How to keep your Glass Cruet sparkling clean all the time. As a rule of thumb, clean the oil and vinegar cruets as often as you empty them. Leaving oil and vinegar inside the cruets for a long extended length of time is not recommended. Residue will build up and the cruets may be difficult to clean. The [...]

Making the case for dripless oil and vinegar cruets. If you have ever picked up an olive oil bottle, slippery drips down the sides making it difficult to hold, easily tipped over and unattractive in appearance, you have probably been using one of the inexpensive bottles found in convenience and grocery stores. Often they are [...]

Sublimely Simple Salad Dressing For the simplest salad dressings, you need only blend an acid like vinegar or the juice of a citrus fruit, with a healthy oil such as olive, nut or one with a neutral flavor, and season it with salt and pepper. With a brisk whisk, the complementary flavors of the oil and vinegar [...]

A Salad Dressing can Contribute to a Healthier Diet In today’s world, time is of the essence. We rush, we cut corners, we sometimes even compromise. In no area is this as prevalent as in food preparation. In the not too distant past, many hours of each day were devoted to planning, shopping for and preparing tasty meals. [...]

A Drizzle of Olive Oil without the drip? As more and more people realize the healthy benefits of the Mediterranean diet, olive oil is becoming more popular not only to cook with, but to add flavoring to favorite dishes. A drizzle of oil and vinegar improve the tastes in any diet. A perfect gift idea, therefore, Is [...]

Cruets Gourmet Bread Dipping Gift Set includes Herbs and Spices to start a meal in style or make a delicious Italian snack memorable.  Need to find a holiday, housewarming, or hostess gift? The beautifully-crafted Bread Dipping Set is a truly unique selection which will be used over and over through the years, at get-togethers with family and [...]

Christmas Gift ideas, with class, yet affordable.  Each year the holiday season brings the familiar question, ‘where do we look for Christmas gift ideas?’ Taste and personal preference matter, as well as the budget, so a good selection of holiday gift ideas must be affordably priced to suit every person on the gift list. Shopping online [...]

Housewarming Gift Ideas under $50.00 Traditionally, good wishes of friendship are brought with a housewarming gift to warm the new home or residence. Traditions have somewhat changed over the years in regards to house warming presents and with what kinds of gifts are given. The typical house warming gift mainly consisted of something practical, helpful or [...]

Mall not a Must If Shopping Online Holiday shopping is approaching, that time of year we both anticipate and unfortunately sometimes dread. The anticipation we welcome and embrace as family and friends gather to celebrate and delicious food and drink are set out for us to enjoy. The foreboding feeling comes from the age-old shopping dilemma. [...]

Selecting the Best Olive Oil The process of olive oil production, from the tree to the bottle, is probably one of the most breathtaking things to see in your life. In Canneto, Italy stands the oldest living olive tree –  the oldest in all of Europe. This tree, certified and protected by the European Union, dates back to more [...]

Roasted baby artichokes with drizzled Olive Oil One vegetable that goes great with olive are baby artichokes. Spring and fall are the two seasons when artichokes are abundant and at their peak. The name may be deceiving, but baby artichokes are actually full grown artichokes. They are the ones that grow on the branches of the [...]

The Qualities of a Fine Olive Oil There are so many regarding olive oil: What is the difference between an extra virgin olive oil, a 100 percent pure olive oil, and a simple virgin olive oil? How should olive oil be stored? How long does it keep? What are the various uses for olive oil? [...]

Off the Grill: Chicken Salad Chicken salads are great dishes, either as the start to a meal or it is the meal itself. This warm chicken salad goes great with warm and toasted garlic bread or grilled garlic crostini. You will need: 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar 1½ tablespoons pink peppercorns, or 1½ teaspoons green peppercorns mixed with 1 [...]

Whisked, not shaken oil and vinegar vinaigrette If you thought that vinaigrette is exclusively a salad partner, then you are highly mistaken. As a matter of fact, vinaigrette can be used with a number of dishes, including pasta, fish, and grilled vegetables. It is a very handy thing if you know how to make vinaigrette, as this [...]

