Re: OT - Recipes which use olive oil or balsamic vinegar?

Here's two of my favorite recipes using balsamic vinegar:

Pork Roast

Put a pork roast in crock pot. Size of pork roast, size of crock pot - whatever you have!

Mix together:

2 parts balsamic vinegar to 1 part honey & 1 part brown sugar. Pour over pork roast and cook until done.

My family loves pork roast fixed this way. ____________________________________________________

Penne with Roasted Asparagus and Balsamic Butter

Simmering the balsamic vinegar both mellows and thickens it. When tossed with the hot pasta and the butter, it forms a smooth, uniquely flavored sauce.

1 lb. asparagus 1 Tbsp olive oil 2 tsp salt - I usually never use as much salt as the recipe calls for 1/2 tsp black pepper 1/2 C plus 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar 1/2 tsp brown sugar 1 lb. penne 2 Tbsp butter, cut into pieces 1/3 C grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

1. Heat the oven to 400°. Snap the tough ends off the asparagus and discard them. Cut the spears into 1? pieces. Put the asparagus on a baking sheet and toss with the olive oil and 1/4 tsp each of sale and pepper. Roast until tender, about 10 minutes

2. Meanwhile, put the vinegar in a small saucepan and simmer until 3 Tbsp remain. Stir in the brown sugar and the remaining 1/4 tsp pepper. Remove from heat.

1. Cook the penne in a large pot of boiling, salted water until just done, about 13 minutes. Drain the pasta and toss with the butter, vinegar, asparagus, Parmesan, and the remaining 1 3/4 tsp salt. Serve with additional Parmesan.

Optional: Add diced, cooked chicken breast when tossing the rest of the ingredients with the penne.

Variations:

Cut 1 lb. of broccoli into small spears for roasting. Toss with 2 Tbsp olive oil and 1/4 tsp each of salt and pepper. Roast for about 15 minutes. Continue with step 2.

Toss 1/3 C of toasted pine nuts, hazelnuts, or walnuts at the end with either asparagus or broccoli.

Donna in Idaho