Gourmet olive oil and balsamic vinegar stores are everywhere and you have probably- definitely- seen them pop up in the myriad of recipes that I have posted on here. We proudly work with ZiOlive, out of Scottsville, Kentucky and love the variety and potency of flavors of their oils and vinegars specifically. Don Goings and Bill Gear began their company in 2011 as a labor of love, and their care and attention shows through in the quality and taste of what they produce. It is not uncommon for people to make an afternoon out of sampling their variety here at Farmhouse and developing their own mixes and flavors.

However, I will admit, that the variety is staggering. You might be wondering what to do with all of these products. Most stores seem to give the same rote answer: “Use it on grilled chicken” or “Use it as a salad dressing.” I find myself even getting in this rut sometimes, too!

Now don’t get me wrong, these are standard options for a reason. They work and are delicious. Our personal favorite salad dressing mix here is called Dessert on a salad and it is, contrary to normal mixing amounts, equal parts Blood Orange EVOO and Aged Cabernet Vinegar. It is sweet and delicious, but no where near the limit of what you can do with these flavor-packed ingredients.

As a matter of fact, there are HUNDREDS of uses for these products! Today, I want to share with you 17 unique and easy ideas that will help you get the most out of your oil and vinegar collection. Don’t let those bottles collect dust on your shelf, enjoy them!

• 1.Bread Dip

Ready for the easiest appetizer ever? Pour some flavored olive oil in a dish and top with a complimentary flavor of vinegar. Sprinkle on some herbs and spices, if desired. Serve with baguette slices. Voila! I highly recommend out Tuscan Herb olive oil for this as you wont need to even add seasoning, but you can always go traditional with a plain, good quality EVOO or even Garlic or Butter!

• 2.Drizzle Oil Over Cream Soups

Certain heavy, creamy soups can be a bit one-dimensional in flavor. A drizzle of flavored olive oil can add unexpected flavor and texture to thick soups. The last time I made our Cheesy Enchilada Soup Mix by Mills Gourmet, I topped it with just a tad of our Citrus Habanero EVOO and it was surprising and fantastic!

• 3.Drizzle over Pizza and Flat bread

A drizzle of balsamic vinegar will do wonders for pizza or flatbread. Our balsamic vinegars already come reduced and that syrupy zing will add depth of flavor (and some fanciness) to an otherwise normal pizza. I recommend trying out Toscana Dark; it is absolutely delicious!

• 4.Add Some Flavored Oil To Scrambled Eggs

Infused olive oil can be used to add flavor to scrambled eggs. Once you are done cooking the eggs, drizzle on some flavored oil, or replace your normal butter with a healthy, Butter Flavored EVOO alternative. We recommend our Harissa EVOO for drizzling after, or add some spice with Jalapeno EVOO and throw those eggs in a breakfast taco!

• 5.Make A Pretty Plate Garnish With Vinegar

As stated, our Balsamics have a thick consistency and you can use these vinegars to make a pretty design on a dessert plate, using a fruit or herb-flavored balsamic, or ov a savory or salad plate with fruity or earthy flavors. Here are some combinations to try:

• Chocolate Raspberry balsamic vinegar with a rich parfait or pudding
• Fig balsamic vinegar with pound cake
• Espresso balsamic vinegar with chocolate cake

Or go savory with:

• White Honey Ginger balsamic vinegar with light fish like tilapia or cod
• Kentucky Bourbon balsamic vinegar with red meats
• 6.Add Zing To Savory Dishes With Vinegar

If your dish is lacking in flavor, consider adding a bit of balsamic. As I have mentioned in previous posts, adding an acidic component (like vinegar or lemon juice) can do wonders for a dish. Try this tip in soups, sauces, casseroles, and other dishes with a creamy base. For example:

• Add Hickory Smoked balsamic vinegar to chicken alfredo to deepen the earthiness
• Add a drizzle of Bacon Garlic balsamic vinegar on top of a bowl of Broccoli Cheddar soup
• Add some Blueberry balsamic vinegar to barbecue sauce

• 7.Roast Vegetables With Infused Olive Oil

Vegetables roasted with plain olive oil are delicious. But when you add some infused olive oil, you get a whole new dish. Here are some olive oil flavors to try:

• Hickory Smoked Chipotle olive oil
• Harissa olive oil
• Rosemary olive oil
• Bourbon Barrel Smoked olive oil

I recommend using 1/2 plain olive oil, 1/2 infused olive oil so the flavor isn’t too intense. Unless you choose to use Bacon EVOO for that cooked-in-bacon-grease flavor without all the transfats. Go full flavor with that one

• 8.Make Flavored Vegetable Chips

Add extra flavor to homemade chips by using 1/2 plain and 1/2 flavored olive oil. I made a batch of zucchini chips with Garlic Parmesan oil, resulting in an addictive chip that has ruined regular potato chips for me forever. I can’t wait to experiment with other flavors!

