You don't have to drink wine - things you can do with it other than drinking

As many of my blogging friends will know (or realise) I do enjoy a glass of wine with my meal. Not only is wine a popular alcoholic beverage made from fermented grape juice, but red and white wine are also popular cooking ingredients. Indeed some of the recipes featured within the blog have wine added to the gravy/sauce to enhance flavour and colour. Additionally, wine is often used in cooking to provide moisture, tenderize meat or to deglaze a pan. If you don’t have wine on hand, or if you choose not to consume alcohol, there are many non-alcoholic substitutes you can use in cooking that will make your food just as delicious, and you can read more about that here

... but to continue! Did you know there are "Five things you can do with wine other than drinking - from cooking to gardening and even cleaning" - read on and see what they are! 

"We've all been there, you open a bottle of wine and suddenly you're left with two options: either finish the bottle for the sake of it or keeping it "for tomorrow", a.k.a forgetting about it and ultimately pouring it down the sink. But wine is surprisingly versatile and can be used for many things. The experts at Cult Wines have shared with us their 5 top tips for using leftover wine, so you don't feel like you have to finish it there and then – nor do you have to resign yourself to empty it down the drain. 

Put wine in ice cubes to cook with at a later date

Pour leftovers into an ice cube tray and once frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag or container – they'll be ready to go whenever needed. Add them to white wine for quick cooling without the dilution of regular ice, or save them for recipes that call for small volumes of wine. 

Make white wine vinegar

A great addition to the condiment cupboard of budding chefs and gastro fans, Williams Sonoma has a recipe that will take an afternoon to prepare and will yield delicious results in about three months. 

Make wine syrup

Who knew that you could make a sweet and tasty syrup from wine? You can even make it with individual flavourings, such as vanilla bean or fresh ginger. Cult Wines recommend using Kitchn site easy three-step recipe that takes less than half an hour to make. 

Transform wine into grease remover

If you've got a bottle of leftover white that's passed the point of consumption in any shape or form, it can still be put to use as a grease stain remover. Stir up a mixture of white wine and baking soda and apply to grubby patches on your garage floor, outdoor pathways, or patio. Let it sit for a few minutes and then wipe away. 

Use wine in the garden

Turns out, pouring red wine into your compost bin activates the good bacteria already present in the mixture, helping your plants and garden to grow. Just be sure to keep your compost bin's moisture under control once you add the wine."

The above from article here

Of these five suggestions, I have used the first tip - have you used any of them? Do you think you will? Please share your views in the comments. 

Related Posts that use wine in cooking

Beef Bourguignon - more details here

Lamb and Swede/Rutabaga Hotpot - more details here 

Pork Loin pot-roasted with pancetta, swede and celeriac - more details here

Cod Parcels, steamed with fennel and herbs - more details here

Mushroom Bourguignon with Celeriac Mash, vegetarian - more details here

As regular readers know, this blog is presented in a magazine style - we hope something for everyone. You will find a variety of articles, studies, thoughts, photographs, cartoons, music and recipes! However, not all the recipes ideas featured in this blog may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. 

All the best Jan