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 porcelain dipping dishes and a premium blend of bread dipping [...]

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 [...]

Getting the right olive oil flavor. Salad dressing, bread dipping sauces, grilled fish and vegetables – these healthy foods all have one thing in common. Until recently, the use of this one thing in everyday cooking was quite a taboo; but, scientists and doctors have realized the health-benefits that it can have. Now, what is it? [...]

Let’s cook in Umbria Chef cooking lessons: Learn authentic Italian food dishes in an informal and friendly environment. You will learn the passion of Italian cuisine and have a lot of fun doing it. Comprehensive instruction which covers all the basic Italian cooking techniques.  More than just another cooking school: Enjoy a fun filled cooking vacation or holiday. You [...]

Serving fresh baked bread does not always have to be accompanied with just butter. Try adding a new taste sensation to your meals with our Bread Dip and some warm crusty bread. Start the bread dipping trend amongst your friends, and get them raving about your great idea. Our Bread Dip is so versatile, it can [...]

Culinary training designed by chefs, constructed to prepare a student for a culinary career. Most respected cooking schools offer programs that teach culinary techniques needed to thrive in today’s culinary industry. Hands on kitchen experience from the very first day, working at a customized workstations with professional kitchen equipment. http://www.culinaryschools.com/ http://www.allculinaryschools.com For a career in a professional kitchen, [...]

Bread dipping is the new, healthy alternative to crackers and cheese which have been a staple, but often overused, appetizer. A tasty trend, filled with breads and flavored oils and sauces in the olive oil dipping dish will be an instant winner. If you’re bored of serving carrot and celery sticks to guests, why not [...]

Even for the most disciplined people, low-fat diets are difficult to stick to. If you want to improve your health, but despair at ever finding a diet that works for you, consider tyring the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet is high in vegetables, fruits, legumes and cereals and a moderate to high intake of fatty [...]

Olive oil has recently been attributed by the American Heart Association (AHA) as helping to reduce the risk of heart disease and heart attacks, so it makes sense to try and make use of this condiment at every chance. A great way to do this is by olive oil dipping. So, what exactly is olive [...]

Bread dipping as an appetizer at dinner or a party. How many parties have you been to, or even hosted yourself, where either cheese and crackers, or vegetable sticks and cubed cheese were served at the appetizer? Does the thought of serving the same appetizer at your next party make you sigh? If you want to [...]

Originating in the Middle East, olive oil has slowly become part of the American diet. Olive oil health benefits have been linked to the reduction in risk of many medical conditions, including heart disease and cancer. It is believed that olive oil health benefits may even extend to treating mild to moderate cases of psoriasis. A [...]

A new Bread Dipping Dish. As people become more health conscious, many are turning to the Mediterranean Diet in order to eat a healthy diet without feeling like they’re depriving themselves. A great appetizer originating from Italy, and fitting perfectly with the Mediterranean Diet is bread dipping. Creating a bread dipping appetizer is simple. All [...]

Attitudes in the U.S are changing when it comes to olive oil, where it could scarcely be found 20 years ago. And this growing trend is having a positive impact on our health. Contained within olive oil are antioxidants, minerals and vitamins, and research has shown that these have the capability of lowering bad cholesterol [...]

Originating in the Middle East, olive oil has slowly become part of the American diet. Olive oil health benefits have been linked to the reduction in risk of many medical conditions, including heart disease and cancer. It is believed that olive oil health benefits may even extend to treating mild to moderate cases of psoriasis. A [...]

Olive Oil basics Simple, yet flavorsome, olive oil gives many foods a tasty edge when used in the cooking process. Various types of olive oil are produced, with color, flavor and fragrance all influenced by several factors, including the type of olive grown and the region the crop is grown in. Many people are [...]

Grilled Steak Recipe with Oil and Vinegar Marinade Oil and vinegar offer no MSG as an ingredient to this grilled steak recipe. Onion, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, soy sauce, mustard, and fresh rosemary are pureed to make a marinade for steak. It can be used with a variety of steakssuch as T-bone and sirloin steak. Time [...]

Chef’s Drizzler Set of 3. Unique kitchen gift for the serious cook or chef. Hand Blown glass, Elegant Euro style and design, the perfect drizzlers for gourmet olive oils, flavored vinegars, truffle oils, infused oils, cooking oils, and soy sauce. Three Drizzlers are culinary tools that drizzle oils and other condiments with a consistent flow [...]

Villa Bellentani Aceto VSQP 8.5 oz Italian Balsamic vinegar. Balsamico Estate produced. Villa Bellentani Balsamico di Modena 8.5 ounces Aceto VSQP. Black Label, (250 ml) Very Special Quality Product is a 12 year aged balsamic vinegar produced in Modena Italy. Dark colored and a full consistence. Aceto Balsamico di Modena. Black Label - “Very Special Quality [...]

Drizzler Cruets set Comes with Italian gourmet Masserie Oil and Vinegar. Drizzle Cruets, Oil and vinegar gift set. Includes gourmet olive oil and Modena balsamic. Matching oil and vinegar drizzle cruets of elegant European style and design. A unique gift idea for any occasion. Just in time for the holidays. This truly unique oil and [...]

