Chive Blossom Vinegar

The Chive (Allium schoenoprasum)is the smallest, though one of the best-flavored of the Onion tribe, belonging to the Allium botanical plant group, which also includes the Garlic, Leek and Shallot.

How to Harvest Chive Blossoms: 
In the morning or early afternoon, after the dew has dried, harvest the almost ‘ripe’ chive blossoms, cutting directly under each pink chive blossom with a scissors. Place the blossoms on a white paper or cloth. This step will allow you to observe any ‘apartment dwellers’ and give them time to leave home. (If you live in the city, collect the blossoms, and toss them in a sink filled with cool water for a few minutes. Swish them about and then place on paper towels covered by paper towels to dry overnight.)

Note: For decoration: Before they open, collect a few chive blossom buds, with stem. Insert the buds in distilled white vinegar, head down. Use a tall, narrow bottle to assure that they maintain an upright posture. 

Ingredients:
Clean Mason jar and lid
Chive Blossoms
White wine vinegar
Distilled white vinegar (optional)
Wax paper
Cotton ball, paper coffee filters
Labels

How to Prepare: 
Fill a sterilized jar with the chive blossoms. (Cleaning the jar in a dishwasher is fine.)
In a stainless or Pyrex pot, warm white wine vinegar or equal parts of white wine vinegar and white distilled vinegar until there are small bubbles appearing around the inside edges of the pan. Do not bring to a rolling boil!
Pour the hot vinegar over the blossoms. (Place wax paper over the lid of the jar before sealing, if using a metal lid.) The natural pink color of the chive blossoms will appear in a few days. A lovely, subtle onion flavor will emerge as well.
Every day, give the jar a turn, and after two weeks, you are ready to decant.

Decanting:
To filter the vinegar before use or giving as a gift:
Insert a damp cotton ball in the base and neck of a funnel
On top of the cotton, place a coffee filter
Pour the chive blossom vinegar thru the filters for a clear product.

How to bottle the vinegar:
For decoration: Place one chive bud with stem into a sterilized gift bottle and pour the filtered chive vinegar over it; label and date.

*Steve’s ‘Best-ever’ Chive Blossom Vinegar Salad Dressing
(This may be your best salad dressing)

Blend together:
One part Chive Blossom Vinegar
Two parts Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Garlic Powder, to taste
Salt and Pepper, to taste
Variation -To kick up the taste!
Add one teaspoon spicy mustard
Bon Appetit!