I’d written before about The 44 after being inspired by a March 2008 article about the drink in Saveur. But soon after we packed it up and moved back to Seattle, so I never actually completed the process and thus, had nothing to share with you. Shortly after Christmas – and after our liquor cabinet was depleted from the holiday festivities – I decided to embark on the rum-infusing journey once more and stocked up on the required ingredients.

Let’s take a little trip down “cordial” lane…

The 44 is a popular rum-infused beverage originally made in Madagascar. It gets its name from the process in which its made as well as the number of days it “brews.” In the Madagascan version an orange is pierced forty-four times to allow the juices to release, then forty-four coffee beans are shoved into the slits. The orange is then placed in white rum and set to rest for, you got it, forty-four days.

I decided to make the French version of this drink, called the Quarante Quatre, which calls for forty-four whole cloves in place of the coffee beans. Within days the color of the rum began to darken and the orange and cloves became more fragrant. We left the jar out on the counter to enjoy the changes in coloration and to every-now-and-then open the lid to smell the sweet aromas.

After patiently waiting for forty-four long days we opened the jar and poured ourselves a small cordial.

The Quarante Quatre
This recipe is so good I recommend doubling it, like we did.

1 liter white rum
1 Navel orange
44 whole cloves
44 teaspoons of sugar (optional)

Deeply pierce the orange with a paring knife 44 times. Stuff the cloves into the slits and skin of the orange. Place the orange in a large widemouthed jar (that has a tight seal) and add one liter of white rum. Add 44 teaspoons of sugar, seal and store in a cool dark place for 44 days.

Note: we opted for a non-sugar version and it is still very tasty!

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Categories:	Beverages	3 Comments
Tags:	44 • beverage • cloves • cocktail • cordial • madagascar • orange • quarante quatre • the 44 • whole cloves

This is a beautiful tart and refreshing relish. Since you use the whole orange, including the rind, it is important to allow the relish to mellow for at least 2 days before serving, so today is the day to make it!

No Cook Cranberry Orange Relish

1, 12-ounce package cranberries
1 orange, unpeeled
1 cup sugar

Pick through the cranberries and remove any bad ones. Cut the orange into eights and remove the seeds. Place half the cranberries and half the orange in a food processor, fitted with the steel blade, and pulse until the mixture is evenly chopped, but not pureed. Transfer to a medium bowl. Repeat with the remaining cranberries and orange.  Combine all ingredients in bowl and stir in the sugar.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 days or up to 2 weeks.  Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Makes about 2-1/2 cups

Optional: this is also tasty with chopped pecans.

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Categories:	Fruit • Holiday	1 Comment
Tags:	cranberries • Cranberry Orange Relish • Fruit • orange • relish • side dish • Thanksgiving

Ah, it’s a beautiful day here in Seattle. I wish you were here to enjoy it. The sun is out! People are smiling and more generous than usual saying such things as, “oh, please, you go first,” at stop signs and in supermarket lines. It just makes you want to hug your neighbor.

Okay, I know, that’s odd, but sometimes the sun makes me giddy.

Yesterday was a glorious day, too. I spent it with my Aunt Mimi baking and kavetching over tea. There just weren’t enough hours in the day! So many things to bake, so little time. There’s nothing better than this time of year: long discussions about what to make for Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, brunches, appetizers, testing recipes, baking bread, cookies…

When you love food, as we do in my family, everything is centered around cooking.

One of the things we baked up yesterday were these delicious shortbread cookies. We took a basic shortbread recipe and turned it “Fall” by adding orange zest and dried cranberries. The result were beautifully red and orange speckled buttery shortbread. You really could add any kind of dried fruit or nuts (or both!) to this recipe. Pecans would be wonderful as well. Or, try a savory version.

Whatever makes your palate sing!

Cranberry Orange Shortbread

3/4 pound unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
Zest of one orange

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the butter and sugar until they are just combined. Add the vanilla extract, zest and cranberries.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter/sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and roll the dough into a 2 1/2 –inch thick log. Wrap in plastic and freeze for 30 minutes.

Slice into 1/2-inch rounds. Reshape if necessary. Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet or Silpat. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Allow to cool to room temperature and serve.

Makes 20 to 24 cookies

Note: For a pecan version, substitute the vanilla extract for almond extract, and add a handful of crushed pecans (or more if you like) in place of the orange zest and cranberries.

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Categories:	Baked Goods • Fruit • desserts	2 Comments
Tags:	baking • cookies • cranberries • cranberry orange shortbread • Food • foodista • orange • shortbread