Balsamic Pickled Fruit

I am sore.  It’s a good sore… but there is a plethora of grunts and groans and pain moans.  I sound like I’m 90 years old.

I haven’t been very dedicated to the gym over summer, time was in shortage, and my work out partner was busy.  Do any of you have a gym buddy?  My roommate goes to CrossFit and it seems like a real community.  I find no gym buddy means no gym time. I always have something else I should or could be doing instead.  With a buddy, the gym is rewarding and I always feel better after.  Exercise endorphins. It helps that I really like my gym partner, she is no-nonsense; we grunt (more grunting… hmm…), laugh, and encourage each other.  There is no crying at the gym.  She is encouraging and understanding while being motivating and pushing physical limits.

We recently changed gyms, found one a little closer and a little cheaper and have been going regularly, and… so far, so good.  Except… I was late for our first session and missed the initial tour, they had just painted so there were wet paint signs taped up (over signs and stuff totally).  Well.. I wasn’t really paying attention and I wandered into the men’s change room and came face to face with a very cute and oddly familiar looking man.

Um… uh… shit.

I nervously laughed, turned on my heel and high tailed it out of there.  Do you tell someone you just walked in on he looks familiar?  No.  Enough awkward had happened between us.  I yelled an “I’m sorry..” and he replied with a “no prob”.  Great, so does that mean I go back for a conversation about where I might know him from?  No.  Again already enough awkward.  My gym buddy and I had a good laugh about it. I was pretty sure he was still dressed.  I just wish I knew where I knew him from.

I saw him again today at the gym.  I don’t know him, but I did go on a couple dates with his brother who was also at the gym today, not sure if it makes it all more or less awkward?  It’s funny at least.  I often find myself in these awkward situations, usually due to not paying attention.  And well, I live in a small town, and I go on a lot of dates so there are bound to be some moments.  Luckily I can laugh them off.  You have to be able to laugh so you don’t cry sometimes.

Let’s talk about this recipe, um… yum.  And super versatile!  Balsamic pickled fruit can be: served over ice cream for a desert, tossed into a salad for dressing with some oil, they would be amazing with cheese, baked brie, or pork chops!  It’s delicious.  I was inspired by a picture I saw on Foodgawker, (you should check out The Primal Desire on there) for Pickled Cherry and Coconut Parfait by the Foraged Dish.  I had all these berries and cherries very ripe in my fridge.

I recommend buying a better quality balsamic vinegar than I did.  I went for quantity over quality, but a slightly thicker and sweeter balsamic would knock your socks off.  I didn’t know much about balsamic vinegar before this recipe.  It’s made of grape must and aged in barrels like wine or sherry.  Really quite fascinating.  I think because I cheeped out I will have to do a balsamic reduction with my leftover berry brine.  Now that we know about balsamic vinegar, check out some of the other recipes that we use it in.

Balsamic Pickled Fruit

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• Author: www.ThePrimalDesire.com
• Total Time: 10 minute
• Yield: 2 cups 1x

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Description

Balsamic pickled fruit great as a desert, a sauce or salad topping

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 cups ripe berries or cherries
• 1 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 allspice berries
• 6 pink peppercorns
• 2 cloves

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Instructions

1. Wash and sterilize jars and lids.
2. Wash fruit, you can remove stems and pits, but you don’t have to – personal preference.
3. Put fruit into jars leaving 1/4 inch space at the top.
4. Over medium heat combine water, balsamic vinegar, cinnamon, allspice, peppercorns and cloves.
5. Let simmer 8-10 min then remove cinnamon stick, (I left the rest of the spices in).
6. Pour into jars over the packed fruit, again leaving 1/4 inch at the top.
7. I immersed the jars in a boiling water bath for 15 min, removed and let cool.
8. Allow to sit 24-48 hours before serving.

Notes

You do not have to can this, it could last up to 12 weeks in a cool (refrigerated) dark spot. I wanted mine for longer so I sealed them.

• Prep Time: 24-48 hours (marinating)
• Category: Dessert