Blender Basil Dressing If you’ve got a blender at home, then you should know that these things aren’t just for purees or shakes. Blenders can also help you greatly in concocting great salad dressings. Here is a recipe for a wonderful and easy-to-make basil dressing. The ingredients for this recipe are as follows: 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons [...]

Basic Vinaigrette Recipe One of the great things about vinaigrette is that it is so versatile and flexible. All you need is a reliable basic vinaigrette recipe and all it’s other variations stem from just this. Below is a basic recipe for vinaigrette, which you can adjust and alter to create several variations. You will [...]

Vinaigrette and simple whisking While shaking your vinaigrette mixture in a jar isn’t necessarily wrong to do (many folks use this method), whisking your vinaigrette is a much better option. When whisking, make sure you’re using a good wire whisk and a bowl or container that is wide enough to accommodate all the whisking action that will [...]

Chitarra ai Profumi Italian Pasta This Italian pasta sauce is typical of the simple home made pasta dishes served throughout Italy. 1 package of chitarra pasta, (1 lb.)    (Note: chitarra pasta is a flat pasta, typically made with eggs, and has a shape somewhat similar to fettuccine) ½ cup Italian extra virgin olive oil 1 small stalk of celery, chopped fine 2 [...]

Getting the Perfect Vinaigrette It never changes – the two basic elements of vinaigrette will always be oil and vinegar. This is why it is so surprising that for some people, making the perfect vinaigrette is such a trial and error procedure. The creation of the perfectly balanced vinaigrette is heavily dependent on the other ingredients that [...]

Nicoise Salad This wonderful vegetable salad yields about 4 servings and is excellent as a main course. You will need: 1 tablespoon vinegar 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon green onion or reconstituted onion flakes 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard ¼ teaspoon white sugar ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 pound medium red potatoes, not peeled and cut [...]

A Healthy and Refreshing Pasta with Tomato and Basil Pasta with a tomato basil sauce is one of the healthiest and most refreshing meals one can prepare. What’s more, it’s quick and easy to prepare. This pasta recipe yields about four servings and you will need the following ingredients: 12 ounces pasta, cooked according to package [...]

Delectable Heirloom Tomato Salad The Heirloom tomato salad makes use of five different varieties of Heirloom tomatoes, all at room temperature. Additional ingredients for this recipe include the following: ½ oz fennel, shaved 1 oz Point Reyes blue cheese 2 oz extra virgin olive oil 1 oz aged balsamic vinegar 5 small basil leaves Fleur de sal (salt) and fresh pepper [...]

Vinaigrette Dressing: Adding A Touch of Zest to Any Salad It’s definitely easy and fun to put together various fruits and vegetables to make an interesting and superb salad. But what is really mind boggling in the end is the dressing – what dressings go best with the salads we’ve put together. Different dressings go best with different [...]

Panzanella: A Fabulous Italian Bread Dish Tomatoes are one of the most versatile and flexible vegetables, and what you can do with them is only limited by your imagination. Below, you will find a recipe, which is one creative way of showing this delicious vegetable’s versatility. In order to make Panzanella or Italian style bread appetizer, you [...]

Chicken with Mushrooms Pollo Con Funghi Ingredients: 1 broiler chicken (3-4 lbs.) 1 lb. fresh mushrooms 2 cloves garlic 1 large onion, sliced 6 tbs. olive oil 1 tbs. butter ½ cup sherry  Salt and Pepper to taste Method: Cut chicken into serving pieces; wash and dry thoroughly. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper to taste. Heat butter in skillet; add garlic and 4 tablespoons of [...]

Pork Chops and Cabbage Costatelle Di Maiale Con Cavolo Ingredients: 2 lbs. pork chops 2 chopped unions 1 clove garlic, chopped 1 can tomatoes 1 lb. shredded cabbage 4 tbs. olive oil 1 cup burgundy Salt and pepper to taste Method: Saute onions in hot olive oil for about 3 minutes or until soft. Remove onions; add garlic and pork chops.Turn up flame. Brown chops quickly on [...]

