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Traditionally, balsamic vinegar originates from Modena, Italy.

Even today, the most renown balsamic vinegar is only produced in Modena and Reggio, Italy. The first documented reference to balsamic vinegar was allegedly made in 1046.

A bottle of balsamic vinegar was a gift given by Marquess Bonifacio, Sir of the Canossa castle to the Emperor Enrico III of Franconia. It was famous as an effective disinfectant during the Middle Ages. It was also used for medicinal purposes and known as a miracle cure for variety of problems ranging from sore throats to labor pains. Giving balsamic vinegar as a gift has continued through the centuries. Even today, it is in vogue to give gourmet balsamic vinegar as a housewarming gift.

The making of balsamic vinegar has transcended centuries of family tradition and expertise. Some believe the first batch of balsamic vinegar was made by accident, a gift of circumstance. It is presumed a small quantity of cooked grapes, or ‘must,’ was forgotten and found after a long period of time. Over time, it had undergone a process of natural acetification, (a process of conversion to acetic acid or vinegar). The aged vinegar had acquired a thick consistency and a sweet and sour taste.

Today, the production process of balsamic vinegar is complex and has been perfected over years of research and scientific improvement. The ‘must’ (unfermented juice) of grapes is used. The Trebbiano variety is used for red and Spergola is for white sauvignon. This ‘must’ is cooked slowly in copper vessels over an open direct flame. It is cooked till the content is reduced to half resulting in a thick fruity syrup. ‘Mother’ of vinegar is sometimes added at this point. It is a slimy substance comprising of yeast and bacteria that forms over the vinegar surface. Alternatively, older aged balsamic vinegar is also added. This assists the acetification process.

The liquid is put into wooden barrels for aging. The varieties of wood permitted to be used in casks are chestnut, oak, cherry, mulberry, ash, juniper and acacia. The barrels are changed periodically so that the vinegar imbibes the flavors of the different woods into its own. In Italy, balsamic vinegar is aged for a minimum period of 12 years, to acquire the label of ‘balsamic vinegar’. When choosing a balsamic vinegar to give as a gourmet gift, it is important to know the quality of the vinegar. A 12 year aged vinegar is labeled as ‘Traditional’ and those that have been aged for over 25 years are called Extra Vecchio. The quality is decided by a consortium governing body similar to those that label French and Italian wines. The balsamic vinegars that are available off-the-shelf without labels have usually been aged between 6 months and 1 year in stainless steel tanks. They may also have been aged in wooden casks for a period of 2 to 12 years. Numerous vinegars on the market that are not labeled ‘Traditionale” are mixtures of vinegar, syrup and other additives and are not true balsamic according to Italian requirements. Many of these type vinegars appear in nominal gift baskets.

Balsamic vinaigrette recipes have become extremely popular. Given below is a recipe for a simple balsamic vinaigrette dressing to liven up your salads.

Simple Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

Preparation time : 15 minutes
Servings : 10

Ingredients:

2 cups extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves of fresh Garlic, crushed

cup aged balsamic vinegar

cup white wine vinegar

cup chopped fresh thyme leaves

cup chopped fresh basil

cup fresh chives, finely chopped

cup fresh tarragon, chopped

cup fresh oregano, chopped

Method:

Combine the olive oil and both types of vinegar in a wide bowl and mix well. Peel and crush garlic cloves, spoon into mixture. Add the remaining ingredients and blend or whisk well. You can use a food processor to blend. Put aside in refrigerator, and let sit overnight for six hours. Serve as a vinaigrette dressing over spring salad greens or fresh sliced tomatoes.

Olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar are becoming popular gifts for occasions such as birthdays and housewarming presents. An elegant gourmet gift set can be found at a reasonable price of outstanding quality. It is an ideal gift idea for all who appreciate quality and the finer things in life.

James Zeller writes for numerous gift related websites and blogs. Here is a selection of oil and vinegar gifts that he found and a unique & creative collection of hand
blown glass.

One of the biggest unsolved mysteries of the kitchen is the fondue pot. Fondue pots are a popular bridal registry item and they are often given as house warming gifts. But by the time the thank you cards have been sent, the fondue pot has usually disappeared never to be heard from again. They wind up in the back of a closet or in the attic or some are even re-gifted. Why does everyone want a fondue pot but no one ever gets around to making fondue?

Fondue is easy to make. Sure there are some recipes that require saut©ing vegetables or marinating meat overnight and some use exotic ingredients that you won’t find at the supermarket. Those types of recipes taste great but they are the reason that your fondue pot is gathering dust instead of being used.

The key to getting use out of your fondue pot is to pick very simple recipes that are easy to make such as the recipes listed below. One is a basic cheese fondue that substitutes regular Swiss Cheese for the more expensive and harder to find Gruyere cheese. The 2nd recipe is Mocha Fondue, a must try recipe for coffee and chocolate lovers. Once again this is a recipe with basic ingredients and easy instructions.

