Lemon and lime cordial

Over the last month or so we have been collecting homemade items to include in our Christmas hampers. One of the things we have made is lemon and lime cordial. It is so easy to make, has no artificial ingredients and tastes so much better than the ones you buy in the shop!

You will need:
1 kg of caster sugar
500 ml of water
10 lemons
5 limes

This makes about 1.5 litres.

1. Using a potato peeler peel the rind of 4 lemons and 2 limes; do this gently so that you include as little of the white pith as you can. (The pith is bitter and will change the taste of your cordial).
2. Put the water in to a large saucepan and bring to the boil.
3. Stir in the sugar.
4. Once the sugar is dissolved add the lemon and lime peel and simmer for about an hour, stirring occasionally.
5. While you wait juice the lemons and limes (a food processor with a juicing attachment will help with this). You need about 1.5 litres of juice.
6. After the hour is up, add this juice to the saucepan and simmer for a further 30 minutes.
7. Remove the peel from the cordial (using a slotted spoon) and lay out on greasproof paper.
8. Bottle up the cordial in pre-cleaned and dried bottles. Store in a cool dry place until opened when it should be put in the fridge. It tastes great with sparkling water, a slice of lemon and some fresh mint!
10. You can preserve the peel by sprinkling it with a little icing sugar. It is delicous as a sweet or sprinkled on ice cream. 

The hamper also includes carrot jam (see earlier post), pineapple chutney, spice grinders and recipe cards.