Here are a few more holiday gift ideas. Homemade gifts are always welcome, and these liqueurs should make gift recipients very happy! They take a while to age, so you may wish to start these now to be sure they are ready for the season.

STRAWBERRY LIQUEUR
3 cups fresh, ripe strawberries, hulled, washed and sliced (discard any that are bruised or soft)2 cups vodka
1-3/4 cups of sugar
1 cup water
½ teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1½ teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Place strawberries in a large bowl. Add sugar and crush berries well. Let stand at room temperature for 1 hour. Transfer mixture to a clean 2¼ quart container. Add vodka, water, lemon and orange peels and lemon juice. Cover mouth of jar tightly with plastic wrap and then seal with a lid. Place in a cool, dark place for 2 days, turning jar gently as often as you think of it. Using a fine mesh strainer, transfer liquid to a clean container, discarding solids. Cover tightly and let stand for 1 week. Line the wire strainer with cheesecloth (or a paper coffee filter) and strain into decorative bottles and label. Age liqueur for 1 month before serving.

HAZELNUT LIQUEUR
½ pound hazelnuts
1 cup vodka
½ cup brandy
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1¼ cups water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place hazelnuts in work bowl of food processor and using on/off turns, coarsely chop. Place in a 1-quart container and add vodka and brandy. Place in a cool, dark place and let stand for 40 days. Strain mixture through a cheesecloth lined wire strainer into a clean container. Let stand for 2 more days. Repeat straining method. Combine granulated sugar, brown sugar and water in a large pan. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature and then add vanilla extract. Add sugar mixture to hazelnut mixture, stirring well. Transfer to decorative decanters and label.

PEPPERMINT LIQUEUR
2¼ teaspoons pure peppermint extract
3 cups vodka
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups water

Combine extract with vodka in a 2 quart container. In a large saucepan, combine sugar and water. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature and add to vodka mixture.   Let stand in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks. Transfer to decorative containers and label.

Paula Anderson is a contributing writer to Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine, as well as a columnist for 3 Maine Newspapers with a focus on food, nutrition, and entertaining.