. Lemons can suggest sourness or difficulty in life – and turning them into lemonade is making them positive and desirable.

According to Wikipedia the expression was coined  by a Christian anarchist Elbert Hubbard in an obituary for dear actor Marshall Pinckney Wilder he said: 

“He was a walking refutation of that dogmatic statement, Mens sana in corpore sano. His was a sound mind in an unsound body. He proved the eternal paradox of things. He cashed in on his disabilities. He picked up the lemons that Fate had sent him and started a lemonade-stand.”

Apparently, more people have heard of Dale Carnegie’s phrasing: “If you have a lemon, make a lemonade.”

I think I learned this phrase in the 70’s  – but I would have thought it was from Reader’s Digest, Erma Bombeck or Fannie Flagg – my mother’s books and periodicals that could be found in stacks around our home.  

My mother was an avid reader and I owe both my love of books and my sense of humor to that woman. She wasn’t a joker or joke teller – but did she love to laugh!  She taught me to look at the lighter side of things and I am grateful for it. 

Although she worked 40 hours per week, she found the time to make desserts and birthday cakes from scratch. She made a white layer cake with wedding cake frosting that contained a layer of lemon pudding between the layers.  This was no boxed pudding – she made it from scratch as well, and when the pudding had thickened after having been cooked  on the stove, she would let me lick the spoon. 

Lemon for me, was never bitter – but sweet and a sign of love.  

Working on light-hearted pieces like this has helped lift my spirits during these short, gray winter days. They’re good reminders that sometimes life can be turned around by how you think and react to the situation you’re in.  Finding the humor in life is important. Reaching for that can-do attitude will help you get through the worst of it.  

Limoncello Recipe

  • 10 lemons organic preferred
  • 4 cups vodka high-quality like Grey Goose
  • 3 ½ cups water
  • 2 ½ cups granulated sugar

Instructions

  • Wash the lemons with a vegetable brush and hot water to remove any residue of pesticides or wax. Pat the lemons dry.
  • Using a vegetable peeler, remove the peel from the lemons in long strips, use only the yellow outer part of the rind. The pith, or white part underneath the rind, is too bitter. Keep the lemons for another recipe.
  • Add the vodka to your large jar.
  • Place the lemon peels in the jar with the vodka and put the lid on.
  • Steep the lemon peels in the vodka for 10 days at room temperature. 10 days will produce a better flavor, but 4 days is fine! (Some people leave them up to 40 days for incredible lemon flavor!)
  • After 10 days, in a large saucepan, combine the water and sugar over medium heat and bring to a gentle boil (until the sugar dissolves), about 5 -7 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and let the syrup cool before adding it to the Limoncello mixture of lemon peels and vodka. 
  • Strain the limoncello through a mesh strainer, a coffee filter, or cheesecloth. Discard the peels. Transfer to decorative clamp style bottles using a small funnel.
  • Seal the bottles and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours and up to 1 month. Can be kept in the freezer as well, but be sure to keep the limoncello in the fridge and chill until ready to use. 

There are times when I feel as if things aren’t working out. This little piece is a reminder to myself that I am a capable woman and can turn it all around. Also, I like knowing that if I’m given lemons – I CAN make Limoncello!