Vinegars, Oils, and Honeys OH MY!

[qtkitty]

My fiance and his mother think i am totally insane !! What do Yall think...

I have Multiple kinds of Vinegars, oils, and Honeys. I have Blasalmic Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar, Red Wine Vinegar, Regular Vinegar ( actually have a HUGE jug of that ), and i want to get some Malt Vinegar. I have Olive Oil, Vegitable oil, shortening, and i want to get peanut oil, and several others. I have clover honey, Orange honey, and Local Wildflower honey, and i would like to get more varieties like buckweat and what not.

To me each one of those has a specific job and they are not interchangable, My fiance and his mom both think am loopy on this subject.

They dont understand that when making a beef roast that regular vinegar even when combined with the right spices will not give me that "Quality Roast Beef Taste " that i am after like Apple Cider Vinegar does. Just like Red Wine Vinegar or Balsalmic Vinegar do not taste right in ColeSlaw.

Oils Definately Differ.. thats just common since.

Honey i guess is my preference. I get the local Honey to try and control my pollen Allergies.. 1 Table Spoon a day is way better then a weekly shot .. * shivers thinking about it * ... Clover is move readily avalible in the stores and is slightly cheaper. Orange is a totally different taste .. sort of orangy. I would really like to try some darker honeys which i am sure have more pronounced tastes much like Molasses. I SOOOO want to try Buckwheat because supposedly its the most pronounced taste and i LOVE Buckwheat Flour.

i grew up with all of those vinegars in the house all the time. The oils there were always a few, always atleast Oilve, Veggie, and shortening. And Honey there were always 2 local and Clover. So to me thats a way of life and its part of life .

[ChantingMama]

I am right there with you! I usually have a minimum of 3 vinegars, and 2-3 oils in the house. Honey, not so much, though if I were into honey more, I would definitely have more than 2-3 in the house, too!

I don't know how anyone can think they are interchangeable! They all have completely different qualities and flavors. I do use them as substitutes for each other if I am missing one and really need it, but I am prepared for the difference, usually less than desired, if I do. And I just could not imagine Italian bruschetta (raw tomato, onion, and basil salad/dip) made with vegetable oil....bleagh!

Murali

[KimberMama]

Me too. Right now I have orange muscat vinegar, tarragon vinegar, red wine vinegar, pineapple vinegar, and balsamic. I have regular vinegar too but we don't use it for eating. I have a couple of olive oils, walnut oil, and canola oil, plus sesame. I only have clover honey and Really Raw Honey right now, but I also love lavender honey. The Really Raw is the best honey for you so that is what I use; DH prefers Sue Bee clover honey. I also use the clover honey in bread as the other is far too expensive to use as a cooking ingredient.

Kimberly

[qtkitty]

YAY i am not goofy !! I was so tired of people looking at me like i was a quack.

ChantingMama~~Italian bruschetta YUM that sounds good .. could possibly have the recipe please!! I think my fiance would LOVE it .. he LOVES italian foods.

Mamax4~ i think that all the nice oils spoil so fast .. although i am going to be trying a soap recipe soon so i might haev to stock up on quite a few if i enjoy making Soap.. which most likely i will because i LOVE chemestry !! * VERY EXCITED *

KimberMama~~ OOoooooooh .. Now you are just teasing my taste buds to want to taste those Vinegars .. YUM .. Pineapple Vinegar .. WOW .. so you make them your self or buy them .. WHAT'S YOUR SECRET !!

Lavender Honey i am going to HAVE to try .. sounds so decitant !! I have plans to get some Raw Raw honey, but i have to have time to drive the 45 miles to knock on some old guys door who might or might not be home to try and get some from their Bee Farm. We pass that place every time took a trip with our belongings as we moved .. TALK ABOUT TEMPTATION .. and my fiance would not stop for me when they were home WAHHH .. he doesnt understand.

I would also like to get some Honey comb. And i really should start taking Bee pollen and Royal Jelly again. I took it when i was younger and it gave me so much energy and made me feel good.

Oh i found out that almost all honeys in the stores the honey comes from 10-20 or more different farms and then is mixed together to get an even all the time the same taste. That seems so wrong to me. But there are some that are made by single farms and they change according to what is blooming .. and that the honey flavors to the taste of the fruit of the flour it's taken from. AKA Orange Flower Honey tastes slightly Orangy.

[peanutsmom]

I am in total agreement with you. It is silly to think that all oils, vinegars and honeys are the same. I guess your mother-in-law must not be into cooking. I can't imagine having only white vinegar and vegertable oil. I haven't gotten into honey for a while, but you have rekindled my curiosity. I had a friend in high school who kept bees as a hobby. I should see if he still does.

[albera]

I have olive, canola, grapeseed, and sesame oils (back before all these kids, when I *really* cooked, I I even had walnut, peanut and/or hazelnut oils around too!).

Let's see, vinegar-wise I have red wine, white wine, plain old distilled, balsamic, rice and apple cider.

Only buy the local honey from the beekeeper down the road, but now you have me intrigued!

You can come over and cook with me anytime!

Carla

ds 11/99
dd 10/01
dd 9/03

[mamabear]

Mmmm, lavender honey sounds wonderful. We use wildflower since it's the least contaminated - wildflowers aren't sprayed with pesticides. It's local and raw, though.

Make sure you keep cold-pressed oils in the fridge; keeps them from going rancid so quickly. Especially if you live in a hot climate like I do.

