ten-speed greens

What's the dill?! Cucumber And Dill Infused Vodka

So we loooove dill. On like everything. Popcorn, chickpeas, brussels sprouts, etc. The rest of the world really loves it too: Poland throws it in soups (borscht 1 luv), Sweden pickles it with fish, the French sprinkle it on pastries, Africa marinates their meat with dill, Germany likes their dill pickles, and Holland steeps it in hot milk (ew?) As a culinary herb, dill does a job well done as fresh, dried, or fermented. Plus it's packed with nutritional and medicinal superpowers: dill has significant amounts of vitamin A and C, beta-carotene, folic acid, and serious amount of anti-oxidants; medicinally, dill has been used to treat poor digestion, insomnia, headaches, increase breast milk, and balance blood sugar levels. Pro tip! Dill is fairly simple to grow, prefers full sun and can reach up to 3 ft. tall.

All this to say, def got super excited when we picked-up our Ten-Speed Greens CSA last week, to find fresh beautiful dill! So naturally we were like "omg cocktails!" Took it next level and decided to infuse this presh herb in some classy vodka, with a well paired veggie, the cucumber. Vodka is a great liquor to use for infusions, as its "generally" odorless and flavorless. Likewise it also makes it a good choice if you're low on the money flow- international importation can increase the price of vodkas, rather than its quality. Historically, vodka was used solely for medicinal purposes: for disinfection, pain, and external wounds. Today it is still used medicinally, more for internal wounds. 

Anyway one thing led to another, and now we have the PERFECT mixer for the PERFECT Bloody Mary (recipe soon to come!). 

Infusing liquor is easy. You just need an airtight jar and some patience. Fresh dill can be particularly potent, so really not too much patience for this mix. We're going to let ours soak for a week or less? But would probably be good to use after about 42 hours. Plus since dill is a natural treatment for headaches... well, you do the math.

Ingredients:

1 bunch fresh dill
1 small to medium sized cucumber
Vodka of choice (depending on size jar, you will need about the same oz, maybe a little less)
An airtight jar (either 8 oz or 16 oz will do)

Method:

1. Chop thick stems from the dill. 
2. Cut and peel cucumber
3. Place both in jar, and then pour in your vodka.
4. Seal sit and lit sit for up to 48 hours.
5. Enjoy! 

Ginger Prickly Pear & Basil Cocktails, for the Prickly of Heart

Here in Tallahassee, we're pretty lucky to have some pretty incredible ladies providing the community with fresh, organic, produce- as part of their independently run business Ten-Speed Greens.

We stopped by their market this past weekend and picked up one of their homemade jams: ginger prickly pear jam. Yes, it sounds EVEN BETTER than you would imagine. The sweetness of the pear (...and sugar...) doesn't drown out the spiciness of the ginger, leaving you with the perfect flavor combo to mix with tequila. *Remember, try and use %100 Agave tequila if you can.*  We added a bit of basil to the mix for an extra added herb-y freshness. And then of course what tequila drink goes without lime? Sparkling water is optional (and honestly a bit unnecessary if you're throwing this drink in the blender), but we love the bubbly so who can blame us.

Ingredients: 

Generous spoonfuls
10-Speed-Greens ginger prickly pear jam
3 fresh limes
2 full sprigs of basil
100% agave tequila
Sparkling water

 

Method: 

1. Combine ice, tequila, jam, and half of your basil leaves in a blender. For a more pulpy drink, peel limes and add them to the blender as well.
2. Add ice and sparkling water to glasses, but fill only half way. Fill remainder of the glasses with your mixture. Stir. *Skip the seltzer if you're a normal person and just want a blended icy drink*
3. Squeeze in lime juice to preference.
4. Garnish with lime wedge and basil.