• 9.Add a Few Drops To Baked Goods

Do you want to add another dimension of flavor to your homemade desserts? Try adding flavored olive oil or balsamic vinegar. Just a few drops can go a long way. Here are some ideas to try:

• Add Meyer Lemon olive oil to pound cake batter
• Add some Black Walnut balsamic vinegar to chocolate cake batter
• Add a burst of citrus flavor to buttercream frosting with Persian Lime olive oil (use this frosting to top white chocolate cupcakes!)

A word of caution: Don’t add too much or the texture of your baked good may change. Unless that’s your goal… a box mix of regular brownies turns into an Orange Fudge Dream when you replace all the oil with the Blood Orange EVOO!

• 10. Make An Epic Fruit Salad

Make the most amazing fruit salad ever by adding flavored olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Try adding Basil olive oil and Walberry balsamic vinegar to a mixed fruit salad. Add some chopped nuts and fresh mint too.

• 11.Make Flavorful Roasted Potatoes

Choose a savory flavor of olive oil, toss with cubed potatoes, and roast in the oven at 400F until tender. Or slice thin on a mandolin and drizzle a cast iron in your chosen oil before laying out the potatoes and spicing vigorously for some great cowboy-style skillet potatoes. Try Tuscan Herb, Rosemary or Garlic oil.

• 12.Make Flavored Mayo

Have you ever made homemade mayo? It’s easier than you think and it only takes about 5 minutes to make. For flavored mayo, use this recipe and use 1/2 regular olive oil and 1/2 flavored olive oil. Try We recommend an herb base like Garlic or Basil EVOO.

• 13.Top Ice Cream With a Drizzle Of Balsamic

Think ice cream can’t get any better? Believe it or not, my oldest daughter taught me better. Try topping a rich, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with a drizzle of a sweet, fruity balsamic vinegar like our Bourbon Peach! Amazing.

• 14.Make Balsamic Grilled Peaches

Cut a fresh peach in half, remove the pit, and brush it with any balsamic vinegar, though I personally prefer a more mellow flavor like Walberry balsamic vinegar. Grill until the vinegar caramelizes. Serve with ice cream or fresh whipped cream.

• 15.Make Balsamic Chocolate Truffles

I’ve talked about this recipe before, but it is super simple and bears repeating. Just melt down 8 oz Dark Chocolate and 1/3 c Heavy Cream (room temp) in a double boiler and add 2 Tbsp. of a sweet vinegar like Bourbon Vanilla Fig balsamic vinegar to the chocolate mixture. Let it cool, scoop it out, and coat it in coco powder if you desire. It’s guaranteed to be a winner.

• 16.Make Flavorful Marinades

You can get some really flavorful, unique marinades by combining a flavored olive oil and a flavored balsamic vinegar. Experiment with different combinations in the store to find what you like! My fallback, especially for red meat, is our Traditional Dark Balsamic with Rosemary EVOO but I do love mixing our Garlic Cilantro Balsamic with Persian Lime EVOO and some fajita seasoning to prep my fajitas. Remember, vinegar is a natural meat tenderizer, so this does nothing but make every bite more mouth-watering than the next

But what if you don’t want to buy speciality oil and vinegar? After all, that can get expensive. You can always use one or the other, and use highlighting spices or even fresh fruit juice to sub in the flavors you are missing.

• 17.Set Up a Killer Appetizer Bar Or Charcuterie Board At Your Next Party

Gather all of your flavored vinegars and oils, along with various noshables, and set up a charcuterie bar that your friends will rave about. Here are some foods to include:

• Olives
• Cheese
• Jam
• Salami
• Tapenade
• Mini Pickles
• Proscuitto 
• Grapes
• Crostini
• Crackers
• Flatbread

Let your guests go wild! The addition of the flavored oils and vinegars as everything from garnishes to will allow them to get creative when mixing and matching snacks.

So, there you go! There’s even more ways that I use my flavored balsamics and EVOOs at home. What are your favorite uses?