Swiss Fondue
2 cups dry White Wine
1 Garlic Clove
1 lb Swiss Cheese
3 tbsp Flour
1 tbsp Lemon Juice
1/4 tsp White Pepper
Salt to taste
Nutmeg to taste

Rub the inside of the fondue pot with the garlic clove and add clove to pot
Heat up the White Wine & Lemon Juice on medium low heat - should be hot but do not boil
Mix Flour and Cheese in a bowl
Slowly add cheese mixture while stirring
Add remainder of ingredients while stirring
Optional: Add a splash of Kirsch or Blackberry Brandy
To Dip: Italian bread cut into cubes, vegetables, flat breads

Mocha Fondue
8 oz Semisweet Chocolate
1/2 cup Hot Espresso or Coffee
3 tbsp Granulated Sugar
2 tbsp Butter
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

Chop chocolate into small pieces and set aside
Heat espresso and sugar in fondue pot on low heat
Slowly add chocolate and butter while stirring
Add Vanilla
Optional: Add a splash of Irish Cream
To Dip: Angel Food Cake, Apple Slices, Bananas, Strawberries, Pound Cake, Pretzels, Pineapple Chunks, Marshmallows

Fondue can be easy to make and it’s definitely fun. The key is to use simple recipes so that you can spend your time enjoying fondue and not worrying about getting a complicated recipe right. Isn’t it time that your fondue pot became a permanent fixture on your countertop. You can free up some room for it by moving the crock pot into the closet.

Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of GoFondue.com - The Home of Fondue. For more information about fondue including recipes, ideas and equipment, visit www.gofondue.com

Effective dieting is all about changing long term eating habits
rather than cutting down excessively on food in intermittent
bursts. As well as eating a healthy and balanced diet that is
low in fat and refined sugar, there are a number of other things
that you can do to help you shift those extra pounds and ensure
that they stay gone for good.

Here are some top tips to help you do just that:

1.Avoid going shopping when you are hungry. 2.When you go
shopping write a list in advance and stick to it so that you do
not buy calorific treats.

3.Always eat breakfast containing complex carbohydrates to help
fight mid morning sugar lows

4.When you feel peckish drink a glass of water instead of
reaching for a snack; you may find that it stops you feeling
hungry.

5.Avoid going shopping when you are hungry

6.Watch fat content in prepared foods. Try not to eat food with
more than 4% fat.

7.Take some form of exercise every day. It is very easy to fit
this into your daily routine by looking for opportunities to
walk rather than drive.

8.For the best results, exercise early in the morning (ideally
before lunch). Aim to exercise for twenty to thirty minutes at
least three times a week.

9.Ask friends to give chocolates a miss on your birthday or at
Christmas. 10.Alcohol is full of calories. You can try and limit
your alcohol intake by interspersing alcoholic drinks with soft
ones on nights out.

11.Weigh yourself no more than once a week in the morning before
eating or drinking.

12.Avoid going shopping when you are hungry

13.Take a Vitamin B complex as B vitamins are used for efficient
fat metabolism.

14.Don’t set yourself unrealistic targets, they will only make
you feel depressed. Stick to the weight height guidelines set
out by the NHS.

15.Watch out for food claiming to be fat free or virtually fat
free. Although they might not contain much fat they are often
loaded with sugar.

Cooking fish tips for the best cooked fish in your neighborhood!

When grilling, use a wire basket to hold the fish. Fish can be a real pain on the grill grates, because it gets so brittle when done. Firmer fish, such as tuna, salmon, and shark can be cooking directly on the grill, but handle carefully.
Grill fish over medium heat. Fish cooks quicker than most meats, and can burn rapidly over high heat.
If you marinate fish and plan to use the marinade for basting, boil it for about 5 mins to cook out any bacteria that may have settled in it.
To grill shellfish, place them directly on the hottest part of the grill. They’re done when the shell opens. If it doesn’t open, throw them away!

Grilling Tips

Always cook more than you intend to eat-you’ll thank yourself later! BBQ lends itself well to freezing and refrigerating, and already having cooked meats gives you a huge jumpstart on meal-planning for the upcoming week!
When using a dry rub, let the meat cook for about 1/3 of cooking time before basting with any other sauce. This allows the rub to absorb into the meat first.
If you want to use wood chips for extra wood flavoring, soak the wood in water for at least an hour, then wrap in heavy-duty aluminum foil
To prevent rusted grill grates, thoroughly scrape the grill down after cooking and, while the grate is still warm, rub some cooking oil on it using tongs and a small cloth. Close the lid to keep the grate from the elements!
Veggies taste wonderful on the grill!! Coat the veggies lightly in vegetable oil, sprinkle a little seasonings- such as rosemary- on them, and use a shaker basket or grilling wok over the fire, so the pieces don’t fall out!
Add BBQ sauce to your meats during the last 1/3 of cooking time- BBQ sauce is made up of tomatoes and sugar, both of which burn quickly

Charcoal VS. Gas

Ah, the age old debate rages on….what’s better, charcoal or gas grills? We’ll the answer is “both”. See how I cleared that up? Seriously, there are strong supporters on both sides of this debate, so we thought we’d throw some pointers out to you, and you can decide from there!
Charcoal grills generally will capture a more distinct “fire” or smokey flavor than gas will
Gas grills are much easier and faster to light and bring to proper cooking temp.
Gas grills cost substantially more than their charcoal counterparts
Charcoal grills are generally much more portable than a gas unit
Heck, I know a few people that own one of each! They cook with charcoal if they’re tailgating and/or have some extra time, and use the gas grill when the want things a bit easier!

Rob Moore cooks up quick and easy recipes from HIWAY-cafe.com, a site devoted to Recipes As Fast As Your Life!
Visit for more quick easy crockpot recipes and more!