| Suspending fresh herbs in decorative bottles | | | | Cinnamon sticks with Whole Cloves Nutmeg and |
| and covered with vinegar make delicious | | | | Allspice |
| herbal vinegars. By making herbal vinegar | | | | |
| you are preserving the taste of the fresh | | | | Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme -no |
| herbs. To make herbal vinegar with even more | | | | kidding |
| flavor use fresh herbs and spices. You can | | | | |
| use dried herbs but it won't be half as much | | | | Dill flowers with Peppercorns |
| fun and surely not as flavorful. Later you | | | | |
| will see one of the favorite herbal vinegar | | | | Basil Garlic and Peppercorn |
| recipes. | | | | |
| | | | Hot Peppers alone or with Pearl Onions |
| If you take the herbal vinegar and mix it | | | | |
| with olive oil or safflower oil you will make | | | | When you start to use your herbal vinegar, as |
| an excellent salad dressing. Add a bit of | | | | the level of the liquid goes down take out |
| the herbal vinegar to sauces or to mustards | | | | any of the herbs that are exposed to the air |
| for a different taste. Put a couple of | | | | in the jar. If you leave them in the jar |
| tablespoons into stock for poaching fish and | | | | they may form a mold. Never use metal tops |
| it will make a delightful change. | | | | on the jars, they will rust from the vinegar. |
| | | | |
| To make herbal vinegar, wash and dry your | | | | Herbal vinegar can be used in many dishes. |
| fresh herbs thoroughly then pour warm | | | | Herbal vinegar can be used in any dish that |
| vinegar, not hot, over them in the glass jar. | | | | calls for vinegar. Marinate chicken or |
| Be sure that the fresh herbs are completely | | | | turkey in lemon basil vinegar for a tasty |
| covered by the vinegar. Seal the jar and | | | | treat. Throw some into soups or sauces for a |
| allow them to sit for a month or two to | | | | subtle change. Sprinkle on meats as they are |
| mingle the flavors. Do not allow it access | | | | cooking to add a different flavor. |
| to direct sun. | | | | |
| | | | You can also add fresh lemon or orange peel |
| Always use sterilized jars. Pour boiling | | | | to the herbal vinegars for added zest. |
| water directly into the jar. Let them sit for | | | | Experiment! |
| about 10 minutes. Allow the bottle to cool | | | | |
| and thoroughly dry. Sterilize the corks by | | | | Following is one of the very favorite herbal |
| throwing them in boiling water. Make sure | | | | vinegar recipes made with fresh herbs. |
| everything is dry before making your herbal | | | | |
| vinegar. | | | | Lemon Herb Vinegar |
| | | | |
| After it has steeped remove the fresh herbs | | | | 4 cups of white wine vinegar |
| that you used and ad new ones for a fresher | | | | |
| look. If you want to add garlic or chili | | | | 2 cups of lemon thyme sprigs |
| peppers to the herbal vinegar, thread them on | | | | |
| wooden skewers so that they will stay | | | | 1 cup lemon balm leaves |
| submerged. | | | | |
| | | | 1 cup lemon verbena sprigs |
| There are two methods to warm the vinegar. | | | | |
| The easiest is to allow it to sit in the sun | | | | One continuance peel from a fresh lemon |
| for about 20 minutes. It can be warmed on | | | | |
| the stove but be careful not to let it boil | | | | Sterilize a six cup bottle. Rinse and |
| | | | thoroughly dry the fresh herbs and lemon |
| When deciding on which fresh herbs to use | | | | peel. Put the herbs and peel into the bottle |
| consider the type of vinegars that would pair | | | | and pour the warmed vinegar over the |
| with it. Use white wine or champagne vinegar | | | | material. Allow the mixture to cool. Seal |
| with the delicate fresh herbs such as lemon | | | | with a non metallic cap. In 2 weeks strain |
| basil or salad burnet. White wine vinegar | | | | and divide into smaller bottles. You can add |
| goes with all fresh herbs. If you want to | | | | new fresh herbs to the bottles for added |
| seek a stronger flavor use rice, red or cider | | | | flavor and to make them look pretty. |
| vinegar with garlic, sage and basil. Stay | | | | |
| away from distilled vinegar as it is harsh | | | | This should give you some incentive to start |
| and will not give you the best results. | | | | an herb garden and to make your own herbal |
| | | | vinegars. |
| There are no herbal vinegar recipes that have | | | | |
| strict rules. Use your imagination when | | | | Good Luck and have fun! |
| pairing fresh herbs to be used in your herbal | | | | |
| vinegar. Here are a few that go well | | | | Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights |
| together. | | | | Reserved. |
| | | | |
| Cinnamon Basil and Whole Cloves | | | | This article may be distributed freely on |
| | | | your website and in your ezines, as long as |
| Lemon basil by itself | | | | this entire article, copyright notice, links |
| | | | and the resource box are unchanged. |