Balsamo di Mela (Apple Balsamic Vinegar) is a fresh and fruity take on their aged balsamic vinegar. Balsamo di Mela contains light undertones of apple taste. It is aged for five years, and adds a light but satisfying sweetness. I used it in the Spinach Gorgonzola Salad and Balsamic Dressing recipe from Better Recipes. The one thing I changed in this recipe was not microwaving the dressing. The vinegars change flavors when cooked. They are at optimal flavor right out of the bottle. The salad was absolutely fabulous! The apple balsamic played well with all of the ingredients, especially the gorgonzola. The apple flavor match perfectly with the creamy, salty, zingy gorgonzola. This recipe is definitely a keeper!\r
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Saporoso is a 6-year aged balsamic vinegar. This savory aged balsamic vinegar was originally created for consumers who desired a high-quality balsamic vinegar, specifically of caliber between the regular balsamic vinegar of Modena and the traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena. Saporoso is aged for six years in oak barrels, and for six months in steel containers. Lightly tart, this natural product has accents of wild flowers, grass, and cooked mustard. I used it in the Balsamic Chicken recipe from Diabetic Living. This balsamic vinegar was so much better than what you get in a grocery store. I was amazed how balsamic vinegars, when aged, are like fine wines. I drizzled the Saporoso on the chicken after taking it out from the oven. It punched up the chicken adding a little bit of tartness while making the chicken more robust and rich. It also complemented the rest of the flavors in the dish from paprika, rosemary, garlic, and black pepper.\r
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House of Balsamic also has a bunch of recipes on their website to help you learn how to use their products and experiment with new flavors and concepts. The Sweet Balsamic Strawberries recipe from their website is absolutely fabulous! I have seen cooking shows where aged balsamic has been drizzled on slices of parmesan cheese to create a dessert. So I really wanted to try this one out. With summer fruits coming into season, strawberries are everywhere. I used the Saporoso and it was perfecto! I actually let the strawberries marinate in the balsamic for almost an hour. It drew out the essence of the strawberries and made them taste better. I think I have to eat strawberries like this from now on. I'm hooked!
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