Wednesday, May 16, 2012

What to Eat on a Wednesday? See Below!

Warm Potato Meze with Peas, Roasted Tomatoes and Dill

 Ingredients

1/2 Cup We Olive Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 pound waxy potatoes (about 4)
10-12 cherry tomatoes
1 large red onion, coarsely chopped
1 cup shelled peas (frozen are ok), defrosted
4 Τbsp. Water
3 to 4 Tbsp. red wine vinegar to taste
Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
3 Tbsp. fresh dill

Preparation

Rinse and scrub the potatoes. Do not peel. Bring them to a boil over high heat in a large pot of lightly salted water. Reduce the heat and simmer until the skins begin to burst open and the flesh is tender, or 30 to 35 minutes. Remove, drain and set aside until cool enough to handle. While the potatoes are boiling, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a nonstick skillet and sauté the cherry tomatoes until their skins wrinkle and char lightly. Season with salt and remove. Sauté the frozen peas in the same skillet, adding 4 tablespoons water. Remove and drain. Peel the potatoes when they are still warm and cut into quarters or sixths. Place in a serving bowl. Add the onions, tomatoes and peas to the potatoes. Pour in the olive oil and vinegar, season with salt, pepper, and dill, toss gently, and serve immediately.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Just in the Nick of Time

Meet Nick Dukellis.  Although he claims to be retired, the amount of work he accomplishes on one shift at We Olive Ventura would make him Ventura County's most eligible bachelor if he were single.  Yep, gals, we call him Neat Nick.  We can only imagine how clean and orderly his house is and that his "Honey Do" list is completed before the ink is dry.  Heck, he could probably get my teenager to clean and spit polish her room -- now there's a thought!  Nick is a Ventura County native who moved to Bakersfield during high school.  After a twenty five year career as a California prison guard he "retired" and he and his lovely wife found their way back to Santa Paula.  We're thinking Nick's wife found him a bit too restless at home and thought a little part time job might give her a little time without having to find projects to occupy him  Just our luck that we were looking for someone to join our team at precisely the same time!  Among Nick's many hobbies are:  model railroading, cooking, former taxidermist, reptile//amphibian collector, bird breeder, salt and freshwater aquarist, gardener, woodworker and Italian car enthusiast.  He is fluent in most areas of home repair and is currently involved in a local Santa Paula committee to save the Steckel Park Aviary from demolition at the hands of the county.  WOW!  He says that any time spent with Perry Rice on the sales floor is good for a few laughs, but his funniest moment at We Olive Ventura occurred during this first week on the job. While filling a bottle at the spout he attempted to loosen the screw-top on a near-empty oil fusti to break the air-lock .  The top was tight and when it finally spun loose the entire fusti rotated, the spout popped out of the bottle and it bathed him in garlic oil.  Believe us ,Nick, worse things have happened!   Nick most enjoys the company of his co-workers and the attitudes of our happy-ravenous customers.  He finds it personally gratifying to pour someone a product sample or make a product suggestion and watch their face light up when he realizes he hit a home-run.  Nick
recommends We Olive garlic olive oil, aged Balsamic and We Olive Parmesan Asiago Dip. As a gift, he suggests our olive wood bowls and utensils.  Olive wood has a density and character unlike any other wood he's seen.  While Neat may refer to Nick's proclivity for organization and cleanliness, Nick is also a really Neat guy to have around.  He arrived here just in the Nick of time! 

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

An O'Love Green Celebration for Everyone


One of my favorite Irish expressions is "There's No Fireside Like Your Own Fireside." So whether you're entertaining at your own hearth or lucky enough to share the good company of family or friends, here are some inspiring recipes to keep your hearts warm and your bellies full. Oh, and I wish you "Lots of Good Craic" good fun, that is -- in Gaelic!

Lucky Ginger Spice Cocktails
Ingredients
1 1/2-ounce Irish whiskey
1/4-ounce fresh lime juice
2-ounces ginger ale
1 ounce Chaparral Gardens Pacific Spice Artisan Vinegar
Directions
Combine whiskey and lime juice over ice in a Collins glass; top with ginger ale and vinegar and garnish with lime and orange wedges.

