Infused Vinegars and Oils

It is easy to infuse herbs, aromatic ingredients such as garlic, truffles, dried porcini mushrooms, fruits, or citrus zests in your favorite vinegar to come up with different flavors. For example, raspberry vinegar is not made from raspberry wine, but instead by soaking raspberries in wine vinegar. Tarragon vinegar is one of the best types to have around and is easy to make: just cram a few sprigs of fresh tarragon into your bottle of white wine vinegar.

Oils can also be infused with herbs, such as thyme, rosemary, or marjoram. But remember that an herb infusion can distract from the subtleties of a particularly fine oil.