Thursday, November 26, 2015

THERE’S NOTHING QUITE LIKE A GOOD OLD TART WITH A BIT OF A BITE!



Tin Can Bay


Settle down! Don’t get into a pickle! I’m not referring to me!  Although, I guess in some uninformed, acerbic quarters it could be a subject of intense, lengthy debate. I don’t think I’m overly tart, although I admit if enough of my buttons are pushed, and I’ve had time to ferment I can be. 

I may be an old tart, but I’m not bitter. However, I must remain concentrated on the subject at hand.  I’ll share a vignette with you - “V-i-g-n-e-t-t-e”…not “vinaigrette”.  In the words of the Naked Chef …”dressing comes later”.

I was prompted to write this post from reading River’s post today.

When I was a child  vinegar was a major ingredient in our kitchen. And it's importance remains so in my own kitchen, even to this day - now that I’m a sour old tart…oops…a matured elder.

During my childhood vinegar served many purposes including soothing annoying sand fly bites. Therefore, a bottle or two of vinegar always came with us on our many visits to Tin Can Bay, the home of the sand-fly.

Tin Can Bay was a regular get-away place when we were kids.  Mum loved fishing and mud crabbing while Nana took my brother, Graham and me to collect fresh oysters by the dozens off the rocks from from the esplanade. 

We couldn’t imagine relishing the abundance of sumptuous oysters we’d collected without still warm fresh bread, butter, pepper, salt and lashing of vinegar to accompany them; nor could we envisage eating the mouthwatering fish and mud crabs our mother caught without a bottle of vinegar, with its top off, on the table.

At the table, of course, we always kept our tops on; but there was no standing on ceremony when it came to the vinegar bottle. Vinegar instead of lemon with seafood was favoured in our household, and in the very humble holiday shacks in which we stayed when at Tin Can Bay.

As for vinaigrette, in my childhood I’d never heard of it, let alone tried it in those early years of innocence. Vinaigrette came later...in the mid-Sixties.

Tossed salads were summer regulars when I was a kid; and they still are now I'm an old tart. Only vinegar and vinegar alone was sprinkled over out mixed salads. 

You may shudder and be shocked at what I have to say next. Please be assured I was taught excellent manners, and I heeded the lessons to the letter – the majority of the times. You might want to look away now; stop reading or, at least, sit down, to help soften the blow. 

I’m about to tell you what I used to do - it might alarm and haunt you. If it lessens your outrage I did confine my behaviour within our own 12 walls (our home was small, but we did have more than four walls). 

At meal’s end whenever a mixed salad was part of the fare I’d tip the salad bowl, raise it to my lips and drink the dregs.  There you have it! Would you prefer I go no further?  I hope you’re not hyperventilating.  Inhale deeply a few times - it helps. 

I loved drinking the leftover vinegar infused with pepper, salt and salad flavours.  I still do.

Every time I guzzled the dregs I received a rousing from both Mum and Nana.

Scolding me, they’d say – “Lee! Stop drinking the vinegar! It’ll dry up your blood!” 

Most of the time I heeded their advices (I think), but throwing caution to the wind, that particular recommendation I recklessly disregarded.

My drinking the salad bowl dregs was the least of their worries. Obviously their warnings weren’t true because I cut my finger yesterday and it bled profusely.  See!  A lesson to be learned – don’t believe everything you’re told - unless told by me, of course!

The fact is, vinegar is a blood purifier, in which case I must be very pure!  (Don’t choke!)

Because most people are aware of apple cider vinegar’s many health benefits I won’t go into details.  If you’re one of the few not familiar with its benefits…check it out. Mr. Google is always willing to help.

I’ve just realised the many vinegar varieties I have in my cupboards; cider, balsamic, white balsamic, red wine, white wine, rice, garlic-infused, white and malt. 

Obviously my childhood tastes haven’t changed, but I do manage to keep my behaviour as described above in check - within my own precinct.  Remy and Shama don’t mind my bad table manners when it comes to skolling the vinegar...they don’t like vinegar...it’s all mine to enjoy!

