making your own
Golden Plum
Rum Liqueur
Ingredients:
• 1 Cup Honey
• 1 Cup Water
• 10 Yellow/Orange Plums, Stemmed
• 2 Cups Plum Wine
• 1 Cup Heavy (High Congener) Aged Rum
• 1 Cup Light (Low Congener) White Rum
• 1/2 tsp Lemon zest
• 1 Tbsp Freshly-squeezed Lemon Juice
Directions:
Combine the water and the honey in a medium saucepan, stir ring until all the honey has dissolved. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat and maintain the boil for 3 minutes, skim any foam that forms on the surface. Remove from the heat and allow it to cool.
Cut the plums in halves and remove the pits, place the pits in a 2-quar t (2- liter) jar. Mash the plum halves with a potato masher, combine with the remaining ingredients, including the syrup, then transfer the mixture to the jar with the plum pits.
Allow the liqueur to rest in a dark, cool place for at least 30 days.
Strain and discard the solids, then allow it to rest for another 7-10 days so that impurities can precipitate. Filter or rack to one or more final serving containers.
Did you know that plums ...
• Are great for relieving constipation and digestive problems: plums are filled with dietary fiber, sorbitol and isatin.
• Protect your heart: a medium fresh plum contains 113 mg of potassium that helps manage high blood pressure and reduce your risk of stroke.
• Prevent diabetes: plums have a low glycemic index, so eating plums can help you control your blood sugar and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes according to the Dietitians of Canada.
• Improve bone health: in a study one group ate prunes, the other group ate dried apples and both took calcium and vitamin D supplements. The prune group had substantially higher bone mineral density in the spine and forearms. (Florida State and Oklahoma State Universities).
• The Chinese believe plums symbolize good for tune.
• More than one hundred varieties of plum stones were found on Henry VIII’s flagship the Mary Rose, which sank in 1545.
• February is the month for plums in Japan; there are plum blossoms everywhere.
• Umeboshi (Japanese pickled plums) were thought by the samurai to combat fatigue.
• Plum trees are grown on every continent except Antarctica.
• There are more than 140 varieties of plum sold in the United States.
• Plums are the second most cultivated fruit in the world.
• Plums can be as large as a baseball or a small as a cherry.
• Plums were on the menu at the first Thanksgiving dinner in 1621.
Caution: those with a history of kidney stones are advised to avoid eating plums.