Red Velvet Cake

Red Velvet is one of the oddest recipes I've ever encountered. It's not chocolate, not vanilla, and has much more food coloring than seems safe. But it is really, really good.

I intend to someday make this with some kind of natural food colorings, like beets and cherries, but for now, a box mix will do you.

Red Velvet Double Chocolate

1 box red velvet cake mix
Chocolate Olive Oil
Cream cheese frosting
3-4 cups fresh or frozen berries(thawed), mix cherries, raspberries and blackberries
1/4 cup Cherry Balsamic, or Chocolate Raspberry Balsamic

Follow the instructions on your cake mix. Sub in the Chocolate Olive Oil where it calls for vegetable oil or butter.

In a large bowl, mix the berries and balsamic together. Let sit, they are done when the cake is.

Bake the cake. Let cool and top with the cream cheese frosting and berries.

I made about half in single graham cracker crusts, because it felt fancy. The other half was baked in a round cake pan. However you like it, it's just a fun time.

Balsamic Fruit Fool

Happy April Fool!

Like many of the things I post, this is a simple recipe. I'm all for things that can be done in a few minutes and still look and taste great.

This could be dressed up any number of ways, but I went with the easiest.

Balsamic Fruit Fool

Shortcake shells
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt per shell
mixed berries in balsamic
glazed walnuts

Set each shell in a small bowl. Layer in 1/2 cup yogurt and about 2 tbsp of the fruit on each. I put about the same amount of nuts as well. Serve!

Berries in Balsamic

3 cups mixed berries
     strawberries, blackberries and blueberries
1/4 cup Chocolate Raspberry Balsamic

Chop the strawberries into small bits. Toss fruit and balsamic together in a large bowl and let sit for about half an hour.

Serve on anything.


Glazed Sesame Walnuts

1 cup walnuts
1/4 cup Cherry Balsamic
2 tbsp white sugar
1 tsp Sesame Oil
2 tbsp Sesame Seeds, garnish

Heat a pan to medium heat and add the nuts and Sesame Oil. Toast, stirring occasionally about 2 minutes. Nuts should be fragrant but not burnt.

Add in the Balsamic and sugar and stir quickly to coat. Cook about 30 seconds.

Turn out onto a platter and spread in a single layer to cool. Sprinkle with sesame seeds immediately.

Stores up to a week in the refrigerator.

Customer Recipe: Cherry Balsamic

Thanks to our Facebook friend Nickkii for this recipe! Looks fantastic!

NickKii: Put it in steak and Portobello mushrooms filled with mozzarella and cherry balsamic glaze

 

Cherry Bourbon Flank Steak

Cherry Bourbon Flank Steak

1/4 cup Cherry Balsamic*
1/4 cup cherry juice**
1/4 cup bourbon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 pounds flank steak
Halved, pitted cherries for serving

Mix your liquids in a bowl with the salt and pepper. Stir well.

Set your oven to broil. Place your steak in an oven proof casserole dish. Pour your marinade over it and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Once it has marinaded, place the dish in the oven on the top rack near the top of your oven. Cook for at least 5 minutes per side.

Cool slightly and serve sliced thinly and against the grain with some of the pan sauce and some fresh cherries.


*Cherry Balsamic is available in limited quantities in store or by phone only.

**Cherry juice is becoming more popular in stores for it's heath benefits. I like it for the taste. If you can't find 100% cherry juice, you can use the pomegranate/cherry juice blends they sell in the vegetable sections of your grocery store.

This recipe would also work with cranberry juice. But then, swap out the Cherry Balsamic for some Cranberry and fresh cranberries for the cherries. In which case, it should be named, Cranberry Bourbon Flank Steak.

Cherry Mint Pork Chops

I have so much mint growing in my backyard. Someone planted it years and years ago and it has taken over a whole planting bed and is starting to creep around the side of the house.

When we got the Cherry Balsamic in, I knew just what I wanted to do with it!

Cherry Mint Pork Chops
Serves 4

-1 package thin sliced pork chops
-Basil Olive Oil
-Cherry Balsamic
-Sun-dried Tomatoes
-Mint leaves
-Sundried-Tomato Sea Salt

Heat 3-4 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over low heat. Increase the temperature to medium-high and arrange chops in the skillet. Cook, turning only once about 3 minutes a side. Set aside.

For the sauce:
Chop 6 to 8 tomatoes and place in a food processor. Chop mint and add(I put in a good handful). Start food processor and stream in enough Balsamic to make a thick sauce. I added almost a 1/4 cup.

Scrape sauce into your skillet and cook over low heat until it is hot and bubbly, no more than 5 minutes.

Spoon the sauce over the pork chops and serve with salad.

Dressed with Cherry Balsamic and Basil Olive Oil of course!