Marinating A Christmas Tradition

Tradition!!

Of course all I ever think of when I hear that word is that hit tune from Fiddler on the Roof.  Once a musical theater nerd, always a musical theater nerd. Funny enough it's a perfect tie in, as this post touches upon Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish Christmas traditions. This year I wanted to to a full 12 course traditional Ukrainian meal, but with my travels it was impossible to do as I got home on Christmas Eve...eve. But I am already looking forward to next year when I can continue my Baba's legacy in the kitchen. 

Get easy access to basic recipes and read a little more about Sviaty Vechir here.  I love the part about how the meal commences when the children find the first star to light the sky on Christmas Eve. What a great tradition! I also love the idea of leaving a chair empty for those who have passed on.

Since I didn't have the time to prepare a feast, I will focus on the other very important aspect of any Slavic holiday...drinks!  

More specifically, Honey and Cherry Vodka.

My cousin has my Baba's secret recipe for her honey vodka, and I have yet to wrestle him for it, so I found this one online. ;) 

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Makes about 1 quart

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons cold water
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 cups boiling water
• 1/4 vanilla bean, split
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 small cinnamon stick, cracked in half
• 10 black peppercorns
• 20 allspice berries
• 1 1/3 cups honey
• Zest from 1 orange
• 2 cups vodka

Preparation:

1. In a large saucepan, combine cold water and sugar and heat until it dissolves. Add boiling water, vanilla bean, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon stick, peppercorns and allspice. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.
2. Strain the simple syrup you've just created through cheesecloth or a coffee filter and return to the saucepan. Add the honey and zest, and heat, stirring, until the honey has completely dissolved. Bring to a boil and immediately remove from heat.
3. Gradually stir in vodka. Serve hot. If serving, cold, let honeyed vodka come to room temperature, transfer to a lidded jar and refrigerate, covered, until ready to serve.

Honeyed vodka or Medivka, served hot or cold, is a favorite among Ukrainians and Poles. And, since it's steeped in aromatic spices, less than top-shelf vodka will do just fine. No matter what temperature it's served at, warms the body from the inside out. Perfect for the holidays! 

Two cousins made two different marinated sour cherry vodkas,

and we had a taste test to see which was the best. They were both quite different, but the basic recipe goes like this:

SOUR CHERRY VODKA
 
 Recipe By     : Homemade in the Kitchen
 Serving Size  : 1    Preparation Time :0:00
 Categories    : Beverages
 
   Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
 --------  ------------  --------------------------------
    1 1/4  pounds        sour cherries, pitted (about 2 3/4 cups)
    1      cup           sugar
    2      cups          vodka
 
 Put the cherries into a 1-quart Mason jar, and cover with the sugar. Seal
 the jar and shake it several times, until the cherries are well coated with
 sugar. Add the vodka, reseal and shake the jar a few more times to mix. Set
 aside in a cool, dark place for 4 weeks. Strain the mixture through a fine
 sieve into a 4-cup glass measuring cup. If desired, transfer the liqueur to
 a decanter. The Sour Cherry Vodka should be ready to drink immediately and
 has a shelf life of 2 to 3 months.
 
 YIELD: 2 cups

I am sure one could substitute agave nectar or even honey to create a combined honey/cherry vodka as well!

 I love Christmas. I encourage everyone to look into their family history to build upon deep seated, interesting, and entertaining traditions. I had a great time with my mom, family, friends, and even had a very impromptu reunion with awesome cousins I hardly ever get a chance to see. The very best thing about the holidays, no matter what your religion or background, is spending time with those you love.