Herbal Oils and Vinegars

I know we are in the middle of winter here in Missouri, but it is time to start thinking about the herb garden. It is fun to try something new, so I want to share some easy recipes for herb infused oil and vinegar. The finished product is decorative, useful, and makes a great gift.



HERB INFUSED VINEGAR



Use a gallon jug, or more than one, depending on how many bottles of herb vinegar you want to make. Place the gallon jug of distilled vinegar in the garden, that's right, just sit it in the garden in the sun. As herbs are harvested, place the leaves in the different jugs of vinegar, and steep in the sun for 1 week. Use a different jug for each variety of herb, or you can experiment with combinations that you like. Then, store the vinegar in a cool, dark place such as a cellar or pantry for two more weeks to let the flavors infuse further. When you are ready to bottle the vinegar, strain out the old leaves and sediment and pour it into smaller decorative bottles that you can seal with a cork. Place a sprig or leaves of fresh herb to each variety to add a decorative touch and add extra freshness to the final product.



HERB INFUSED OIL



Since I love the taste of extra virgin olive oil, that is what I would use for herb infused oil. Some suggest a bland oil, such as canola, saying that the herb flavors come through better. You decide according to your likes. You will pour the oil of you choice directly into your decorative bottles. When herbs are fresh, it will take about two weeks for the flavor to infuse. If the herbs are dry, you must allow about 1 month for full infusion. However, you can speed this up a little by heating the oil just to the boiling point before pouring it over the herbs. Just place the leaves and sprigs, as many as you prefer, into the bottles, and pour the heated oil in with a funnel. As I said before, you need to allow the bottles to infuse for at least two weeks. You can add extras, such lemon wedges or different olives to add an even more decorative touch. Now, you have a tasty marinade or salad oil. You can even use the infused oils for frying.