Herbal Vinegars

Several members have been infusing vinegar with a harvest of herbs and got together a few weeks ago to strain and bottle the vinegar.  These beautiful herbal vinegars are being sold this weekend at the Fall Harvest Sale at the
MN Landscape Arboretum
9/27/14 & 9/28/14 Saturday 9-4:00 & Sunday 11-4:00. 

These vinegars are wonderful as dressings for salads but can be added to soups, tomato sauce, sauteed vegetables, grains, marinades for meats & fish ...  Just a splash or two will develop a more complex flavor to almost anything you're cooking.  Give it a try. 

The beauty of vinegar is that it draws out and retains the flavor of the herbs (think dill pickles, but don't just think of dill or of pickles).  I love herbal vinegar to develop my tomato sauce and I frequently use it with my favorite grain, farro.  It's also wonderful on sauteed veggies.  Once you try it, you'll find it's an inexpensive easy way to preserve the flavors of summer to savor on those long winter nights.

Hearty White Bean & Sausage Soup

As promised here's the recipe that Veronica and Marlys made for the Summer Meeting.  It was taken from Louisianacookin.com.

HEARTY WHITE BEAN & SAUSAGE SOUP
makes about 10 servings

1/2# smoked sausage, sliced 1+4" thick
1/2# salt pork, chopped
4 slices thick cut bacon, chopped
1 C chopped yellow onion
1/2 C chopped celery
3 16oz cans white beans, drained
3 14.5oz cans chicken broth
10 oz can tomatoes with green chiles, drained
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne
Garnish; parsley & celery leaves

In Dutch Oven, brown sausage over medium high heat.  Remove & drain.
Add pork and brown.  Remove & drain.  Add bacon and brown. Remove & drain, reserving 3 Tbsp grease in the Dutch Oven. 
Add onion & celery and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. 
Add beans, broth, tomatoes & chiles, and meat.  Bring to boil and reduce heat to summer uncovered, stirring occasionally for 30 minutes.
Season with salt, pepper, & cayenne.
Garnish with parsley & celery leaves.

Many thanks to Our hostesses, Veronica and Matlys.

A Summer Evening so long ago

It seems like forever ago that we were out enjoying Veronica's garden on a warm summer evening.  But in reality, it was only 2 weeks ago.  Here's some lovely shots from that night.  I will post the soup recipe within a few days, so watch for that.  I've been thinking about that soup a lot lately, as this cool fall weather has settled into the rafters of our homes.