Gourmet Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Gift Olive oil from Spain and Italian aged Balsamico. Cold pressed Columela Extra Virgin Olive Oil. V.S.O.P. Villa Bellentini, Aceto. A perfect blend of smooth Spanish extra virgin olive oil with authentic aged Italian balsamico. Spanish Olive oil and Italian aged Balsamico Both in exquisite square bottles. Columela Extra Virgin Olive Oil [...]

Alaskan Sockeye Smoked Salmon 8 oz Fillet Gift Box, Smoked Sockeye Salmon Fillet. Delicately smoked and cured to perfection, our Smoked Sockeye Salmon Gift Boxes are a long  time favorite. All sockeye salmon portions and fillets are carefully selected and prepared by Alaskan traditional methods. Smoked Salmon Gift Box contains wild caught Alaskan Sockeye Salmon from the icy-cold pristine [...]

Faberge Egg Cruet Oil and vinegar Egg Cruet, hand blown glass design. Faberge style egg shaped oil and vinegar cruet. Elegant design is a great gift for the collector of egg shaped art. Each egg cruet is hand-crafted to showcase both inner and outer egg resemblances. The outer egg crystal transparency accents the inner egg cruet vessel. [...]

Cruet Set drizzlers Glass Oil and Vinegar Drizzler Set. Hand blown glass oil and vinegar cruets from Europe. Drip free cruets are made for easy and consistent oil and vinegar drizzling over any dish. Ideal for serving oil and vinegar for bread dipping. Drizzle gourmet olive oil and flavored vinegar over green salads, tossed pasta, grilled vegetables, fresh greens, [...]

Oil and Vinegar Gourmet Gift Set. Choose to send this gift item by USPS  Priority Mail. This oil and vinegar gourmet set makes a perfect gift selection for any occasion. It is popular for Mother’s Day, housewarming and birthday gifts. Gourmet Gift set comes with Italian coldpressed olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar from Modena Italy. Cold pressed [...]

Grape Cruet for oil and vinegar A Grape Cruet from Europe is a hand blown glass decanter which features glass within glass design for oil and vinegar.  The grape cruet is hand made to showcase both oil and vinegar in a clear glass container. It is beautiful when filled with oil and vinegar. The inside glass vessel magnifies after [...]

The traditional housewarming gift is a custom in many different countries. A unique housewarming gift is an act of friendship, one person giving in a small way to help another. Someone who has just moved into the neighborhood will greatly appreciate an act of friendship from new neighbors, no matter how small, and will go [...]

Finding the Perfect Mother’s Day Gift For Mom Mother’s Day comes once a year and it is the perfect time to put everything on hold, and show the most important woman in the world how much she means to you. A Mother’s Day gift may be hard to choose; a card and a bouquet of [...]

Mother’s Day gourmet gift ideas for the gourmet kitchen. Mother’s Day is the second Sunday in May; this year, May 13, so if you are shopping for a Mother’s Day gift, you may want to make a note on the calendar a week or so ahead of time. Give yourself a little extra time to [...]

Oil and Vinegar, the animated movie For those who may not think an olive oil drizzler that leaks, is a great concern. View animated short movie ‘Oil and Vinegar’ Award winning: Oil & Vinegar, qualified for consideration for an Academy Award, has received international acclaim at film festivals… Produced and Directed by: Mike Blum (copyright 1999 Pipsqueaks Films) Animated Film [...]

A gourmet gift is given as a tasteful gift selection that will be thoroughly enjoyed by friends or family. Fine gourmet food gifts and culinary gourmet kitchen items are perfect gift ideas for Holiday and gift occasions. Gourmet gift ideas need not be overly expensive. Unique gifts can be found at prices that will fit [...]

A salad dressing from a home made recipe is an art with no trans-fats. The health benefits of a fresh made salad dressing recipe, outweigh all of the convenience of the store-bought salad dressings. It is also devoid of the dreaded detriment of hydrogenated oils and trans-fats that lurk within commercial processed salad dressings. An oil [...]

Olive wood herb mill and spice grinder. Each herb mill is hand made in France from select olive wood. The Olive wood and acrylic grinder-mill is used throughout France in the kitchen. Herb mill is sturdy enough for daily use and comes already filled with four oz. of Herbes de Provence spices. Olive wood is [...]

Oil and vinegar set. A drizzler set is the chef’s choice of the perfect gourmet gift. An oil and vinegar set that does not drip makes a perfect gourmet gift idea. The glass drizzler set will display on the table well and dispense olive oil and vinegar perfectly. This cruet set is custom made and hand blown in [...]

Masserie Balsamic Vinegar Masserie di Sant’Eramo Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Aceto Balsamico di Modena Acidity 6% Product of Italy with Produzione Certificata Masserie balsamic vinegar of Modena is made following centuries old methodology. Vine ripe red grapes are cooked to a concentrated red grape must. Aged wine vinegar accompanies the grape must while being aged in prized wooden casks [...]

