Abbondanza Basket

Abbondanza means abundance in Italian, so we've filled our basket with rich flavors. It's a great hostess gift and a great gift for a teacher or a favorite cook. But you don't have to be a cook to love this gift - because anyone can sprinkle a little oil, vinegar and cheese on greens and call it Salad!

The rosemary oil and the tarragon vinegar have two distinct flavors and should be used separately.

A note of caution: We used a large sprig of rosemary so it would show up on camera but you should use a sprig short enough that can be covered with at least a couple inches of oil. Tell the person who is receiving the gift to add oil every time to keep the rosemary covered so that bacteria will not get into the oil.

Makes 1 basket

You'll need:

• 2 empty bottles with corks
• 3 springs of tarragon - rinsed and dried
• 1 spring of fresh rosemary - rinsed and dried
• 3 cloves of garlic - cut in half
• 1 tablespoon of peppercorns
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Vinegar - white or rice vinegar
• A wedge of good Parmesan cheese
• A basket big enough to hold the bottles
• Paper "grass"
• Ribbon or raffia ties
• A cheese grater
• A little adult help

Equipment:

• A funnel!
• Measuring spoons
• Scissors
• Paper towels

1. Begin with clean dry bottles. They don't need to be fancy but it helps if they match.
2. Place the spring of rosemary, peppercorns and garlic in one of the bottles. We used mixed peppercorns to give a little color.
3. Next, pour the oil into the bottle. You've heard of working without a net. Well, we were working without a funnel and it made life pretty difficult.
4. Cork the bottle and you're flavored oil is done!
5. Put three sprigs of tarragon into the second bottle and fill with vinegar.
6. Tie raffia or ribbon around the neck of each bottle.
7. Arrange the paper grass in the bottom of the basket.
8. Place the bottles in position so they won't bang together.
9. Add you're cheese and cheese grater and you have an elegant gift you made yourself!