Cool as a Green Cucumber Crab Cakes
Ingredients
1 lb Crab meat, picked through to remove any shell
1 c Terrapin Ridge Mango Cucumber and Habanero Dip
1 c Light sour cream or Greek yogurt
2 T Cilantro
2 T sliced green onions
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
2 ½ c panko bread crumbs
3 ea eggs, whisked
1 c flour
We Olive Mission extra virgin oil
Directions
Mix together Crab, ½ cup Terrapin Ridge Mango Cucumber Habanero Dip, ½ sour cream or yogurt, cilantro, green onions, salt, pepper, and ½ c. panko bread crumbs. Refrigerate for ½ hour. Mix together remaining Terrapin Ridge Mango Cucumber Habanero Dip and sour cream or yogurt together to make a sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Form into 1 ½” diameter crab cakes. Bread crab cakes by dipping first in flour, then egg, and then the remaining panko bread crumbs. In a large sauté pan, carefully heat about a half inch of olive oil. Using tongs place crab cakes in the pan. Turn crab cakes over when golden and brown the other side. The browning can be done in batches—don’t crowd pan too much. Place crab cake on a towel lined plate to drain. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place crab cakes on a sheet pan; and heat for 10 minutes in oven to heat, when ready to eat. Serve with sauce.

Beet Salad with Toasted Walnuts
Ingredients
1/2 C Chopped Walnuts
3 TBSP olive oil
3 TBSP Balsamic vinegar
1 TBSP orange marmalade
Salt and Pepper
8 oz Beets
2 Green onions
Mixed Salad Greens
Directions
Toast Walnuts in skillet over medium heat, stirring often. Cool.
Combine Olive Oil, Vinegar, marmalade, salt and pepper in a storage bag.
Roast Beets by wrapping in foil and baking for 45 minutes to 1 hour at 350. Peel beets and chop to desired size. Cool. Toss Beets in Oil and Vinegar mixture. Top Salad Greens with Beets

Slow-Roasted Beef Tenderloin
Ingredients
1 beef tenderloin (about 6 pounds), trimmed of excess fat and sinew
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
About 25 fresh thyme sprigs
2 tablespoons We Olive Arbequina extra-virgin olive oil
Directions
Heat the oven to 250 degrees F. Season the beef generously with salt and pepper. Fold the thin tailpiece of the tenderloin under to create a roast of even thickness. Using twine, tie the beef at regular intervals to help it keep its shape during cooking. Tuck the thyme beneath the twine all the way around the beef, spacing the sprigs about 2 inches apart. Brush with the olive oil. Put the beef in a roasting pan and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part reads 130 degrees F for medium-rare, 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours. Transfer to a carving board, tent with foil, and let rest for 20 to 25 minutes. Just before serving, carve into 1/2-inch slices.

Roasted Potatoes With Thyme & Olive Oil
Ingredients
4 medium russet potatoes, peeled
6 tablespoons We Olive Mission extra virgin olive oil
2 shallots, finely diced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
6 sprigs of thyme
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Peel the potatoes and slice them as thinly as possible into medallions. Using a pastry brush, coat the bottom and sides of a 1-1/2 quart casserole dish with the olive oil Arrange the potato slices vertically in the casserole dish.Peel and dice the shallots and sprinkle them over the potatoes, taking care to make sure the shallots get in between the potato slices.
Use your pastry brush to coat the potatoes with any remaining olive oil. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and the leaves from six sprigs of thyme.
Bake covered for 1 hour, until potatoes are soft. Remove the cover and bake for an additional 30 minutes until potatoes begin to brown.

• NOTE: BAKE THE POTATOES WHILE THE BEEF TENDERLOIN IS RESTING AS TENDERLOIN CAN BE SERVED WARM OR AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

Stout Chocolate Cupcakes with Crème de Cacao Topping
Ingredients
1 cup Guinness Stout
3/4 cup We Olive Mission olive oil
2 eggs
2/3 cup low fat plain yogurt
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
Topping
1 1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
4-6 tablespoons Creme de Cacao (Baileys will also work well)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line cupcake pan with cupcake liners and set aside.
In a bowl, with a wire whisk, mix first 5 ingredients. Add flour, cocoa powder and baking soda and combine. Fill cupcake liners 3/4 of the way and bake for 22-28 minutes. Let cool completely before topping. For the topping, bring heavy cream and sugar to a bowl and whipped until soft peaks form. Add creme de cacao and combine for extra 5 seconds.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Every Day We're Rafflin'

You can still get a ticket or 2 or 100 until our Party on Friday, March 2nd. The prizes are awesome; the cause The AHA's Go Red for Women" even better!

