3 Uses for Vinegar

Herb Vinegar

One of the simplest recipes for using herbs is this 19th-century
hint for making flavored vinegar: Pour plain vinegar over herbs in a
bottle and let it sit for a month in the sun. What could be easier?

A more refined vinegar can be made by taking approximately 1 cup of
fresh herbs (basil, tarragon, or thyme, for example) and placing
them in a clean quart jar. Heat vinegar just to the boiling point
and pour it over the herbs, filling the jar to the top. Seal and
store in a cool, dark place for at least three weeks for the fullest
flavor. Strain the vinegar into 2 pint bottles and add a fresh sprig
of the herb. (Use decorative bottles if you're planning to give
these as gifts.)

You can use a single herb in plain white vinegar, or try a medley of
herbs in other vinegars (such as cider vinegar or red or white wine
vinegar). Here are a few suggestions to get you started, but feel
free to experiment and invent your own blends: white vinegar with
tarragon leaves, basil leaves, and peeled shallots; sherry vinegar
with fresh rosemary leaves, minced horseradish, or chopped dried
chilies; red wine vinegar with sage, parsley, and shallots.



Raspberry Vinegar

Add a bit of raspberry vinegar anytime you're baking something
chocolate. It will boost more than just the flavor – though it does
that too! To make raspberry vinegar - fill a bottle ¾ full with
fresh raspberries (okay, frozen works also) then add a good apple
cider vinegar to the top. Set this in a sunny windowsill for 2 weeks
(besides the warmth helping to "cook" the concoction, the light
streaming through the ruby red potion is beautiful!). Strain; add
more raspberries and set it back for another couple of weeks.

Add about 2 or 3 Tablespoons to a chocolate cake batter or a batch
of brownies; a teaspoon or two to frosting, hot cocoa etc.

Sweetened & combined with sparkling water, this also makes a
refreshing, old fashioned summer drink. Fresh mint leaves (slightly
bruised) added to this also taste wonderful! – but don't use them if
you are making "the Potion". Mint does nothing for the libido -
it's more "cerebral".



Chest Cold Vinegar

1 Large onion (sliced)
1/2 Cup Dried Mullein Flowers
7 Cloves Garlic (crushed)
2 Tablespoons (Crushed or grated) Horseradish
2 Tablespoons Fresh Grated Ginger
2 Tablespoons Honey
Apple Cider Vinegar

Fill jar with layers of these ingredients until full. Then top with
Apple Cider Vinegar Refrigerate and use after 24 hrs. Take 2-3
teaspoons of the juice 2-3 times daily. Keeps for 6 Weeks.