As I mentioned yesterday I was born and raised about an hour from Allentown, Pennsylvania in a place called Pottsville. It's the home of Yuengling beer, the 1925 NFL Championship Pottsville Maroons, and birthplace of author John O'Hara.Every area has its unique foods and beverages. There are many in Pottsville as well, like Coney burgers, Roma pizza, and Guers iced tea. But around the fall holidays each year there's a special adult beverage that I don't think is sold anywhere. It's called boilo (pronounced boy-low). And you have to make it yourself. Here's a standard recipe. My dad brought me some last winter in a jelly jar, which is typically how one would store it and also drink it. We're not talking about class in this drink. Just pure deliciousness.
Some believe boilo to have curing properties for the onset of fall/winter related ailments such as a cold or influenza. Think of it like you would a flu shot -- there's no proof that it actually works, but at least you're not jabbed in the arm with a needle.
So where am I going with this?
Patience young grasshopper.
Someone last week posted on Facebook that they made apple pie boilo. That sounded tasty and they sent me the recipe. One of the main ingredients in boilo is whiskey, but cheap whiskey (remember the jelly jar). A brand called Four Queens is typically recommended.
I went to the store last evening and they didn't have that brand. The cheapest bottle was $7.49. I forget the name. But on the shelf above it was something called Kessler and it was on sale for $7.99 (normally $8.99). So I splurged and got the more expensive bottle :) On the label last night I read:
Julius Kessler first distilled this fine product in America in the late 1800’s. Every label still bears a facsimile of his signature, which is your assurance of authenticity and quality in every bottle. Kessler is a superb blend of choice American Whiskies, which is proud to have carried the slogan “ Smooth as Silk” for over 50 years.A facsimile of a dead guy's signature is an assurance of authenticity and quality? Interesting.
Today I learned that the Kessler brand is owned by Jim Beam. Kessler is sold at a slightly lower price point than Jim Beam, which would run you $10.99 for a similar-sized bottle.
Will you post the apple pie boilo recipe?
ReplyDeleteThis is the recipe I used to make the apple pie boilo. It was very tasty.
ReplyDeleteIngredients:
1/2 gallon apple cider (100% pure juice-no sugar added)
4 cinnamon sticks, or 2 tsp. of cinnamon if you don't have sticks
2 tsp. nutmeg
2 apples thinly sliced
Preparation:
Pour cider, cinnamon sticks and nutmeg into a large pot and bring to a boil, then add apples.
Boil for 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and let cool 10 minutes.
After cooling, strain mixture to remove and discard apples and cinnamon sticks.
Add 3 cups (one fifth) CHEAP blended whiskey. Four Queens seems to be the most recommended. I used Kessler.
Cover with lid and let cool to room temp.
Serve warm.
As an alternative, you can chop the apples (add tsp. to each glass) and top with whipped cream. I tried both ways and enjoyed it better without the apples and whipped cream.