Beefsteak Milanese Bistecca Milanese Ingredients: 1 sirloin steak (about 3 lbs.)  1 clove garlic, peeled and grated 3 tbs. butter  2 tbs. olive oil  Salt and pepper to taste Method: Sprinkle steak with pepper. Heat skillet. Melt butter; add oil. Brown garlic about 1 minute; remove garlic from pan. Brown steak on each side about 5 minutes over high flame in rare steak is [...]

Veal with Marsala Scaloppine Alla Marsala Ingredients: 1 lb. thin Veal Cutlets 1 sliced Lemon ½ cup Flour ½ cup Marsala (sweet sherry) 3 tbs. Extra Virgin Olive Oil Method: Have veal cutlets flattened and cut into 4-inch pieces. Roll veal in flour. Heat skillet; add olive oil; brown cutlets quickly. Add marsala. Cover; simmer over low flame about 5 minutes or [...]

Panzanella: A Fabulous Italian Bread Appetizer Tomatoes are one of the most versatile and flexible vegetables, and what you can do with them is only limited by your imagination. Below, you will find a recipe, which is one creative way of showing this delicious vegetable’s versatility. In order to make Panzanella or Italian style bread, you will [...]

Fresh Sliced Tomato and Avocado Salad with Gorgonzola Cheese, Balsamic Vinegar, and Olive Oil This simple yet delicious recipe combines fresh, simple ingredients with some of the most delicious and rich ingredients that can be found. This yields four to six servings. Take a head of crisp Boston lettuce, or crisp leaf lettuce. Clean the head, [...]

Dressing It Up Simply Anywhere you go, the basic ingredients behind the vinaigrette salad dressing is something acidic, and an oil. Some of the most popular acids used in vinaigrette are vinegar and citrus juice, mixed with olive, nut, or neutral flavored oils. In preparing the dressing, all you have to do is to briskly whisk the [...]

Subject: Grape Cruets as client and closing gifts Question from one of our business customers. Hello…I am a real estate agent that sells A LOT of real estate. Recently, my husband and I took a vacation for our anniversary and the restaurant we ate at had your grape cruets. I insisted that the waiter find out where [...]

Because of the high gas prices and consumer’s reluctance to travel, online gift shopping is going to be that way of this year’s holiday season. Unique gourmet gifts that people can use are something to think about giving your friends and family this year. Something will treasure the entire year because they will be using it on [...]

Bread dipping dishes gift set are the small dishes perfect for dipping sauces such as olive oil, herbs and spices, balsamic vinegar, with Parmesan cheese or any other cheeses that you can dip your bread into while you’re waiting for your main course or your salad at a restaurant. Now you can have this at [...]

Taking a Healthier Step Oil and vinegar? At what cost? In this modern day and age, when our schedules are more hectic and busier than ever, it is no surprise that we are all looking for ways to cut down on food preparation time. The preparation of healthy, all natural food takes a backseat to the [...]

Gift Idea from Italy Is there a better gift idea than Gourmet food? Holidays, Birthdays and Anniversaries come every year and often we find ourselves unable to find the perfect gift idea. As we all know, most people like good food. So why not send a unique Gourmet food gift? A Gourmet food gift is the ideal gift [...]

Holiday Season gourmet gifts With the approaching holidays comes food, dispensing of condiments, and then even more food. The Grape cluster oil and vinegar glass Cruet provides an elegant unique gourmet gift idea that fits well on any table. Unlike most holiday items, this is one that can be used again and again, after the holidays [...]

Give a gift that everyone will love Have you ever wondered where to look for that perfect gift for a Chef? How about that special person who has everything? Where do you find the ideal Corporate Gift? What to get for the relatives and special friends? This Holiday Season why not make it easy on yourself [...]

Online Gift Shopping for every occasion The Holidays are fast approaching, and with it comes the foreboding feeling of Christmas gift shopping. High gas prices, fighting for a parking space at crowded shopping malls, and the anxiety of not knowing what to get, all lend to the growing apprehension that comes with the holiday season. But there [...]

