Raspberry Vinegar I Food

RASPBERRY VINEGAR

Steps:

• Rinse the berries and air-dry on paper towels. Place berries in a 6-cup jar; set aside. In large saucepan, combine vinegar and sugar; bring almost to a boil over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Do not boil. , Pour hot vinegar mixture over berries; cover jar tightly and let stand at room temperature 48 hours. Strain through several layers of cheesecloth into a sterilized bottle or jar. Seal tightly with a cork or lid. Store in cool dark place.

RASPBERRY VINEGAR

Steps:

• In a medium, nonreactive saucepan over low heat, warm the vinegar just until it begins to give off steam (do not bring to a boil).
• Put 1 pint of the raspberries into a fine sieve fitted over a sterilized 1/2-gallon clamp jar.
• Pour the warm vinegar over the berries and let it run into the jar, then add the berries to the jar.
• Allow the mixture to cool 20 to 30 minutes to room temperature, then seal and shake the jar gently.
• Set the jar out of direct sunlight and away from heat to steep for 4 days, shaking it every so often. While steeping, the vinegar will take on a raspberry hue and the fruit will lose most of its color.
• Strain the mixture through a fine sieve into a large batter bowl with a handle or into a large, nonreactive saucepan.
• Rinse the jar and return the strained vinegar to it. Rinse the bowl or saucepan.
• Dump the fruit and rinse the sieve. Dampen a flat-bottom coffee filter, then line the sieve with the filter and fit it over the bowl or saucepan.
• Transfer the vinegar to flasks or bottles. Discard fruit.
• If you wish, spear 6 to 8 whole raspberries on a wooden skewer and put the skewer into the container before filling.
• The vinegar should be ready to use immediately, with a shelf life of at least 1 year.
• VARIATION: For Raspberry Lemon Thyme Vinegar, place 1 sprig fresh lemon thy me in a flask or bottle before adding the vinegar. Fill, seal, and steep out of direct sunlight and away from heat for 1 week before using or shipping.
• CRANBERRY VINEGAR Follow the recipe for Raspberry Vinegar, except substitute 4 cups (1 pound) fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped, for the raspberries. Decorate, if you wish, with skewers of whole cranberries.

RASPBERRY VINEGAR TART

Steps:

• Prepare the crust: In a food processor, grind the cookies until you have 1½ cups crumbs. Transfer to a bowl. If using the freeze-dried raspberries, process them in a food processor, spice grinder or mortar and pestle until they are reduced to powder. There will be seeds, so sift the powder through a fine-mesh sieve into the cookie crumbs, and stir lightly to combine. Butter a 9-inch tart pan, put the crumbs in the middle and slowly drizzle the melted butter into the crumbs. Mix until the crumbs resemble the texture of wet sand. (You may not need all the butter; you can discard the rest.) Firmly press the crumbs against the sides and bottom of the pan until about ¼ inch thick.
• Chill in the refrigerator, or even the freezer, for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the crust until the base is dry, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Keep the oven on.
• Make the filling: Whisk together the eggs and ¼ cup sugar. In a 1-quart saucepan, whisk together the flour and remaining ¾ cup sugar, then whisk in water, red-wine vinegar and raspberry vinegar. Bring to a boil, whisking until the sugar is dissolved, then add to the egg mixture in a slow, steady stream, whisking vigorously to prevent the eggs from scrambling. Pour the filling back into the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it coats back of spoon, 12 to 15 minutes. Do not boil. Pour a ½-inch-thick layer of filling into the chilled tart crust.
• Bake the pie in the middle of the oven until the filling is set, about 15 minutes, then cool completely in the pan. Chill in the refrigerator.
• Whisk the heavy cream with the raspberry vinegar and St-Germain until stiff peaks form. Spread over the surface of the tart, then drizzle with a bit more raspberry vinegar.

RASPBERRY VINEGAR

Steps:

• In a nonreactive bowl, combine the vinegar and raspberries. Cover and let macerate for 3 days.
• Mash the raspberries in the bowl, then strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth. To every 1 cup of juice, add ½ pound of sugar (1¼ cups plus 1 tablespoon). Combine the juice and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer (gently!) for 15 minutes. Let cool, then bottle. Keep refrigerated for up to 3 months.
• To serve, add 1 teaspoon raspberry vinegar to a tumbler filled with ice. Add water, sparkling water, rum, brandy or prosecco.

GRILLED CHICKEN BREASTS IN RASPBERRY VINEGAR MARINADE

Steps:

• Remove excess fat from chicken breasts; place them in sealable plastic bag or non-aluminum bowl.
• Combine remaining ingredients; pour evenly over chicken breasts.
• Seal bag or cover bowl; marinate in refrigerator 4 hours or overnight.
• Turn occasionally.
• Remove chicken from marinade, reserving marinade.
• Arrange in one layer in greased 9x13-inch pan.
• Pierce skin in several places with sharp knife.
• Cover with foil.
• Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes, or until mostly cooked through; in the mean time, bring reserved marinade to a simmer in a small saucepan, simmering 15 minutes.
• After main cooking time, uncover chicken and baste with marinade every 5 minutes until chicken is cooked through, approx 15-20 minutes.
• For OAMC or freezing ahead, freeze this chicken, raw, in marinade -OR- freeze after cooking, making sure to include a portion of the cooking juices with each breast (keeps chicken moist while thawing).
• Serving suggestions: bed of rice or baby spinach; side of green salad with raspberry vinaigrette; mashed potatoes; steamed carrots or broccoli; sliced thin over a bed of peppered angel hair pasta.