ACETO BALSAMICO TRADIZIONALE DI REGGIO EMILIA

We dig deep into the pantry of the Chilebrown kitchen and find a special gift of some very fine vinegar. This vinegar has a prestigious title of ‘Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Reggio Emilia’. This limited and unique vinegar is produced in the ‘Reggio Emilia' area in Northern Italy. This vinegar must  pass rigorous quality standards set by a consortium. This vinegar has been aged at least 12 years and will receive a red seal. A gold seal signifies 25 years and a silver 18 years. Here is a brief explanation of what balsamic vinegar is:

“Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Reggio Emilia is made from grape must that has been drawn off, filtered, cooked and then aged in special barrels made of oak, chestnut, juniper, mulberry or cherry wood. The barrels vary in size from large to very small.  A portion of the vinegar is the largest barrel is transferred to the second largest one, and so on down the row. It takes years to make traditional balsamic vinegar and requires constant care, which results in a high price tag.”

This vinegar is thick and syrupy. It smells of raisins and a wood barrel. Tonight we drizzled some over some strawberries. This vinegar is sweet and sour at the same time. It does not have the acidic bite of newer vinegar  Raisins with a slight vanilla flavor are my first impressions. Ripe and flavorful strawberries are a good vehicle to showcase the special qualities of this vinegar. This is one special vinegar. Thanks Ms. Goofy.

"SHOP DICK'S" BACON & BROCCOLI SALAD

We had our annual potluck during the Holidays at the ‘Salt Mine’. Lots of home made sweets and casseroles were shared. ‘Shop Dick’ our mechanic brought in a broccoli salad and asked me to try it. It was delicious. I immediately asked him for the recipe. Guess what? This recipe includes a pound of bacon. I knew I liked this dish and now I love it. These few ingredients blend together for a sweet savory fresh vegetable combination that really shines in flavor. I even dare to say it is healthy and good for you because of the fresh broccoli. So get out your broccoli stalks, pull up a knife and let’s make a salad.

(Before bacon & dressing)

“Shop Dick’s Bacon & Broccoli Salad

1 pound bacon sliced
2 bunches broccoli chopped into bite size pieces
1 small red onion chopped
1 cup of raisins

Dressing

1 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons of cider vinegar
2 tablespoons of sugar
Salt & pepper to taste

I used Nueske bacon for a special treat. Fry your bacon until crispy and wonderful. Drain on paper towels. When cool chop into pieces and reserve.
Combine the broccoli, onion and raisins in a bowl. Make the dressing by combining mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar and salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly. Add dressing and bacon to broccoli mixture. It could not be simpler.



This salad is a winning combination of flavors. The smoky bacon, crispy broccoli and sweet raisins were made for each other. I cannot believe how good this tastes. This is health food in my book. Thanks ‘Shop Dick’ .

BANANA VINEGAR

Banana vinegar is something that caught my eye. I have heard and tried different fruit vinegars and even tried to make my own apple cider vinegar. That was a Mad Meat apple experience that went horribly wrong. When I saw the Banana Vinegar it was a must have item. The distributor suggests using this vinegar in cerviches and salad dressings. The vinegar is made from fermented plantano machos which are a breed of banana somewhere between a plantain and a regular banana. This small bottle was priced at 15.95 which did not include shipping.

We poured a little sample onto a spoon. It had a faint banana aroma. The vinegar was mellow, mild, and did not seize the attention of your tongue. I was surprised the vinegar was not very sweet. It definitely had a banana flavor but not like a sweet banana that you would slice onto your corn flakes. The next big question, is what I can use this on? I made a salsa and added several tablespoons. The flavor was lost with the rest of the vegetables. Next, I will try this on a salad. Anybody have suggestions for uses of Banana Vinegar?