[Mermommy]

I deffinately understand the idea but haven't implemented it myself - I have one kind of vinegar and honey in the hosue - once I get my act together and make more things that would benifit from the variety I will have more.

On the Oil issue - I have been reading lots of nasty stuff about canola oil and switched to olive oil for my oil needs .
I'm curious though - in general what oils do you use - basic list not exhaustive is fine
Ex:
bread
" baked sweets ( cookies cake)
red meats
chicken etc

and where do you get the oils in a quantity that it's actually going to be usefull - the stores around seem to only have tiny ammounts of anything other than vegetable, corn, canola and olive - and then the prices are really high

[KimberMama]

I don't make my own flavored vinegars anymore; that was a hobby before kids. The orange muscat comes from Trader Joes. I found the pineapple vinegar at the 99 cent store in their "gourmet" section, and we liked it. Tarragon is from the grocery store, although it is an easy one to make. I forgot that we also have rice vinegar; DS loves it on cucumbers.

I buy my oils at Trader Joes or the HFS. I forgot that I have peanut oil since I only use it to make peanut butter. I use canola or walnut oil in bread, olive or walnut on salads, spray olive or canola for sautes (depending on heat). I do buy small bottles of oil and refrigerate them. My favorite walnut oil is from France and comes in a black container to keep the light out. I bought some from the HFS and opened it yesterday and it just doesn't compare.

Lavender honey is so good! MY SMIL brought me some from Portugal a couple of years ago and got me hooked. I love a cup of organic chamomile and lavender tea with lavender honey.

Kimberly

[LatteLover]

I used to use olive oil almost exclusively (a second press, not as fruity tasting one) but the low smoke point just doesn't make it as versatile as I would like.

Noone mentioned sesame oil (I don't think) and most of us probably have that. I have chile oil as well.

So, I have all of those vinegars, a cold pressed canola oil, extra virgin olive oil, regular olive oil.... I only have three honeys. A local one for DH's allergies, one from Mexico in a jar with comb, and one from the grocery store. Not necessarily for flavor differences though the Mexican one is very yummy.

[ChantingMama]

Bruschetta is easy as heck to make....it feels like a cheat meal cause it is so quick, but so yummy! LOL

It is a throw together kind of thing, and it can vary a little depending on what people like, but here is the very basic version I always make:

(This makes enough for me and two kids; we are big eaters, though)

4-5 tomatoes, chopped
1-2 onions, diced (the smaller the better, and the sweeter the better)
1 bunch basil leaves, chopped
1/4-1/2 c olive oil (stronger the better)
salt and pepper to taste.
Balsamic vinegar (opt)

Mix everything together, and let sit while you make the bread. (bruschetta is usually accompanied with bread)

Slice thick homestyle bread into 1 inch slices, rub with garlic and olive oil, and toast in pan on 350* in oven. Stale bread actually works best. You want it nice and crispy.

Serve the bruschetta in a bowl and with the bread.

Tips: Bruschetta is best when made at least 20 min before eating, but not more than an hour or so.

Depending on how small you chop the tomatoes and onions, it can either be a salad or a spread thing for your bread.

[qtkitty]

peanutsmom~~She Cooks.. she uses recipes and things .. i usually don't i do things by smell and taste usually.

mamabear~ thats a good idea i will have to do that so that they will keep longer!! Thanks

KimberMama~ Im going to have to definately look for flavored Vinegars .. or most likely look for recipes. Mmmm Walnut oil in Bread .. Ohh thats got to taste YUMMY !!


ChantingMama~~ I have seen that done before .. Ohhh that will be YUmmy .. i will have to try it

[qtkitty]

OHHHH i also have 4 kinds of mint... I have regular Mint , Chocolate mint, Lemon mint and Pepermint.... those are actually plants .. and they are in 8 inch pots right now .. i would like to break them apart and start them out in bigger pots ( or make a few BIG holding places so that the mint wil not run all over . )

IM really hoping that next time my mother comes down she brings smoe of her Cat nip plants with her .. she had her flower gardens over run with Cat nip and Mints *lol* .. she made a huge Opps *lol*

[byumommy]

Originally posted by Mermommy
in general what oils do you use

I use extra light olive oil for all baking, making popcorn & saute'ing (as well as baths & skin moisturizer)

I use extra virgin olive oil for taste ... in sauces, etc

Those are the only 2 oils I use.

I have red wine, apple cider, white & balsamic vinegars. As said before, all used for completely different things.

My exH keeps bees, so I get my honey from him, though I have already run out for the season I picked up 2 lbs of local honey at my HFS on Thurs.

I plan to get some organic maple syrup this week as its on sale at one of my local grocery stores. I will alternate it & the local honey in my bread. And use it for french toast, etc.

[qtkitty]

Hmmm Maple Syrup ... that sounds like something i will need to getsome of .. the real stuff not the fake stuff my grammie used to make *lol* Yah know what i mean the brown sugar and water one .. sometimes with the Mapline or what ever they called it the maple flavoring.

I use Oilve Oil for dry skin as well ... they say its great for your complexion .. just the smallest dab on cheek, forehead, nose and chin then really rub it in. Or so they say.

A little Olive oil mixed with coarse salt works great for an Exfoliant for dry feet and hands and other tough areas. My mom actually bought some once thinking it was something more .. it was just oil and sea salt with a touch of fragrance *lol*