Making Kahlua

   Hi everyone, I should be outdoors working since it is a glorious day today-almost 70 degrees. I overdid it yesterday. I had 16 of those giant bags packed full of leaves that I was determined to get burned in the fire pit. No wind so it was the perfect day for it. There is still a few more days left of raking and burning but I wanted to get the bags emptied and burned first.  I also decided to move several buckets full of the smaller rocks that need to be gone before spring planting-so I put allot of rocks under the two grills so when the ashes fall they won't start a fire from dried leaves etc.

  So today I can feel it, and am slow moving and I think I inhaled too much smoke too.  Monday I needed to drive down to the woods house-there was no more putting it off to turn the gas heat on. We have had several nights in the 20's so far but not several days in a row.  Larry hates it when I go there because I always bring home things. So many things we just don't have room for anymore-but I still want them haha.  When I was looking for a garden tool that was Larry's Grandfathers that was brought back from the old country (Israel) I ran into a box of those beer bottles that are green or brown with the little pottery caps hooked to wires.  I brought those home with me because I used to make homemade vanilla extract, Kahlua, and other things with them. I only have about 4 bottles here so was glad I ran into these  smiles.

  So since my body is not feeling strong for work outdoors I made two batches of Kahlua I have had this recipe since the late 80's or early '90s from a co worker at the phone company. In the past I would make about 4 batches and give them away for Christmas gifts. We had a friend that drank this beer so he saved me allot of bottles-they are really just too nice to be tossed I may have shared this recipe with you before.

  Now I change the recipe to decaf instant coffee, and change the sugar to Splenda since my husband has been diabetic since probably the late '90s, and I can no longer have caffeine.

The recipe

    5 cups sugar

    3 cups water

    10 tablespoons good quality instant coffee

    3 cups vodka

    4 teaspoons vanilla extract-I put in 2 tablespoons

Use a deep pan as it will foam up as you bring the sugar, water and coffee to a boil. Do not walk away from this or it will rise to the top and boil over

Bring just to a boil stirring til all dissolved.

Cool down (I place the pan in a sink of cold water to speed the process) then add the vodka and vanilla Stir and bottle let sit at least one month- This is better as it ages-I would put these out of sight for up to a year or more-so good

I made two batches and ended up with 6 and a partial bottle. When using sugar you will get a bit more  and I misspelled Kahlua on the labels lol

Are you getting some of this beautiful warm weather too?

 Next up I have enough of the less expensive brandy-E&J to make one small batch of amoretto  I use this brandy for my Christmas fruitcakes so will need to get another bottle.