I'm a fan of gourmet magazine. Most readers have learned this by now. Ian Knauer has posted a gin recipe back from October 2008 that everyone can modify to their tastes.

Using freshly picked rosemary and lavender from my garden, juniper berries, and vodka, I made an infusion that tastes like gin in a relatively short amount of active time. It really is as easy as it sounds. The true gin enthusiast may not enjoy this version since it is made from vodka, but it's homemade, quite beautiful in the bottle, and cheaper than a full price bottle of Tanqueray or Beefeater. This pleasant looking bottle will impress guests and leave you a little more satisfied- you did, after all, make your own gin.

Homemade Gin
See Ian Knauer's recipe at Gourmet.com
1 bottle of cheap vodka. I'll leave the choice up to you.
1 T whole juniper berries (gin=juniper)
1 stem fresh lavender
3-4" piece fresh rosemary
1 bay leaf, torn into pieces
1 glass bottle with a cork or plastic cap

Pour juniper berries into a tall glass bottle. Using a funnel, pour the vodka in until 1" or so from the top. Place a removable cap on the bottle and marinate overnight. Remove the cap and place the herbs inside the bottle. The gin will be ready to pour into a glass after 8 hours, or leave the ingredients in longer- the flavor is more intense and ready the next day as well.  Pour through a filter or strainer and serve as desired. It's ready for cocktails! No one wants to swallow juniper berries or a bay leaf, as pretty as the bottle is to look at, so don't include these in the glass unless it's your intention to do so. You'll want to strain it and use it in a day or two before the plant matter turns brown.

Last night, in preparation for our trip to Germany, I baked some of my favorite cookies to take to our Berlin friends. Hopefully the TSA won't help themselves, and that they'll stay nicely together on the transatlantic flight. Only time will tell!

Two of these cookies I usually make at christmas time. Chocolate Gin Raisin cookies (thank you Gourmet magazine, it's one of your favorite's too!), and Wildflower Honey Anise sandwich cookies. The third batch, Molasses Sesame Peanut cookies.

I'll be spending the next few weeks traveling throughout East Germany, Prague and taking a short trip to Bristol in the UK.  Much love to my friends and family in the states and I'll be back before you know it!