Chistmas Goodies

We really like to make as many of our own Christmas gifts as we can. Here is a partial list of what we are doing right now:
coffee liqueur (both)
orange liqueur (both)
tarragon vinegar (both)
felted ornaments (Melinda)
chain mail jewelry and other items (Abram)
reusable shopping bags (Melinda)

Abram roasted the coffee himself for the liqueur. We are straining it after allowing the infusion three weeks.
Here's the recipe:



Coffee Liqueur
8 cups sugar
4 cups water
1 cup freshly ground coffee beans
2 vanilla beans, split lengthwise
brandy
vodka
Make a simple syrup by heating the sugar and water until the sugar dissolves completely. Add the coffee, vanilla beans, and the simple syrup to a 1 gallon jar and allow to cool to room temperature. After mixture has cooled, add 1/2 brandy and 1/2 vodka to fill the jar (about 5 cups each). Set aside for three weeks. Strain liqueur, and bottle.