Broccoli Alla Siciliana 1 bunch broccoli 1 clove garlic 3 filets of anchovy 4 tbs. olive oil 1 lemon Salt and pepper to taste   Clean and wash broccoli. Cut into medium-sized pieces. Cook in rapidly boiling salted water for 10 minutes. Drain. Put olive oil, garlic, and anchovies (cut into small pieces) in saucepan. Heat thoroughly. Add broccoli and ¼ [...]

Funghi Alla Parmigiana Mushrooms Parmesan    1 ½ lbs. mushrooms 2 tbs. chopped parsley 2 cloves garlic, chopped 4 tbs. grated Parmesan cheese ¼ cup olive oil ½ tsp. oregano ¾ bread crumbs Salt and pepper to taste   Clean mushrooms. Place in baking dish which has been brushed with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Sprinkle with parsley, garlic, oregano, half of bread [...]

SPINACI AFFOGATI Steamed Spinach 2 lbs. fresh spinach. 4 tbs. olive oil 1 clove garlic Salt and pepper to taste Clean and wash spinach leaves thoroughly. Heat olive oil and garlic in saucepan; add spinach, salt and pepper to taste. Cook about 12 minutes or until tender. If too dry, add ¼ cup of hot water. Usually sufficient water [...]

Oil and Vinegar Vessels have been adapted for the 21st century. Olive oil and vinegar are no longer buzz words; they are a huge part of our diet. The U.S. has been behind the curve with olive oil and vinegar but is making huge strides to get in step with the international diet trend that [...]

Simple Sophistication: The Vinaigrette At first glance, the vinaigrette seems to be nothing more than just a mixture of oil, vinegar, herbs, and spices. It is a sauce so simple that it hardly seems like it can deliver anything at all. But vinaigrette is more than that; this amazing dressing can transform your salads and [...]

Gift of Balsamic Vinegar In the year 1046, Marquess Bonifacio, Sir of the Canossa castle, presented Emperor Enrico III of Franconia with a bottle of balsamic vinegar. This gift was the first documented reference to the precious elixir so valued by cooks today. During the Middle Ages, balsamic vinegar served medicinal purposes and was reputed to be [...]

The ingredients oil and vinegar have long been integral components of Italian cuisine, which adheres to the Mediterranean diet. This diet advocates the consumption of nutritious items, such as olive oil, vegetables, herbs, grains, fish, fruit, wine, and cheese. Given the healthiness of olive oil and vinegar, you should certainly consider making these items a [...]

A Unique, Healthy, and Tasty Dessert Everyone loves desserts, so you shouldn’t let their unhealthiness stop you from eating them. Instead, you can create your own delectable, low-calorie dessert right in your own kitchen. Such low-calorie desserts are especially great for mothers, who, according to research, are overweight more often than not. Even if yours [...]

How to Sautee, Deep Fry, and Bake with Olive Oil There is one hard-and-fast rule to Mediterranean cooking: extra-virgin olive oil. You can add a Mediterranean touch to every meal by using extra-virgin olive oil in place of other types of fats, lards, and oils while you are sautéing, marinating, braising, basting, brushing, grilling, drizzling, some [...]

Oven Baked Chicken with wine vinegar recipe Ingredients: 2 ½  lb broiler chicken, cut up into portion-sized pieces ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 1 cup coarsely chopped onion ½ cup extra virgin olive oil ¼ cup chopped parsley or 2 tablespoons dehydrated parsley flakes ½ cup wine vinegar 1 cup Chablis wine Method: Place the chicken in a large baking dish with a tight-fitting cover. Sprinkle [...]

A sublime salad  A perfect, crisp salad made from freshly picked vegetables, either bought or cultivated yourself is always one of the healthiest options at any time. We all enjoy the texture and flavor of a delicious fresh salad but what is more important is that vegetables, consumed in this way, raw, are the healthiest form [...]

Garden vegetable linguine with cheese One medium head cauliflower one bunch broccoli, broken into florets one tablespoon salt eight large mushrooms, sliced three quarters cup olive oil six cloves garlic, peeled and pressed through a garlic press one quarter cup fresh basil 1 cup cottage cheese two tablespoons salt one half teaspoon crushed red pepper 1 pound linguine Boil cauliflower and broccoli in enough water to [...]

