Valentine's Day at Oil & Vinegar

With Valentine’s Day just a few days away I thought I would highlight some of Oil & Vinegar’s favorite choices for sharing your passion with that someone special. 

For the traditionalists, you can’t go wrong with our Belgian Chocolate Fondue, available in Milk or Dark Chocolate.  As we all know, chocolate fondue is delicious with bananas, strawberries, and pineapple, but why not try it this time with our Italian Amaretti Cookies, or Cantuccini?

Try something sweet with a twist with our Strawberry Balsam Vinegar.  It’s red, it’s tasty and you can gift it in a heart shaped bottle or even our signature Message in a Bottle with your own sweet message inside.  

Use the strawberry balsam vinegar with your favorite oil on a salad; our pairing of choice – white truffle oil; or, try this easy to make Strawberry Mascarpone Tart:

INGREDIENTS

1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed

1 egg, whisked

2 lbs strawberries, stemmed and quartered

1/2 cup strawberry balsam vinegar +

1 Tbsp strawberry balsam vinegar

12 ounces mascarpone cheese

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup confectioner's sugar

Roll out puff pastry sheet to 12x12 inches. Place on a baking sheet. Fold the edges over to form a border. Prick bottom of pasty with tines of a fork. Chill for 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush on egg wash and place in hot oven.  Cook until evenly browned, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven to a rack and let cool completely.

Gently combine strawberries, half of the orange zest, and the ½ cup of strawberry balsam vinegar in large bowl so that the strawberries are coated. Let the mixture stand for 30 minutes.

Mix together the mascarpone cheese, the remaining strawberry balsam vinegar and the vanilla in a medium bowl until well combined. Refrigerate until needed.

After the strawberries have soaked for 30 minutes, drain the liquid out of the strawberry mixture into a small saucepan. Bring the liquid to a boil on medium high heat. Boil until the liquid has reduced to the consistency of syrup, remove from heat and let cool.

Spread the mascarpone mixture over the puffed pastry.  Arrange the strawberries on top of the mascarpone mixture and brush the strawberry glaze over the top.

Serve with a glass of sparkling wine with a drop of Strawberry Balsam Vinegar inside.

Want a bigger idea?  Put all these ideas in one gift basket and have it wrapped, complimentary, in our signature style!