Artichoke-Oregano Salad: Combine 2c grape/cherry tomatoes, ¼c chopped, fresh oregano, 1/4c x-virgin olive oil, 1/4tsp dried pepper flakes, 10 large butter lettuce leaves, 12 pitted Kalamata olives, 12 small pepperoncini peppers, 1 can, quartered, drained artichoke hearts, 1 can rinsed, drained chickpeas and 3tbs garlic-infused red wine vinegar; toss to coat. Add 85g fresh mozzarella, cut into ½-inch cubes; toss gently.

Roasted Potato Salad: Toss 1-1/2kg unpeeled red potatoes, cut into ½-inch cubes and 1 thinly sliced red onion in 2tbs olive oil; season; spread evenly on oiled baking sheet; bake at 218C, until crisp, yet fork-tender, 20-25mins; cool to room temp. Return to bowl; add 1-1/2c roasted fresh corn (kernels sliced off cobs after roasting), 1c diced celery and 2tsp garlic powder. Whisk 1/2c x-virgin olive oil and 1/3c cider vinegar; drizzle over salad; toss; season; chill at least 3hrs; stir in 3/4c thinly sliced basil at serving.

Roasted Pumpkin, Beets & Feta Salad: Preheat oven, 180C. Peel 1 beetroot and 1 red onion. Cut half a Jap pumpkin and 1 sweet potato (kumara) into quarters or eighths. Toss in olive oil; sprinkle over Italian herbs or seasoning; toss again; place on roasting tray; cook approximately 30mins. Turn vegetables halfway through cooking time. At that stage add some 1-inch wide capsicum strips, if you like. Towards the last 6 minutes or so of the roasting time, toss in some raw walnuts, or raw mixed nuts; you could add some pepitas/pumpkin seed or sunflower seeds, too, if you like. Go crazy let your imagination and tastes go wild! Place some rocket aka arugula and baby spinach leaves into bowl; add the roast vegetables, nuts etc; season; sprinkle over a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar; toss gently. Sprinkle 120g crumbled feta over top; serve.

Caramelized Peach Tart: Peel and halve12 peaches (or 2x400g can peach halves). In pan add 2tbs olive oil, 4tbs ginger-infused honey (1/4tsp ground ginger added to honey) and 2tbs balsamic; place peaches cut side down in pan; simmer on low heat until glaze begins to darken and caramelize; remove from heat. Place peaches, cut side up in a round baking tray; pour glaze evenly over them. Place sheet of rolled puff pastry over fruit. Bake in 200C oven, 20-25mins until puffed and golden. When cool, carefully invert onto plate; serve immediately.

Vinegar Tart: Whisk 2 eggs, 3/4c packed brown sugar, 1/4c sugar, 1/4c melted butter and 2tbs white vinegar; pour into pre-baked shortcrust tart base; bake 45-55mins in 176C oven.

41 comments:

  1. Someone who is "vinegary" is disagreeable, bitter, or irascible in character or manner. But there is no way that this definition would apply to you Lee... would it?

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    1. No, Yorkie, the definition doesn't apply to me...I'm sure you know this and are just trying to be provocative for the hell of it; trying to get a bite. Well, you might get a bite from the vinegar (of from a fish if you're using the right bait), but not from me in this instance! :)

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  2. I know you don't celebrate Thanksgiving there, but have a nice day anyway.

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    1. Hi there Sandie...I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and loved ones...and I hope the feelings of happiness, goodwill and love continue on through thick and thin. Take good care.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  3. We had vinegar too. Fish and chips were ALWAYS served with vinegar. I still shudder when anyone (not mentioning any names) puts tomato sauce on chips.
    Salads were dressed with vinegar - or lemon juice. And still are.
    Balsamic vinegar goes well with strawberries too.

