Vinegar

Vinegar is the hardest-working condiment in the pantry, at least in our house. Maybe instead of quail, I should be focusing my post-apocalyptic preparations on vinegar—how to make it, how to store it, how to barter with it. Vinegar has become our miracle tonic. Here are just a few of the ways in which we use it.

White Vinegar

• Cleaning the shower- spray and wipe
• Cleaning the windows- spray and wipe
• Cleaning the tray under the water dispenser- soak overnight
• Washing the dishes- add to the jetdry compartment and/or place a cup of it in the top rack before running a load
• Soothing and healing ear infections- mix a teaspoon of vinegar with teaspoon of rubbing alcohol; place a few drops into infected ear
• Soothing and healing sunburns- use cotton-balls to apply to affected areas; you’ll smell like a salt-and-vinegar potato chip, but you will feel fantastic!

Apple Cider Vinegar

• Removing rust from tools-soak overnight
• Clarifying and conditioning hair- wet hair with water in shower, apply 1:1 of ACV and water mixture to hair, allow to set for three minutes, rinse, then shampoo and condition as usual. GREAT for lifting undesirably dark hair-dye.
• Killer BBQ sauce- see recipe here

Balsamic Vinegar

• Teriyaki steak marinade- see recipe here; the recipe calls for white vinegar, but substituting balsamic makes a big difference. Also, using brown sugar instead of white does amazing things for the flavor, too. We also add red pepper flakes for extra zest. For extra flavor, let it marinate overnight. 

Bragg ACV with ‘The Mother’

• Soothing and healing UTIs- mix a tablespoon of this ACV with a full glass of water and chug