For a superb crostini use roasted juicy sweet cherry tomatoes combined with a dash of white balsamic vinegar and serve on slices of toasted French baguette.This recipe will take up to forty minutes to prepare and about forty-five minutes in the oven. However, if you wish, you can be prepare this dish a day in advance. [...]

Olive oil dipping dish and extra virgin olive oil bring together the fine qualities of Italian cuisine with a gourmet taste and flair. Oil dipping with a bread dip appetizer or grilled vegetables offers the exquisite flavors of Tuscany at any table. The Cruets.com olive oil dipping dish was made for individual service at the table. [...]

Bread dipping kit, a gourmet Italian gift The bread dipping kit is a popular Italian gift for all occasions. A bread dipping appetizer brings the estate Tuscan cuisine to any table. This gourmet food gift includes imported Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Italy, fine quality stoneware dipping dishes and a premium blend of bread dipping seasoning. [...]

A vinaigrette dressing for fresh salads is just one of the many ways that olive oil and balsamic vinegar can be used and enjoyed. For example, to enhance pasta combine olive oil with some garlic and finish with some grated parmesan cheese for perfect results. A put anesca can be made by mixing olive oil [...]

A Mediterranean diet includes natural foods, including olive oil, nuts and tomatoes. When it was revealed through scientific studies that people in the Mediterranean were less susceptible to coronary illness than other parts of the world many of us sat up and took notice to the facts. And though many people may not understand why the [...]

If you or any member of your family is prone to cardio vascular disease, you should make sure that you always have olive oil in your kitchen. Olive oil, after all, is highly known as a healthy oil, among the many different kinds of oils available in the market. It is very rich in mono-unsaturated fat. In [...]

Salad dressing taste sometimes receives the least of any attention paid to a meal. You may have had the misfortune to have tasted green salads that were doused in burning dressings that were mostly vinegar; tasteless blends of olive oil and little else; or worse yet, store-bought dressings loaded with sugar and cloying to the [...]

Oil and vinegar work supremely well in cooking together because of the strength of their individual flavours. Many rich dishes, in French cuisine, rely on the use of butter, cream, rich meat stock as the base and wine or vinegar to balance the fat content. Oil and vinegar work in much the same way by [...]

To most chefs the combination of oil and vinegar is synonymous with vinaigrette, a classic salad dressing. However, there are a myriad of uses for this combination which include use in marinades, sauces, stir frys and brines. Of course the quality of the ingredients can vary from epicurean vinegar to a gourmet extra virgin olive oil. [...]

Pesto Vinaigrette (5 minutes preparation time, no need to cook).Ingredients: 2 cloves of garlic, peeled 1 ½ tbsp Walnuts or pine nuts 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed 6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 3 tbsp white-wine vinegar Procedure: 1. Drop the garlic and nuts into a food processor. Process it until finely chopped. 2. While the food processor is running, add basil leaves [...]

To make good vinaigrette, you have to be mindful of the proper blend. It should neither be too oily or too acidic. The sharp taste of the vinegar should be a counterpoint to the oil. The suggested mixture would be one part acid to every three parts of oil. However, if you are using balsamic vinegar, [...]

Salad with Vinaigrette More and more people nowadays are starting to prefer vinaigrette dressings on their salads. There has been a shift in tastes – from dressings that are sweet and thick several decades ago to the vinaigrette, which makes use of a mixture of oil and vinegar. Now, vinaigrette dressings are not mainly for your salad. [...]

Italian Green Salad Crisp fresh picked spring greens flavored with fresh or dried herbs, drizzled with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, add a pinch of sea salt, freshly ground black peppercorns, and a gentle hint of minced garlic is what an Italian green salad is made of. Sometimes for a saltier taste a small portion of [...]

Antipasto Antipasto literally means in Italian, “before the pasta.” It is usually served before the main course of a macaroni or spaghetti dish. This appetizer is usually a few bites of flavorful food to make the mouth water and whet the diner’s appetite for the following meal. A tasty starter to an Italian dinner is a platter [...]

