There are rice vinegar, cider vinegar,  wine vinegar, 5% vinegar and 9 % vinegar, etc. in the market.  Do you know which one to use when?

In my opinion, many times they are interchangeable, just with a slightly different sharpness in taste, so unless you are very precise in the dish you prepare, I would say experiment with what you have before you store up 5 + different types of vinegar in the cupboard.  Life is complicated enough, this is one area I would go easy with.

One easy, classic Chinese cucumber salad I make is with (rice or any kind) vinegar.  Chop up Asian cucumber in thin sticks about 1 inch tall and half inch wide, marinade them in vinegar, tons of garlic, and season it with sugar and hot pepper oil.  It is an amazing appetizer.

Balsamic vinegar, on the other hand, is a must have in your kitchen.  It is a great flavor enhancer for a variety of foods.  The Garlic and Balsamic Marinated Flank Steak is sweet and tart, one of our favorite prepared frozen meals from Dream Dinners this month.

By the way, Heloise has a tip of using vinegar to keep car window frost and ice free.  Coat all the windows with a solution of 3 parts white vinegar mixed with 1 part water.  However, I am hoping for the nice weather to continue so this particular useful tip will not be used.

Have a great long weekend!

 Raspberry XOXO Chicken over Rice

It seems like we just packed away the last of the holiday decorations and now it’s time to focus on Valentines Day! The good news? This is the time when you can use your imagination to make this special day fun for your family and one that they will remember for a long time. Creating simple traditions doesn’t have to be expensive, it just has to be thoughtful and serve as a gentle reminder to your family that they are loved and appreciated. From adding a bit of red food coloring to their milk, to baking their favorite cake in a heart shaped springform pan, or maybe giving “coupons” to your family for either “one day off of chores” or “you pick a movie night” are all easy, simple and memorable traditions that your family will remember, and maybe pass on to their own one day.

One of our favorite traditions is to create an evening picnic! Light the fireplace, place candles on the mantle and spread a blanket on the floor. Serve your family’s favorite dinner and presto! A romantic dinner is served!

Other simple treats for your family can include sneaking in chocolate kisses and special notes into your children’s cereal. Or what about starting a Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt, where you leave cute, funny poems with clues for the next location? At the end of the hunt, your children will find their special Valentine’s Day treats! Look online to find festive crafts you can make with your children, including jewelry, picture frames and fun cards. These homemade gifts beat store bought purchases any day!

And don’t forget your spouse as hopefully, he or she won’t forget about you! Plan a night around Valentines Day where it is just the two of you. Take the children to Grandma’s house and spend some time by either going for a long drive, recreating your first date, sharing a bottle of your favorite wine with chocolates or dining at your favorite restaurant. This is the perfect time to reconnect after the busy holidays. Make it a priority.

At Dream Dinners, we also cater to everything representing the “heart.” Every month our menus feature heart healthy entrees that the whole family will love and devour. This Valentines Day, just some of our classic healthy menu items include, Oven Baked Almond Chicken, Slow Cooked BBQ Beef with Baby Bakers and Chicken with Honey, Garlic and Orange. Also perfect for your Valentine’s Day menu is our Choice Cut Raspberry XOXO Chicken over Rice. These delicious choice cut chicken breasts are marinated in a beautiful chipotle raspberry sauce. Sprinkled with whole raspberries on top, this menu just shouts: “Happy Valentine’s Day!”