Recipe : Neopolitan Herb Balsamic Bloody Mary

Ingredients

ground pepper to taste (available at Spice Galleria)
1/2 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice
3/4 ounce Neapolitan Herb Balsamic Vinegar (available at The Olive Oil Experience)
1 1/2 teaspoons horseradish
1/4 teaspoon sea salt (available at Spice Galleria)
1/2 ounce Worcestershire sauce (available at Be A Casual Gourmet)
12 ounces tomato juice

6 oz. Vodka

4 celery stalks with leaves attached

Directions
Add ice to 4 glasses. Mix vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, Neapolitan Herb Balsamic, and horseradish (if using) and pour into glass.

Garnish with a celery stalk and lemon slice.

Serves 4

Recipe: Lemon Olive Oil and Polenta Cake

Lemon Olive Oil and Polenta Cake

 

Ingredients 2 cups unbleached all purpose flour (organic if possible)
1/2 cup stone ground cornmeal (regular cornmeal will work here too)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup The Olive Oil Experience lemon olive oil
1 cup whole milk yogurt
2 eggs
2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon Spice Galleria vanilla extract
1 teaspoon Spice Galleria sea salt

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Grease a 9"x9" baking pan with lemon olive oil.  In a large bowl combine the sugar, eggs, yogurt, vanilla, and lemon olive oil.  Whisk until pale and well combined.  Whisk the dry ingredients together and add to the wet ingredients.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes in the center of the oven until golden brown, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool for 15 minutes in the pan, and invert on to a rack and cool fully before serving.

Serves 6-8

 

 



Recipe: Garlic-Asiago-Cheddar Cheese Crackers

Ingredients

 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out the dough
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons Spice Galleria sea salt
1/2 teaspoon Spice Galleria freshly ground fine black pepper (optional)
1 1/2 cups aged, shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded Asiago cheese
1 cup The Olive Oil Experience Garlic Infused Olive Oil (try experimenting with other infused olive oils)


 
Instructions


Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper in the bowl of a food processor.  Pulse a few times to distribute.  Add the cheeses and pulse again to finely chop the cheese into the dry ingredients.  Add the oil and continue to pulse until the oil is incorporated thoroughly.

Gather and press the dough in to two flat discs.  Wrap each disc and chill for an hour.

Preheat the oven to 425 F.

Line a baking sheet.  Roll out one disk at a time to 1/4" thick.  Cut in to squares, rounds - whatever floats your boat.  The way you choose to cut the crackers will not affect their taste.

Bake for 9-11 minutes until the edges become golden.

Recipe: Roasted Beet Salad with Fresh Goat Cheese and Toasted Pecans

Ingredients


1 1/2 pounds fresh beets
8 oz. Chevre (fresh goat cheese)
6 cups baby arugula or mixed greens
1 cup whole pecans, toasted
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons The Olive Oil Experience Cranberry-Pear White Balsamic Vinegar
1 tablespoon good quality grainy mustard
fresh ground pepper to taste from Spice Galleria
1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons The Olive Oil Experience UP extra virgin olive oil



Directions
 
Preheat the oven to 400.  Trim the beets and wrap in one foil packet drizzled with a tablespoon of water.  Roast for 1 hour or until tender when pierced through with a knife.  Once the cooked beets are cool enough to handle, peel them by rubbing the skin off between paper towels.  Warning:  This will dye your hands bright red.

Cut the peeled beets in to 1" pieces and toss with 2 tablespoons of Cranberry-Pear White Balsamic whisked together with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and set aside.

In a medium size bowl, whisk the remaining Cranberry-Pear White Balsamic with the grainy mustard until well combined.  Slowly drizzle in your olive oil of choice, whisking constantly until the mixture is thickened or emulsified.  Add freshly ground pepper and sea salt to taste.

Arrange the greens in a bowl or on a platter and dress with the Cranberry-Pear White Balsamic vinaigrette.  Add the marinated roasted beets to the salad, along with the crumbled fresh goat cheese and toasted pecans.



Serves 6-8 generous portions

Recipe : Cajun Grilled Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

• 1 or 2 large sweet potato sliced into 1/2 inch slices
• 2 tablespoons The Olive Oil Experience 100% Robust Intensity Olive Oil
• 1 tablespoon Spice Galleria Cajun Seasoning 

Directions:

1. Cover the sweet potato slices with the olive oil, sprinkle the Cajun Seasoning over the slices
2. Heat grill to low heat. Place potato slices on the preheated grill rack until bubbly on the bottom, carefully flip and do the same with the other side. You can also use a vegetable basket on the grill or bake these potatoes in the oven set at 350 for about 30-35 minutes. Flip potatoes halfway through the cooking time to insure they cook evenly. These potatoes make a great side dish for fish or chicken.                            

Serves: 4

Recipe : Roasted Red Potatoes with Garlic Olive Oil

8 medium red new potatoes

1/2 cup The Olive Oil Experience garlic olive oil (you could also use our new rosemary olive oil)

2 teaspoons Spice Galleria sea salt

Spice Galleria fresh ground pepper to taste

1 cup grated cheddar (optional) or any other melting cheese of your choice

1 tablespoon fresh chopped chives for garnish

Preheat the oven to 400 F.

Set each potato in to a large spoon and make thin slices along the length of the potato, using the spoon as a guide so as not to cut all the way through the potato.

Pour the garlic olive oil in to a large bowl or container.  Toss the potatoes liberally in the olive oil, making sure to get it in between the slices.  Arrange the potatoes on a foil lined baking sheet, cut side up.  Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper to taste, making sure to season in between the slices.

Bake for 30 minutes until the edges begin to turn golden brown.  If desired, remove the potatoes, sprinkle with cheese, and bake for another 15-20 minutes until fully tender and golden brown.

Adjust seasoning to taste, sprinkle with fresh chives for garnish, and serve with sour cream.

Serves 4

The Great Recipe Showdown Overall Winner : sweet potato au gratin

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

1 ½ cups of half and half

½ teaspoon Spice Galleria smoked Spanish paprika

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

½ teaspoon Spice Galleria sea salt

¼ teaspoon Spice Galleria ground pepper

Melt butter in saucepan, add flour, whisk to combine, turn to low for one minute. Add half and half and seasonings, let it thicken up slightly. Turn heat off. Set aside.

2 tablespoons butter

1 thinly sliced onion

¼ teaspoon Spice Galleria ground cayenne 40,000 HU

3 tablespoons dark brown sugar

Melt butter in saucepan, add onion, cayenne, brown sugar and sauté till onion is tender.

2 sweet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced

½ cup Romano cheese, shredded

1 ½ cups Parmesan cheese, shredded

Layer half the potatoes, flour and butter mixture, then onion and sugar mixture, and the cheese. Repeat layers. Cover with foil and bake for 60 minutes. Uncover and bake another 15 minutes until the cheese is golden brown.