| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 1 | 103 | 205 | 308 | 410 |
|
bacteria to convert alcohol into acid. The bacteria may be in the air around you or, to be sure,
you can purchase a starting culture mother (wine-supply houses often carry them).
You can also make your own fruit and herb-infused vinegar quite easily. For a berry
vinegar, add 2 cups of fruit to 4 cups of wine vinegar, bring to a simmer, then cool. Let the
mixture stand for at least 3 or 4 weeks in a capped bottle before using. To make an herb vinegar,
start with 1 cup of fresh herbs to 4 cups of wine vinegar. Bruise the herb leaves slightly so they
release their aromatic oils better and add them to the vinegar. You may use spices instead of
herbs in the ratio of a ½ cup spice to 4 cups of vinegar. Crush the seeds a little for more intense
flavor. Add warmed vinegar to either herbs or spices, and let it steep for 3 to 4 weeks before
using, again in a capped bottle on your pantry shelf.
Instead of vinegar, lemon juice may provide the salad’s acidity. Freshly squeezed lemons
or limes (or frozen from freshly squeezed that you keep in your freezer) add a unique flavor of
their own. Commercially available juices are not so good unless you don’t mind their chemical
twang.
If you use lemon or lime juice to replace vinegar, use it one for one in volume. Mixing
lemon juice and vinegar is not against the law that results in an interesting, pleasing flavor.
Italian herb dressing
Ingredients
3
ounces (90 ml) virgin olive oil
3
ounces (90 ml) salad oil
½
cup wine vinegar (red or white)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
/3 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoons sugar
½ teaspoons salt
teaspoon black pepper
tablespoon dry basil leaves, crushed
teaspoon dry oregano leaves, crushed
teaspoon dry tarragon leaves, crushed
cloves garlic, finely minced
Procedure
1. Put all ingredients into a one-quart jar with a tight-fitting lid.
2. Shake, shake, shake until the salt and sugar are dissolved and the dressing is uniform,
thin, sauce-like in appearance. Refrigerate. Shake again before using.
Makes 14 ounces (415 ml) of dressing.
Prepared dressings
There are scores of commercial salad dressings available. Some of these are even good.
But they are meant for cooks who don't realize how easy it is to make their own, no matter how
little time they have.
play © erdosh 14
Page
Quick Jump
|