Some basic Italian cooking terms you should know Most recipes are written in a simple form. From time to time there are words and phrases that you should become familiar with. Al dente: You will see this term in practically every pasta dish or recipe. The literal meaning is, “to the tooth”. Al dente means that the [...]

The bread dipping gift set is a unique kitchen gift that accentuates style at the table for any meal or party. Bread dipping and Olive Oil Dipping Dish Set: Set of Four. Comes with Italian Bread dipping Herbs and Spices.  Italian produced Masserie Extra Virgin Olive Oil included.  Bring family and friends together to enjoy fresh baked bread [...]

Growth and appearance of cancer cells diminished from using olives A study of the properties of the olive leaf and skin has been carried out by a team of researchers from the University of Granada. Their findings revealed that the properties found that maslinic acid, a substance found in the crushed olive pulp actually reduced the [...]

Use Olive Oil to make the most of your natural beauty In winter skin and hair suffer from the cold and dry atmosphere. Many of us spend inordinate amounts of money to remedy this with jars of miracle creams that promise to banish all those problems. However, thanks to the healing properties of olive oil chapped [...]

The second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day. The true essence of thankfulness will bring us to the front door of mom’s house with gifts in hand, from hearts that have a sincere desire to express gratitude. Mother’s Day gifts come in a variety of selections and styles. Most often these gifts are simple flower [...]

Bread itself dates back as long as written history takes us. However, what we commonly know as French bread today, the baguette, was brought about in the early twentieth century out of necessity. True French bread is thousands of years old. The truth is that the baguette is not even French. The baguette is a [...]

It is not uncommon to find Vienna bread in a bakery that is far from being authentic. The production method of Vienna bread varies from shop to shop. Some bakeries use the Straight method while others use the sponge-dough method. Authentic Vienna bread needs a tight dough and needs more fermentation time than bread made [...]

Sourdough is a naturally leavened bread. It is started by cultivating the naturally occurring yeasts and allowing your dough to ferment. Once you have started your sourdough, enough dough is saved to start the next day’s batch of dough. Dough consisting of about 20 to 25 percent of the previous days dough provides sufficient leavening agent. [...]

Bruschetta is believed to have its start in the Tuscany region of Italy. Today, the recipe has evolved to meet the changing tastes of people and to take incorporate olive oil and take advantage of the health benefits of the oil. Bruschetta is now frequently brushed with olive oil and topped with tomatoes and sometimes [...]

Pita, a slightly leavened bread, is perhaps the oldest bread we know of. Pita is a word derived from the Greek verb pessein, which means cooked or baked. Oriental pancakes are the Asian equivalent of pita. This flat bread is usually cut open forming a pocket which can be filled with your chosen ingredients. The [...]

Flatbreads Flatbreads date back to prehistoric times and still hold a place in today’s cultural cuisines. These breads can be quickly produced and are small enough to be taken anywhere. Flatbreads can be sliced open and stuffed with fillings of your choice or wrapped around meats and cheese to create a portable sandwich. There are several [...]

Pairing Olive Oil with Food The quality of any extra-virgin olive oil is dependant on several factors; namely the climate, variety of olive, method of harvesting and production process. Extra-virgin olive oils come in many different varieties and the aroma,  taste and color of each varies from region to region. Generally speaking, the Liguria and Lake Garda [...]

Tasting Olive Oil The rule is to finding a good extra-virgin olive oil is simple  – simply sample various olive oils and choose whichever one you like the most. If, however, you wish to e more discerning about your choice of olive oils, then you must think like an Italian would. There are three basic [...]

The Mediterranean countries of Italy and Greece have popularized the gourmet experience of bread dipping. Sliced celery sticks, cubed cheese and crackers cannot compare with a flavorful bread dip of fresh sliced and toasted bread dipped into extra virgin oil saturated with exquisite herbs. Surprise your guests a gourmet hors d’ourves of savory freshly baked [...]

Old World Mediterranean cuisine has long been loved by people from many different cultures. One Old World Mediterranean favorite is bread dipping. This simple, yet satisfying tradition has been making a come-back over the past few years not only because of its health value but also because of its flavor. For years, hosts and hostesses [...]