English Archives | National Dish

How do you make Pink Grapefruit Gin | National Dish Recipe

Wayne @NationalDish — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 20:55:15 +0000

Love this, the blue of the juniper berries that make the gin shows up against the pink grapefruit – amazing.

I’ve been dying to make Pink Grapefruit Gin, I think the colour would be attractive and relate completely to the flavour – Pink Grapefruit is a real treat just as grapefruit.

As with all our Gin recipes, you need to sterilise everything thoroughly, I mean it – don’t piss about here, you could be wasting good Gin.

This is easy to prep and nurture.

How do you make Pink Grapefruit Gin | National Dish Recipe

So, we're not actually distilling the Gin, we're infusing it with other flavours. What you need is a good Gin, a 1ltr Kilner jar, the fruit itself, some sugar, a clean mind and patience.

CourseCocktail, Drinks
CuisineBritish, English
KeywordDrinks, Gin, Homemade

Servings1 Litre

Prep Time30 Mins

Passive Time3 Months

Ingredients

3whole Pink Grapefruitpeel them and slice up all the segments, no pith
1litre ginI used Tesco's own
6tbls caster sugarcaster because it devolves quicker
1litre kilner jarwith a lid, obvs

Instructions

First, we need to sterilise. Boil the kettle and immerse the Kilner jar and lid in boiling water for about 10 minutes, then remove to cool. Don't touch the rim or inside of the lid - NO BACTERIA ALLOWED.
Peel the grapefruit, avoid any pith and slice into segments. Place in the jar along with all the sugar.
Pour in the gin and then put the lid on an tighten. Give it a shake to help dissolve the sugar.
Store in a cool dark cupboard for 3 months. In the first few days give it a gentle shake to make sure all the sugar dissolves.
When ready, through a sterilised jam strainer (not sieve) drain the gin into a sterilised jug, and then transfer to a sterilised bottle or jar.
That's it - it's gorgeous. If anyone want to suggest a Pink Grapefruit Gin recipe, let me know below or on social media. Enjoy!

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Have an indoor fruit BBQ for the kids | National Dish Fun Recipe

Wayne @NationalDish — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 23:06:18 +0000

It’s a fruit frenzy when you make a fruit BBQ for the kids – they love it. All pictures copyright of nationaldish.co.uk

It’s getting cold, although you could be reading this when it’s warm, doesn’t matter, this recipe is well fun. The kids and their buddies will love you for this, plus it will get them eating more fruit. It’s really easy. By the way, you need to slice a watermelon so make sure you have a sharp knife – believe it or not, that’s dangerous – so don’t let the kids have it!

Have an indoor BBQ for the kids and get them to eat fruit at the same time | National Dish Fun Recipe

I have listed the fruit that I used, but you have probably worked it out by now, it can be anything that you can skewer...and the kids like. But, it's also an opportunity to try something new on them - they'll be distracted by having fun fun fun.

CourseDessert, Snack
CuisineBritish, English, Global

Servings6 Kids

Prep Time30 Minutes

Cook Time0 Minutes

Ingredients

1whole watermelonthe top will be sliced off and then ball out the flesh
1 orangecut it in half
1punnet blackberries
1punnet raspberries
1punnet strawberries
1punnet pineapple
1 mangoslice off the flash and cut in cubes
1 bananacut this up into small chunks
100grams chocolatethis will be melted for some dipping action (dark is best 70%)
30wooden skewersdo these count as an ingredient? Not sure, you'll need em though.
3 kiwipeel it or ball out with a spoon and...cut into chunks

Instructions

Grab your melon with a tea towel and with a sharp knife slice off the top - enough that there is plenty of red flesh exposed, but not too far down.
Hollow out the entire Watermelon, try not to mulch the flesh, turn as much of it as possible into chunks for them to eat. Once you're happy, just scrape out with a spoon, doesn't have to spotless, see the pics. This is your BBQ.
Take half of the orange and skewer on as a handle. Throw the blackberries into the hollowed watermelon - this is the charcoal.
Get your skewers to make the grill - get some scissors and cut them to size. There will be little hands flying all over the place so make sure none of the skewers protrudes from the melon.
Using a Bain Marie (saucepan on the heat with some water in the bottom and a glass heatproof bowl balancing atop it) slowly melt the chocolate. This will need to remain runny, I was fortunate to have a tealight heated fondant thingy.
Make a couple of fruit kebabs with a selection and place on the grill - so the kids get the gist. Make the other fruit available and some skewers, give them a quick safety briefing and then release them. Vultures!
Ruddy bloody fun and really healthy - two birds one stone!

The post Have an indoor fruit BBQ for the kids | National Dish Fun Recipe appeared first on National Dish.

How do you make Plum Gin? | English Plum Gin | National Dish of England

Wayne @NationalDish — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 08:02:18 +0000

You can use any variety of Plum, I’m using Mirrabella and Victoria

The time of year is late August and my two Plum tree varieties – Mirebelle and Victoria are ready to harvest.

I could make Jam but that means eating bread and that ain’t gonna happen. So I’m making Gin!

How do you make Plum Gin? This recipe will have it ready for Christmas.

How do you make Plum Gin? | English Plum Gin | National Dish of England

This isn't really a recipe, it's a process - a little bit of work up front, especially around sterilising your Kilner Jar, give it a shake for a week and then leave it the hell alone for 3 months - simples...

CourseCocktail, Drinks
CuisineBritish, English
KeywordGin, Homemade, Plums

Servings1 litre

Prep Time30 minutes

Cook Time0

Passive Time3 months

Ingredients

1litre ginuse a mid range Gin that you can improve rather than budget stuff
1kg plumsany variety, I have two Mirrebelle and Victoria, both homegrown
250g caster sugardisolves better
Pinch cardamom pods
Pinch juniper berries

Instructions

Sterilise your Kilner Jar, wash your plums and measure out your ingredients.
Get a clean fork and stab your plums all over, this will release all the juices into the Gin. Any plums that look a little ropey throw away, we want to avoid excess nasty bacteria.
Now add all the ingredients to the jar and give it a shake and seal - place in a cool, dry and dark cupboard.
For the next week, shake on a daily basis to dissolve the sugar and then leave alone for at least 3 months. Should be perfect for Christmas. If you want to make more, just double all the ingredients.
After three months and you were good at sterilising you'll have some kick ass plum gin. Just look how much the colour changes and I promise you, this goes in to the flavour.
You'll need to filter the sediment out, I used a jar with a tap and ran it through clean muslin into a pan.
More sterilising, hopefully you had the sense to keep some old gin bottles, or any bottle, in anticipation of this day - make sure they are ultra clean. Fill em up and cap it off. You might want to sellotape the lids, as if they were bought from a shop - further fermentation could force the them off.
My homemade Plum Gin made great Christmas gifts - not all of it though...
Thank you England

Recipe Notes

I'm sorry, I know this looks like an old man having a wee - although, he's got issues if it's that colour, tastes good though. But, I filmed it so I might as well post it. If videos of gin filtering into a pan gets you going, sit back, grab some Kleenex and enjoy...

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