Balsamic Vinegar

What are some yummy recipes using balsamic vinegar? I've never used it before so preferably something easy. I have also strawberries, frozen blue berries, heavy cream, spinich, walnuts, sun dried tomatoes, olives, speghetti sauce...

Try some sliced tomatoes with some whole basil and shredded mozzarella on top. Drizzle the balsamic vinegar on top of it all and enjoy with a fork. It's that easy.

Manicardi Balsamic Vinegar #12 comes to us from the Manicardi farm in Castelvetro. The Balsamic Vinegar of Modena has a precious and intense flavor thanks to its natural ingredients. The natural flavor of Balsamic Vinegar is obtained during the time inside casks of different woods like cherry and chestnut. Through the time in the wood, each wood's unique flavor infuses the vinegar. The result is an intense essence that enhances the flavors of foods, both simple and complex. The Balsamic Vinegar of the Acetaia "12" is recommended for salads, steamed vegetables, omelets, and roasted meats. For a special treat, dip slices of Parmigiano-Reggiano in this aged DOC-protected balsamic. True balsamic vinegar is aged a minimum of six years and is traditionally made in Modena, a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Manicardi's assortment of balsamic vinegars includes many different quality levels, which are denoted by a number, reflecting increasing aging and quality.

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Whoever can spot the phony bottle on this ebay auction for balsamic vinegar gets a quick 10 points( immeadiately). Also tell me why its phony..( look closely, if you know anything about balsamic you'll see it). http://search.ebay.com/balsamic-vinegar_W0QQfclZ4QQfnuZ1QQfsopZ1QQkeywordZbalsamicQ20vinegarQQmptZ1207701630500QQoriginZQ7bplacementQ7dQQtestZbalsamicQ20vinegarQQtypeZcontent common Smarty! Sarah, there are real white balsamics now that are aged 3 years and made from the same grape( Trebbiano).But at least your looking. It's one of the red ones.Think Sarah!! Travis is on the right track( but no cigar yet) Why is that Ashley? Ashley!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok Ashley Why is it a fake? tell me and get 10 now! 3 guesses( and it isnt easy so I'll give a hint. It has something to do with the 50 years. Yes Linz but why is it phony? mark--go home. Ashley, its deeper then that. The label isnt 50 years old. Bromelia"Federazoni" is cheap junk. You dont want that one. I think Ashley might get this one! No Chrispn.Thats the right bottle but not the right answer. Dirk is close but still its not 100% correct. Sl heres a good link but I dont know if it mentions why the age is important and how to know its really aged as long as they say.Remember all the balsamic vinegar makers got in alot of trouble for false labeling. http://www.oliveuniversity.org/balsamic_vinegar.htm No Linz, nothing to do with the name.Its all about the 50 years Bromelia, yes they can be aged over 100 years. But how would you know it was really 100 years old? Would you pay $100 and ounce for a 100 year old vinegar that had a false label? I may give it to Ashley for trying the hardest. Its not an easy answer and she was pretty close. I'll wait ten more minutes for someone to beat her or I'll close the question. Then it takes 4 hours to get the 10 points( I think thats how long it takes). I'm closing the question.Why didn't anyone find it interesting? I'm giving it to Ashley because I think she tried the hardest. SL showed interest( but didnt star the question (:- Bromelia tried Dirk was on the right track and others It was a hard question and heres the answer. About ten or more years ago most of the balsamic makers in Modena were reducing cheap balsamic to thinken it( so it appeared aged) and then labeling 10 yrs old 20 years old and so on and charging the prices that those vinegars demand. They were finally caught and Modena set up a consorzio( a controlling force, the same as Parmigiano Reggiano has) to make sure that all the vinegars were labeled properly. Because the whole world got ripped off they were extremely strict with the standards. So, bottom line. No vinegar can have a year on it( with one exception) a consorzio bottle( thats a small one with the gold or silver top that comes in a squat bottle( very small) in a fancy box. Oops out of characters You can spot the conzorzio bottle easily by the shape of the bottle and the fancy box( some even come in wood) There may be some pics on that link I send to Linz http://www.oliveuniversity.org/balsamic_vinegar.htm So to fool people into thinking they're getting 10 yr or 15 year old vinegars they'll say 10 stars( nothing to do with the age) or a big 20 with the word Vat no. under it. People see the 10 and 20 but dont notice that it isnt years or they assume it is. Ashley gets this one. I enjoyed all of you guys and i want to do this again with all of you. Thanks Ashley I have to wait 4 hours before they let me award the points. You'll have them in the morning. Thanks! Thanks SL and Bromelia( cute name).

No, I still think it is the 50 year old in the fancy bottle... It just looks too new, I guess... Wait...which one is fake? The label looks brand new? (1st guess) 2nd guess...the label doesn't have the right notice of approval from the CABM ok ok...Im tryin..let me look again something about alfredi and not modeno? or is that just the brand name? The Leaf system? This one contains sugar as an ingredient and true balsamics don't? Wait...the gold cap indicates it is only 25 years old? The label would have tradizionele if it were real? WOW!!!!! Great question!!!!! I am still trying, though! It should cost a lot more if it were a true 50 yr old? Something about API MO or API RE? where it is made? The must content isn't right? This is killing me!!!!!!!! Anyone know the answer yet? I am about to leave work and won't get back to the computer until tomorrow!!! Thanks for a great question! THANK YOU!!!!! I just had to find out the answer! I love balsamic and will be looking closely at the bottles from now on!

I'm making a pasta dish. I'm using artichokes, sundried tomatoes, garlic, onion, shrimp and capers. The recipe calls for redwine vinegar. Can I subsitute with balsamic?

No. Balsamic vinegar has gone through a long aging process (or has been colored and flavored to fake it) and as a result it is much less acid than regular vinegar- it tastes almost sweet- it can even be used as a fruit dressing. Get some red wine vinegar or ,if you can't find that, use plain vinegar or apple cider vinegar. The balsamic MIGHT be OK in your dish, but you should test it carefully- don't just try it on your family or guests.

Most of the steak marinade recipes I've seen call for red wine. I don't want to buy a bottle of wine just because I need a few tablespoons for a meat marinade. I do have balsamic vinegar, but was wondering if it would bee too sharp to use.

If it is a little too sharp, then use a red wine vinegar. It's in a relativelt small bottle, but still lighter than balsamic. I suggest no to balsamic vinegar seeing as it tends to be really sharp. Red wine vinegar is a lighter version, in the basics, and gives a nice flavor to the marinaded steak. If you do use it, add a little dijon or brown mustard, about a tsp. of lemon juice. But not sugar, sugar doesn't help all that much. But a tip from another person, always go for the red wine vinegar if called for. But if you need to, or if it is the only thing on hand, no problems.

Delicious sides for your Thanksgiving table
In this recipe, a splash of white balsamic vinegar helps balance that sweetness with a hint of acidity. After Facebook glitch, Heinz to give free ketchup
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Already in command of almost 60 percent of the ketchup market, Heinz is going upscale with a new variety that contains balsamic vinegar instead of 2 Heinz Tomato Ketchup w/ Balsamic Vinegar 14-oz. Bottles for $2 + ...
Today only, Heinz Ketchup offers two Heinz Tomato Ketchup with Balsamic Vinegar 14-oz. Heinz promises free bottle of balsamic vinegar ketchup after ...
... is promising a free bottle of its new balsamic vinegar ketchup to anybody who tried to buy it during a failed product launch on the Facebook...