Please note that this Olive Oil Basics Blog is part 2 of a 3-part series. A 4-Step Process In the Mediterranean countries of the world, October, November, and December are very busy months for olive oil production. This is because the olives are mature and their oil needs to be squeezed and preserved for use in the upcoming year. The olive oil production process includes 4 standard steps: grinding the olives with pits and skins on pressing out the oil while discarding the ground-up pits and skin separating the oil from water content of the olive paste packaging the oil … [Read more...] about Olive Oil Basics 2: The Olives & Production Process
Olive Oil Basics 3: Choosing for Flavor & Good Health
Please note that this Olive Oil Basics Blog is part 3 of a 3-part series. What Gives Flavor to Olive Oil? The olives, of course! When I visited Greece, I was amazed at the flavor of the olive oil I tasted compared to my pantry staple in North Carolina, USA. The locally produced, Greek olive oil was very rich, robust, and smooth. It wasn't just any olive oil, I learned; it was fine quality extra virgin olive oil (EVOO.) Another thing I learned is that there are an amazing assortment of olives produced in Greece as well as many varieties of olives produced around the world. As I expected, … [Read more...] about Olive Oil Basics 3: Choosing for Flavor & Good Health
Summer Basil Pesto – It’s All About the Ingredients!
Quality Ingredients Matter If you ask me, the quality of ingredients really matters when making a great summer basil pesto. Why? Because each ingredient contributes to the flavor you experience when you roll it around in your mouth and over your tongue. Let's look one-by-one at the ingredients in a super tasty basil pesto made in the summertime. If you need a recipe, here's my recipe for summer basil pesto. Fresh Basil: The very best basil for pesto is what you grow yourself. It's really fun to grow fresh herbs - and easy, too. Basically, you need to find a sunny spot in your … [Read more...] about Summer Basil Pesto – It’s All About the Ingredients!
Kids & Desserts
Kids and Desserts - Memories I still remember being a kid and asking for a sweet dessert after dinner - every night. But, that was not what happened in my family. Mom treated us once a week with a sweet dessert, usually a small scoop of vanilla ice cream in a small 7-Up Float. Yep, it was super sweet, but small, and I'm grateful now for my mom's wisdom and follow-through with managing desserts for her kids. Kids and Desserts - The Downside Giving kids a lot of sugary desserts has definite downsides - for example: too many dental visits with big bills too scrawny appetites for … [Read more...] about Kids & Desserts
How to Eat More Vegetables
The Why? There are probably more than 100 reasons why to eat more vegetables. I don't want to get boring or teachy-preachy, though. So, I'm going to boil it down to 10 quick reasons why: 1.Colors 2. Flavors 3. Crunch 4. Creamy 5. Sweet 6. Delicious 7. Filling 8. Fun shapes 9. Inexpensive 10. Nutritious The How? There are at least 50 ways to eat more vegetables. Here are 10 of my favorites: 1. Add some sliced cucumbers to your breakfast. 2. Pack a big handful of carrots, radishes, celery into your lunch. 3. Keep a couple cans of tomato juice or V8 in … [Read more...] about How to Eat More Vegetables
10 Ways to Enjoy the Holidays with Less Sugar
Holiday Mindset What's your mindset going into holiday season? If you make your mind up to indulge less and pay attention more to what you eat and drink, then you may be pleasantly surprised. Getting to a New Year with healthier habits in place is a feeling of confidence and victory - and who doesn't like that?! May I suggest you pre-think the sugary foods you normally eat or drink from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day? Then, try your best to eat less, fewer, smaller. Or, sub in something less sugary that you feel good about. 10 Ways to Enjoy the … [Read more...] about 10 Ways to Enjoy the Holidays with Less Sugar