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    1. Hi there EC...to be honest...I can't think of anything worse (well, I can) than putting tomato sauce on chips! Yuck. During my first marriage I used to hide the tomato sauce and say I'd run out! lol

      Vinegar holds pride of place in my place! :)

      Balsamic is wonderful with strawberries, as you say. It has a great flavour.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  4. I don't see many people using vinegar as we did years ago which is a pity.
    Can understand you drinking the left overs from the salad, be a nice taste I presume.

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    1. Hi Margaret...I don't know if others use vinegar as much as I do...I must ask around. I know one friend of mine does...but as for others, I'm not sure.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  5. That's a lot of vinegars! All I have is apple cider and white wine vinegars.
    I don't know what vinegar went into when we were kids, I just remember being wiped down with vinegar before going out to play at sunset in summer. It kept the mosquitoes away. Now I use the apple cider in any recipe that calls for vinegar unless it specifically says white wine vinegar. I also use it as a drink with honey and hot water, and as a hair rinse, to smooth the hair and add shine. About a half a cup in cold-tepid water, in the basin, use a measuring cup or similar to keep pouring it through the hair right after the shampoo/conditioner routine. For salad dressing I mostly just use the bought bottled stuff, but now and again I add a little extra vinegar.

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    1. Hi River...Mum and Nana always put malt vinegar in the last rinse when washing my hair when I was a kid. I always had long hair...in plaits...and vinegar in the rinse was a given.

      I'm not one for bought salad dressings...if and when needed I always make my own..I guess it's a left over from my cooking days in restaurants etc., when and where I always made my own dressings.

      The majority of times these days...I just use vinegar, with sometimes a dribble of ex-virgin olive oil.

      Vinegar used to be put into our baths when we were kids, too...when we came home with sunburns!

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  6. I once got sucked into drinking a gallon of apple cider vinegar a day for around a month in an effort to improve my overall health while I was out on the truck and listening to too much talk radio. Since I could not tell it doing a thing for me, drinking that much vinegar left me kinda bitter. (LOL?)

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    1. I doubt you're that gullible - that easily sucked in, Jerry. (You sure would look like you'd been sucking on a lemon if you drank that much)!

      You probably just had bad hearing that day...I doubt anyone has been advised to drink a gallon of cider vinegar a day...perhaps you should've tried cider - maybe you did and that's why you're now prone to exaggeration!! ;)

      Thanks for dropping in. :)

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  7. Yummy. I've heard it's really good for the health.
    Well, enjoy your weekend.

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    1. Hi there Lux...it is good for you...but not ingesting a gallon of it a day! One could use a gallon a day of it as a cleaning agent, though. :)

      Thanks for coming by...you have a great weekend, too. :)

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    2. Forgot about the cleaning properties! I have cheap generic white vinegar and use it to clean the electric kettle once a month, in case anyone is wondering how to do it: fill the kettle to almost maximum, add white vinegar about 1/2 to 1 cup and boil. Be ready to turn it off quickly once it boils, if you leave it to automatically turn off, the stuff boils over and makes a mess. Anyway- leave the boiled vinegar water overnight. Next morning, empty it out, fill with fresh water, boil and empty, fill again with fresh water, boil and empty. Then the kettle is ready to use again.
      I also run my washing machine through a complete cycle without any clothes, just water and a cup of white vinegar to clear the pipes. same day as the kettle.

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    3. Yep...it certainly is a good cleanser, River...thanks. :)

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  8. some unusual combinations of food here, as usual they all look so delicious; must look up the vinegar benefits, vinegar and water is good to clean windows

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    1. Hey there Linda...this will get you started....http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-37317/The-healing-powers-vinegar.html

      To me...to my tastes and probably from what I've been used to throughout my life I don't think the combinations are unusual. I hope you do try them. :)

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  9. I am a vinegar kinda girl ~ love it, white, malt, balsamic. I think I will try that vinegar tart this time Lee. Thank you.

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    1. That's what I like to hear, Carol. I'm not alone! I'm not the only lover of vinegar!

      Thanks for coming by. Have a good weekend. :)

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    2. You can add raisins, pecans etc. to the pie, too, Carol, if you wish.

