Makes 1 pint
• 2 tablespoons fresh lovage seed
• 1 pint vodka
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
• A few red pepper seeds
Crush the lovage seeds slightly and add to the sugar, red and black pepper, and vodka in a one-quart lidded glass jar. Stir well, seal, and place in cool, dark place for at least 30 days. Strain and bottle.
— Linda Underhill is a freelance food writer in Alfred, New York. Her partner, Jeanne Nakjavani, is a gourmet cook and food developer in Bradford, Pennsylvania.