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Using Flavored and Scented Vinegars

© Eileen O'dea

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They seem to be everywhere. Flavored vinegars. They're in, they're trendy, and they're good. Whether you make them yourself, buy them at the market, or get some as a gift, you need to know how to use them.

It's really very easy. Use them whenever you would use plain vinegar.If you need some ideas, I have them. And I would be glad to share a few with you.I'll even tell you how to make specific kinds to go along with my recipes.

First the vinegars;

Citrus Vinegar
1 quart white wine vinegar
2 large organic oranges
2 large organic lemons
1 organic red grapefruit
3 whole cloves
4 whole allspice
1 cinnamon stick

In a large nonreactive sauce, pan bring vinegar to a slow boil. Remove from heat. Quarter all of the citrus and add to hot vinegar. Return to the heat and bring back to a slow boil. Simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and discard citrus. Add spices, cover and let cool to room temperature. Strain and pour back into the bottle, or put it in a decorative bottle. Store in a cool dark place.

Italian Dressing
1 quart white whine vinegar
¼ cup fresh oregano
1/8 cup fresh basil
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper corns

In a nonreactive sauce pan, heat vinegar to a slow boil. Remove from the heat. Add herbs, salt and pepper, cover and let cool to room temperature. Strain and pour into a bottle.

Dill Vinegar

1 quart apple cider vinegar
¼ cup chopped dill weed
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

In a nonreactive sauce pan, heat vinegar to a slow boil. Remove from heat, add dill weed and black pepper. Cover and let cool to room temperature. Strain and pour into a bottle.

These are just a few vinegar recipes. For more join Laurel, our resident Herb Garden expert. She has done a very good article on herbal vinegar.

Here are a few interesting notes about these recipes. If you look in old books, where I have said room temperature, they say blood temperature. The idea was, if you put your finger into the vinegar, it should feel like nothing. Because if it was blood temperature it was the same as your finger. I'm not sure when that switched but it does sound better as 'room' temperature.

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