Aquavit Caraway Spritzer Recipes

AQUAVIT SPRITZER

Steps:

• Combine sugar and 1 tablespoon hot water in a pitcher. Stir to dissolve. Add preserves. Using a wooden spoon, stir to loosen preserves and mix with simple syrup. Gently stir in soda water and aquavit.
• Fill tumblers with ice. Divide aquavit spritzer equally among glasses and garnish each with a lemon twist.

HOMEMADE BIRD FOOD AND BIRD FEEDER

Steps:

• Slice the orange in half through the equator. Hold one half of the orange over a mixing bowl and use a spoon to scoop the flesh into the bowl, catching the juices and avoiding breaking through the peel. Repeat the process with the other half of the orange. Use kitchen shears to cut the pulp into smaller pieces.
• Add the almond butter, oats, dried cranberries, pepitas and 1/4 cup sunflower seeds to the bowl with the orange. Use a rubber spatula to mix until evenly combined. Set aside.
• Use a wooden skewer to pierce a hole through an orange peel about 1/2 inch below the cut. Continue to thread the skewer through the orange to reach the other side. Pierce through the orange, creating 2 holes directly across from each other. Remove the skewer and repeat the same process crosswise on the orange, so that you now have 4 holes. Repeat the same process with the other orange half.
• Take one piece of kitchen twine and use the skewer to help the ends of the twine through two of the mirroring holes. Tie a knot at either end of the twine to secure it to the inside of the orange. Repeat the process with the remaining twine. Use one of the wooden skewers to poke from one side of the orange to another, creating a perch. Repeat the process with the remaining skewer, creating an X. Repeat with the second orange half.
• Fill the oranges with the almond butter mixture. Top with the remaining 1/4 cup sunflower seeds. Hang the bird feeders outside on a sturdy branch.
• Any leftover almond butter mixture can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days to refill the feeders. Alternatively, it can be eaten by humans with green yogurt or on toast.

CARAWAY AND AQUAVIT BISCUIT WEDGES

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 450°F. Combine 1/3 cup aquavit and 2 teaspoons caraway in medium bowl. Let stand 15 minutes.
• Blend flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in processor. Add butter and cut in using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal. Beat 1 egg and milk into aquavit mixture. Pour liquids over dry ingredients and process, using on/off turns, just until moist clumps form. Gently knead dough on floured surface to combine, about 6 turns.
• Press out dough to 7-inch round. Cut round into 8 wedges. Transfer wedges to baking sheet, spacing apart. Beat remaining egg to blend in small bowl. Brush biscuits lightly with beaten egg. Bake until biscuits are puffed and golden brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer biscuits to platter. Cool 10 minutes. Serve warm.