Balsamic vinegar is a local product produced in the Italian regions of Modena and Reggio Emilia. Authentic traditional balsamic vinegar is an extravagant and pricey condiment. A small bottle of traditional aged balsamic vinegar can easily sell for several hundred dollars, especially if it is 30 to 50 years old. Balsamic vinegar is a treasured [...]

A Balsamic Vinaigrette with asparagus is a delicious healthy dish for lunch or dinner. The same Balsamic Vinaigrette recipe can be used with a mixture of green bean varieties. Ingredients: 2 pounds asparagus stalks or spears, washed and trimmed, (optional: a mixture of green and white asparagus spears) 3 tablespoons Italian aged balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons minced red [...]

A balsamic vinaigrette can be very simple or can be made complex. Numerous herbs and spices can be substituted along with other flavors that mix well and enhance the inherent taste of aged balsamic vinegar. Search out recipes that include honey, seasoned sea salts, various nuts and seeds, dried fruit, and fruit juices. Gourmet chefs [...]

Balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil are regarded as a healthy mixture by nutritionist and food professionals. Balsamic vinaigrettes are a healthy salad dressing option to that of bottled commercial salad dressings that have been processed and have many ingredients that are not favorable to a healthy diet. Most people rave about the flavor [...]

Balsamic Salmon Fillets, baked Sockeye Salmon recipe Ingredients: Two fresh sockeye salmon fillets, about 2 1/2 pounds each one tablespoon lemon zest two garlic cloves peeled and pressed through a garlic press three tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil two tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped one half cup red wine one half cup aged balsamic vinegar one quarter cup unsalted butter one half lemon, thin sliced 1 teaspoon brown [...]

Balsamic vinaigrette recipe that is simple and easy to make with a mild flavor of honey. 2 - 3 Tablespoons of aged Balsamic Vinegar ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil A dash of sea salt, fine grained A dash of fresh ground black pepper A Tablespoon of a mild honey, star thistle honey will work very well In a [...]

Olive oil health benefits are attributed to olive oil’s high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and also its high content of antioxidants. Extra virgin olive oil, from the first pressing of the olives, contains higher levels of antioxidants, particularly vitamin E and phenols. No other naturally produced oil has as large an amount of monounsaturated [...]

Oil and vinegar condiments and cooking uses are becoming increasingly popular. Oil and vinegar recipes, along with oil and vinegar health benefits are extremely diverse and volumes can be written about them. An oil and vinegar cruet is more common in the gourmet kitchen, and used more frequently. The culinary category of oil and vinegar has [...]

Balsamic vinegar from Italy, is an aged reduction of Trebbiano or Spergola white grapes. The grapes are boiled to a syrup by being cooked very slowly in open fired copper cauldrons. The grapes are cooked until the moisture content is reduced by over 50 percent. The concentrated cooked balsamic grape reduction results in what is [...]

Villa Bellentani, Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Villa Bellentani of Modena Italy, produces balsamic vinegars that are classed in a gourmet category of their own. These balsamic vinegars are unlike other aged vinegars made simply from wine. Villa Bellentani balsamic vinegar make exquisite gourmet gifts. Villa Bellentani balsamic vinegar represents the essence of commerce which made Modena [...]

Balsamic vinegar is a gourmet condiment defined as: an intense, viscous, and aromatic vinegar of Modena, and Reggio Emilia, Italy locale. Balsamic vinegar is made from white Trebbiano grape juice and must, aged in wooden barrels for a minimum of 12 years. The phrase, ‘Balsamic vinegar,’ is a translation of Italian: aceto balsamico. Gourmet balsamic [...]

Olive oil bottle decanters for the table or as practical kitchen tools. Cooking with olive oil is not only healthy, but also flavorful, especially when using extra virgin olive oil. Gourmet cold pressed extra virgin olive oil is not inexpensive. Spills and inadvertent excessive use, either at the table, or during meal preparation must be [...]

Chicken au Vinaigre recipe One whole roasting chicken about three and half pounds six tablespoons butter four cloves unpeeled garlic sea salt and ground pepper four tablespoons chopped chives four tablespoons Italian parsley minced three quarters cup red wine vinegar 8 ounces duck or veal stock two tablespoons tomato paste, can be sun-dried tomato paste one third cup heavy cream sprigs of Italian parsley and chives [...]

Red raspberry vinaigrette Red raspberry vinegar has a delicate flavor but it combines with nut oils very well. Chopped walnuts add to the texture of the vinaigrette but also brings a wonderful nutty flavor to the vinaigrette. A red raspberry vinaigrette is ideal for green garden salads, salads with white meat such as chopped chicken [...]

If a good tasting olive oil is used in this recipe it can add a nice touch to stews, soups, grilled meats and seafood. It is best to drizzle a tablespoon or so over a fresh made dish just before serving. The most commonly used herb to the flavor olive oil is basil. Sun-dried tomatoes [...]