Infused vinegars are a new favorite ``secret ingredient'' of ours for quickly elevating an ordinary dinner to extraordinary status. Whether flavored with figs, raspberries, pears or other fruit, these vinegars excite the palate.

While a wide variety of infused vinegars can be found in boutique food shops, one widely available brand in most major supermarkets is Alessi. The good news is that these vinegars are of good quality at reasonable prices.

Some days, it's enough just to whisk the vinegars into salad dressings. Other nights, we take to experimentation and end up with company-worthy meals such as today's recipe for Pan-Seared Sea Scallops with Pear-Infused Balsamic Reduction. It sounds complicated, but it's really oh, so simple. And did we mention so delicioso?

Beverly Mills and Alicia Ross' latest book is Cheap. Fast. Good! Their website is www.kitchenscoop.com.

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