Another in the series of occasional recipes:
For a couple of winters now I have made aquavit for the holiday season based on Andreas Viestad’s recipe from his PBS show New Scandinavian Cooking. Spiced liquor: think a more pungent gin and you might not be too far off, aquavit is perfect for those cold months to come. The Scandinavians apparently drink this stuff at all stages of a meal. Not a bad way to deal with sub-zero temperatures, real or imagined.
Makes 1-quart
2 teaspoons caraway seeds, or more
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
2 teaspoons dill seeds
2 star anise
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1 whole clove
one 1-inch (2.5cm) cinnamon stick (optional)
2 teaspoons cumin seeds (optional)
one 1-quart bottle vodka
Add the spices to a bottle or two. Let stand for 2-3 weeks, shaking every couple of days. Strain and bottle the aquavit. Place in the freezer and pull out as needed for a sustaining nip.