The We Olive family is once again proud to support the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women campaign during February.  As a special treat, we are sponsoring a raffle with several amazing prizes and the cost of entry is just $1.00 per ticket with the proceeds going to the American Heart Association.  If you are one of the lucky winners you could receive:

Grand Prize
  • Three-day, 2-night stay at the romantic La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla, California (Online at LaValencia.com)
  • Dinner for 2 in La Jolla Village
  • Complimentary wine, cheese and tapas tasting at
    We Olive & Wine Bar La Jolla
  • $50 gift certificate at We Olive & Wine Bar La Jolla
  • $200 travel voucher
Regional Finalist Prizes (Ten winners)
  • $50 gift certificate to We Olive redeemable at any We Olive store or at ShopWeOlive.com

Store Finalist Prizes (Ten Winners – One per Store)
  • $25 gift certificate, redeemable at the awarding We Olive store
The Fine Print
Tickets $1 per entry; Must be 18 years or older to win; Entrants need not be present to win; Entries must be received in-store or postmarked by February 29; Winners to be announced March 5; Winners will be notified by phone or email; Full contest rules and updates at We Olive.com; We're envious but we'd much rather have our customers win such great prizes -- we're just like that here in the Ventura store ;)!

So pick up an entry form today, Go Red for Women and help us help the AMA promote heart disease awareness in women and everyone and continue spreading the word about how EVOO use can help promote healthy hearts!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Servin' Up Mardi Gras Magic


WE’VE GOT A MARDI GRAS MENU FIT FOR A KING’S –CAKE, THAT YOU CAN SERVE TO YOUR KREWE OR SAVE ALL FOR YOU Y’ALL!

Mini Muffulettas
Mardi Gras Gumbo
Back on the Bayon Salad
Caramel Krewe Banana Tart
Southern Peach Balsamic Cooler

RECIPES:
Mini Muffulettas
Ingredients:
• 1 (32-oz.) jar Italian olive salad ( Channel Islands Italian Salsa, Sable & Rosenfeld Olive Bruschetta, Pometta’s Muffuletta Spread)
• 12 small deli rolls, cut in half
• 12 thin Swiss cheese slices
• 12 thin deli ham slices
• 12 thin provolone cheese slices
• 12 Genoa salami slices
Preparation:
Spread 1 Tbsp. olive salad evenly over each cut side of roll bottoms. Top each with 1 Swiss cheese slice, 1 ham slice, 1 Tbsp. olive salad, 1 provolone cheese slice, 1 salami slice, and 1 Tbsp. olive salad. Cover with roll tops, and wrap sandwiches together in a large piece of aluminum foil. Place on a baking sheet.
Bake at 350° for 14 to 16 minutes or until cheeses are melted.

Mardi Gras Gumbo
Ingredients:
• 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 2 cups frozen sliced okra
• 1 pound raw peeled and de-veined shrimp
• 9 tablespoons We Olive Arbequina olive oil
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup diced onions
• 3/4 cup fine diced ham
• 1/2 cup fine diced celery
• 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
• 3 tablespoons minced garlic
• 2 quarts chicken broth
• 1 cup canned, diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 4 dried bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh oregano
• 2 teaspoons dried Cajun seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups cooked long-grain white rice, warm
• 1/2 cup sliced green onions

Preparation:
To prepare roux, heat 6 tablespoons olive oil in small heavy pan; add flour and whisk over medium heat, stirring constantly, until roux is a dark caramel color and has a toasted nut aroma. Remove from heat and reserve. In a heavy 4-quart soup pot (or gumbo pot), heat 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat; add onions and sauté until translucent. Add ham, celery, green peppers, and garlic; sauté for 3 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add reserved roux and stir until all vegetables are coated. Slowly whisk in chicken broth; add tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, bay leaves, basil, thyme, oregano, okra, Cajun seasoning and salt. Stir until blended, bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Add shrimp and simmer an additional 10 minutes. Remove bay leaves. To serve, portion rice in bowls and top with gumbo; garnish with minced green onions.

Back-to-the-Bayou Salad
Ingredients:
• 1/2 head chopped lettuce
• 1 large tomato, diced
• 4 ounces Swiss cheese, diced
• 6 ounces smoked ham, diced
• 10 green olives
• 1/2 Cup fresh grated Romano
• Combine and chill. Add the dressing:
• 1/4 We Olive Garlic olive oil
• 1/4 Cup Sparrow Lane Cabernet Sauvignon or We Olive Pomegranate Champagne vinegar
• juice of 1 lemon
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire
• salt and pepper to taste
Combine and pour over salad.