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  10. I remember my dad always ordering "oil and vinegar" with his salad on the rare occasions that we dined out, but vinegar was more something that my grandparents were likely to use. My wife rarely uses it in her own cooking here. But she's a big fan of balsamic vinaigrette for her salad dressing.

    Your recipe that included pumpkin reminded me that Merle often had recipes that included pumpkin. I think they use pumpkins for cooking a lot more on your side of the big pond than over here.

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    1. G'Day, Dave...Yes, we do cook/eat pumpkin far more than you guys do up your way. I love it...especially roasted and never peeled. Actually the only vegetables I peel are onions.

      It surprises me that some folk don't use vinegar..or only use a little of it. It's a staple here with me.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  11. Wonderful memories. Your "horrible" habit may be more popular than you think. I've been know to "sop" a good bread in the salad leavings.

    What a wonderfully beautiful spot to see and I love the Tin Can name, too.

    I'm not sure why I went to the doctor. I had already decided the diagnosis and was working on lessening the symptoms.

    Blessings.

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    1. G'day Gail. Yep! Bread dipped in the vinegar is delicious, too! lol

      Good that you're feeling better...the only way is up! Thanks for coming by. :)

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    2. Cinders had no happy ending. She had to wash the dishes too!

      I am very fortunate with such a good life mate but it took some training...for both of us.

      Have a blessed week.

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    3. I think that's the way it is, Gail...each has to be willing to give a little...as in bend a little...."compromise", I think it's called! :)

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  12. I think you drinking down the dregs of the vinegar from the bowl means that you must be extra SWEET to be able to do that! HA!!
    And when you mentioned the word "tart', it reminded me....one of my husband's relatives in England, his mother's cousin was a very funny guy...they would sit at a restaurant or café to order tea and he would rub his chin and say to the waitress, " I really fancy a TART today!". HA HA.

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  13. G'day Kay...I'm not sure about being "sweet"...either then or now! Now I'm just a sweet old tart!! *cough* lol

    Thanks for coming by. :)

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  14. These recipes look great - I wish I had more time to try them!

    I was shocked how well balsamic vinegar goes with berries when I had it for the first time.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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    1. Hey Stewart...Balsamic has such a wonderful flavour and the rich aged ones are quite superb, like a top, quality aged wine..but even the cheaper, commercial substitutes are very good...very tasty.

      Time....you're always on the go...but always on the go doing interesting, fun and good things. Thanks for coming by. :)

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  15. Bad table manners from you? Never!

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    1. Hi there Adullamite...I guess I was brought in the old-fashioned way where good table manners were important...to me, they still are important, but behind closed doors one is allowed to break the rules sometimes. :)

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  16. You have reminded me how much I like peach tart. The peaches you get here are rarely nice except at the height of the season when they can't actually ruin them, but we do have nice canned peaches and when they are cooked they are not so different. OK that's my next dessert.... !

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    1. I've be there, on the dot, Jenny...napkin tucked into my blouse!!

      Thanks for popping in! :)

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  17. I like to eat peanut butter out of the jar. My ex-fiance used to chew me out about it, even though I was the only one who ate any peanut butter! Dumped him and kept eating out of the jar.

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    1. Good for you, RK! I love eating peanut paste/butter from a jar, too...and it must be crunchy. And I use lashing of it on toast or crackers...not just a meagre spreading. :) I would've dumped him too and kept the peanut paste (as we call it here in Aus)!

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  18. Some people drink vinegar for their health, or so I've heard. So see - it was good for you.

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    1. That is true, Lynn...cider vinegar in particular is has many health benefits. I had lashings of it on my salad at lunch today.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  19. Wow - vinegar tart sounds like quite a conversation stopper. Not quite the "healthy eating" I like to pride myself on :D but still, ... and the peach tart too. Talking of twisting tongues, have you ever tried to say "six mixed biscuits" five times in quick succession?

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    1. Now I have Jenny re the six mixed biscuits! I think I'll just eat them instead of trying to say them numerous times.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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