"v" is for vanilla, vinegar

Vanilla

I find myself adding many more "spices" and flavorings than I ever did before, not just for the flavor but also because spices have nutrition. Vanilla is one of those. Just be sure that you're getting actual pure vanilla! (Aren't you sad at how many "imitations" are out there?) Last year, I was privileged to cruise with some friends, and during a stopover in Mexico I got some Mexican vanilla - best I've ever had! So, now I have to buy "good" vanilla, and it's worth it!

Vinegar

Vinegar has become another flavoring I use more and more. I especially like balsamic vinegar (with hand-picked tomatoes and basil and fresh mozzarella is one of my favorite summer treats). It's flavor and thicker consistency make it a contender for salad dressing just on it's own, without (much) oil.

Apple Cider Vinegar is experiencing a nice trend these days as a health "fix-for-everything." I've seen it touted as a cure for skin problems, digestive issues, and serious diseases! Although I doubt the validity of many of these claims, nonetheless Apple Cider Vinegar (especially with the "mother") is a nice healthy way to add more nutrition as well as flavor.

I have also recently discovered the joys of using white vinegar for cleaning and other non-food purposes. For instance, when I bring home produce, I fill up my sink (cleaning it first) with plain cool water and a cup of vinegar. Then I dump in my produce - apples, oranges, mangoes, tomatoes, cucumbers. (Not so much the parsley or broccoli, but I suppose I could.) Soaking them for 10 minutes in vinegar water not only removes the "store gunk" (everything from wax to other people's finger germs) but also helps them stay fresh longer (guess it removes mold spores and the like, too). I've also found a recipe for "grass-weed killer" (1 gallon vinegar, 1 cup salt, 1 tbl dawn dish liquid) that will kill anything it touches and not harm animals or the environment. Also, cheaper than Round-Up! I'm using it in the driveway cracks, along the north wall of the house, in beds where I want NOTHING to grow. I don't know the results of this work yet, but I'll let you know. It seems to me that the salt itself would do the trick, but I'm applying the recipe.

So, add some vanilla and some vinegar for two very different tastes in your food!