Caramel Krewe Banana Tart
INGREDIENTS:
1 unbaked pie shell or pre-baked tart shell
8 oz mascarpone cheese
8 oz Earth & Vine Provisions Caribbean Banana Caramel Culinary Sauce
2 large ripe bananas
9” tart shell pan

PREPARATION:
Bake pie shell according to package directions in a tart pan and let cool.
Blend together mascarpone cheese and 4 oz Caribbean Banana Caramel Culinary Sauce
Spread mascarpone caramel mixture evenly over tart shell.
Slice bananas into medium-thin slices and arrange in a circular design until tart is covered with banana slices.
Drizzle with more Caribbean Banana Caramel Culinary Sauce
Slice and serve with French vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream flavored with Chaparral Gardens Winter Ambrosia Vinegar

Southern Peach Balsamic Cooler
Ingredients:
1 quart sparkling water
1/4 cup We Olive Peach White Balsamic vinegar
Crushed ice
Blend and garnish with mint leaves
(Replace ½ sparkling water with sparkling wine or Proseco, if desired)
Portions can be adjusted to taste

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Presidential Recipes

George Washington's Chopping Down the Cherry Tree Might be a Myth, but these recipes with our flavored balsamics are certainly no fabrication!

Spinach Berry Salad with Blackberry Balsamic Viniagrette
Salad Ingredients:
8 cups baby spinach or mixed greens
4 oz. chevre, crumbled
1 cup walnuts or pecans, toasted
1 pint fresh Strawberries sliced
Blackberry balsamic vinaigrette (see below)

Blackberry Balsamic Viniagrette Ingredients
1/4 We Olive AAA extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup. California Blackberry balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
pinch of salt and pepper
whisk together until well blended

Preparation:
Toss together spinach, chevre, walnuts, and Strawberries. Then drizzle with the blackberry balsamic vinaigrette. Serve.

Pork Tenderloin with Plum Balsamic Reduction
Ingredients
1 pork tenderloin
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon We Olive Mission extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup We Olive Wild Plum balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with foil. Season the pork tenderloin with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a heavy skillet over high heat until the oil shimmers; gently lay the tenderloin into the hot oil. After about 1 minute, gently loosen the meat from the bottom of the skillet, if necessary. Cook until the pork is seared a golden brown color, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the pork to the lined baking sheet. Roast the seared tenderloin in the preheated oven until a thermometer inserted into the center of the pork reads at least 150 degrees F/65 degrees C, about 15 minutes. Remove the pork from the oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing into medallions.
Cook the balsamic vinegar, brown sugar and honey in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring often, until the plums are soft, about 10 minutes. Transfer the sauce to a blender and blend until smooth. Return the sauce to the saucepan and simmer until reduced and thickened to the consistency of apple butter, about 5 more minutes. Spoon plum sauce over the sliced pork to serve.

Sliced Grapefruit with Creme Fraiche and Peach Balsamic Reduction Drizzle
Ingredients
1 cup high quality store bought creme fraiche
2 Ruby Red Grapefruits
1 cup We Olive Peach white balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
Preparation:
Peach Balsamcic Viengar Reduction:
Combine ingredients in a small non-reactive saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat until mixture is the consistency of honey and reduced to about 1/3 cup, about 25 minutes
Grapefruit Segments:
Line large plate with several layers of paper towels. Cut all peel and pith off grapefruits. Working over bowl, cut between membranes to release segments; place on paper towels to drain.
Assembly:
On four small plates or bowls, equally divide and arrange grapefruit slices. Top each with 1/4 cup creme fraiche. Drizzle each generously with Peach Balsamci reduction. Garnish with freesh mint sprigs if desired.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Our Heart's In the Right Place - And So Is Yours!

The We Olive family is once again proud to support the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women campaign during February.  As a special treat, we are sponsoring a raffle with several amazing prizes and the cost of entry is just $1.00 per ticket with the proceeds going to the American Heart Association.  If you are one of the lucky winners you could receive:

Grand Prize
  • Three-day, 2-night stay at the romantic La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla, California (Online at LaValencia.com)
  • Dinner for 2 in La Jolla Village
  • Complimentary wine, cheese and tapas tasting at
    We Olive & Wine Bar La Jolla
  • $50 gift certificate at We Olive & Wine Bar La Jolla
  • $200 travel voucher
Regional Finalist Prizes (Ten winners)
  • $50 gift certificate to We Olive redeemable at any We Olive store or at ShopWeOlive.com

Store Finalist Prizes (Ten Winners – One per Store)
  • $25 gift certificate, redeemable at the awarding We Olive store
The Fine Print
Tickets $1 per entry; Must be 18 years or older to win; Entrants need not be present to win; Entries must be received in-store or postmarked by February 29; Winners to be announced March 5; Winners will be notified by phone or email; Full contest rules and updates at We Olive.com; We're envious but we'd much rather have our customers win such great prizes -- we're just like that here in the Ventura store ;)!

So pick up an entry form today, Go Red for Women and help us help the AMA promote heart disease awareness in women and everyone and continue spreading the word about how EVOO use can help promote healthy hearts!