Olive Oil Brownies…From a Box?

By Cibaria Culinary Writer: Mary Rose Gahon

Olive Oil Brownie in a Box

I love brownies.  The taste of dense chocolate and cake in my mouth chased by a cold glass of milk… sometimes this is enough to take the stress away.  Or better yet, enough to enjoy on a gloomy day when the forecast outside my window looks as though we are on the verge of rain.  Nothing like a piece of brownie to bring a smile to my heart, not to mention my face.  It seems to lighten things inside of us when we make ourselves present to that moment… biting into a small square of brownie.

There are many brownie recipes out there that are delicious in their own right.  Working as a pastry cook, I’ve had a hand at baking my share of brownies.  In my line of work, I’ve been fortunate to taste some excellent brownies.  Time is of the essence, they say.  And as with anything made well and from scratch, include time as part of the ingredients.  I understand time.  I understand not having enough of it.  My schedule, usually a ten hour day with a two hour total commute, preclude me sometimes from baking made-from-scratch brownies.  Because of my chocolate cravings, and though most people overlook the boxed brownie, I haven’t removed it from my repertoire when I need to satisfy a chocolate fix.  Yes, I get to taste some high quality brownies ranging from chocolatey to fudgy, caramelly to nutty.  But none of these recipes mimic the brownies I grew up with, the ones my older sister made time to bake for me as we were growing up.  The ready to bake brownie in a box that all of us enjoyed because it was easy and it was there to enjoy.  Add oil, add water, add eggs; bake for twenty-five minutes and its ready to eat after a ten minute cool down.

What I wanted to find out was whether extra virgin olive oil would work with boxed brownies.   The recommendation has always been a neutral oil like vegetable or canola so it doesn’t interfere with the taste of the brownies.  And with the potency from the first pressing of olives, my concern was whether the strong flavor of Coratina EVOO from the Cibaria line distract the chocolate flavor from the brownies.  After baking the brownies, along with the addition of a cup each of walnuts and chopped dark chocolate, the verdict is that the brownies taste wonderful.  The scent of olive oil was strong prior to baking, but after baking, the scent vanished.  There’s a very faint taste of olive oil, but none too prominently detectable that would interfere with the taste of the brownies.  What might be a surprise is that the EVOO may have enhanced the brownies, complimenting the chocolate somehow.  I asked my sister to taste the brownies and she said that it tasted richer; in this case, I agreed.

Who’s to say that one can’t elevate the boxed brownie?  In this case, aside from adding more chocolate or more nuts into your favorite boxed brownie, try using EVOO when it calls for that half cup of oil and taste the difference.

Holiday Gift Ideas for Foodies, Chefs, and Cooks!

Gift giving is what makes the Holiday and Christmas season warm and love-filled, when shared with colleagues, friends, and family.  If you’ve asked yourself “What gifts should I buy for a chef, cook, or foodie” then this is for YOU! We’ve got some amazing recommendations that even the most discerning food lover will absolutely love and appreciate! First of all, how does one decide what gift to buy for someone? Especially someone who loves food and is passionate about the culinary world and all that it has to offer?

.

The first and most important thing to remember is to keep their favorite tastes in mind and attribute an overall theme to their “likes”.  Does this person prefer the finer things in life? Are their tasted more refined? Classical? How about their cooking style? If they have a blog or an online recipe collection – take a look and find common ground among all of their food favorites. From there, you’ll know what their inadvertent food favorites are, thus making it much easier to appeal to their tastes when buying them holiday / Christmas gifts.

.

While not everyone has refined cooking tastes, you’ll find that people’s tastes differ quite dramatically. Some strive for fast/easy dishes, while others lean more towards rich, family-friendly foods that are reminiscent of America’s Southern regions. Others found their passion for cooking while learning to live a healthier lifestyle. Others simply admire from afar, but haven’t taken the full-on plunge into a “foodie lifestyle”. In this case, ask about their favorite cooking shows, who they admire, and what dishes that person made which appealed to them.

.

Once you’ve gathered this information, Holiday gift giving becomes a fun and exciting adventure into the world of culinary tools, oils, condiments, sauces, utensils, and appliances!

.

Presenting our 2010 Holiday Gift Ideas for Foodies, Chefs, and Cooks!

The Breville Panini Press

Whether you’re a seasoned chef, or a passionate Foodie, this Holiday / Christmas Gift idea screams creativity and exploration. Since Panini’s are one of those foods that can be done in SO many ways, this amazing tool really warms the plate, and the heart! PS: This nifty device also was chosen as one of Ms. Oprah Winfrey’s Favorite Things for 2010! – Listed on Williams-Sonoma

.

Italian Olive Oil and 25 Star Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (Aged) Gift Set

Whether your foodie friend craves the finer things in life, or just likes good food and quality ingredients, this Gourmet Gift Set from Cibaria Fine Oils will NOT disappoint! Featuring an AMAZING Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil and an Aged 25 Star Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, Italy – You really can’t go wrong with this gift.  This balsamic isn’t just any ol’ balsamic – it’s rich, dark, and a bit thicker than most balsamics (think of a reduction!) and it’s perfect blend of sweet / tart tastes go amazing with your favorite bread, pasta, or as a marinade. (or even on ice cream!) There really is no wrong way to enjoy this one! Listed at Cibaria Fine Oils – Gourmet Olive Oil and Balsamic Gift Set

.

Dean and Deluca’s Glorious Cheese Gift

A nice, gift that pretty much anyone would appreciate – cheese! How can you go wrong with cheese? The general masses haven’t had cheeses this good, so even your non-foodie friends would appreciate this cheese set that features cheeses they have only dreamed of!

Dean and Deluca packaged their “favorite” (which we agree on) Brillat with some colavolpe stuffed figs with almonds, a jar of all-natural Italian Lime Honey, and a jar of all-natural Robert Lambert champagne Jelly. They suggest serving the cheese and figs on crackers, with a dollop of honey or jam (or both) to enjoy this delicious and unique treat.

Listed on Dean and Deluca

.

Zevro’s Magnetic Spice Rack

This sleek and futuristic gadget does a lot more than just look great on your kitchen counter, it provides an easy and accessible way to keep your favorite fresh spices organized and good-tasting. Being magnetic, it makes it easy to grab and put away your spices as you cook, instead of leaving them all sprawled across the kitchen counter tops.

Listed on Zevro

Wusthof Gourmet 18-Piece Knife Set with Block

Because no chef or cook’s kitchen is complete without a top-quality knife set! This gourmet gift idea is brought to you straight from Germany – where the cars are fast,  the beer is essential, and the food is even better! These gourmet knives feature laser-cut, high carbon steel blades with stain resistant alloy. They are also traditionally cut, for a nice, even look in any kitchen. They come packed in their slotted oak block, ready for you to use in your culinary adventures!

Listed at Amazon

.

Jura Capresso Impressa S9 One Touch

This beautiful piece of gadgetry boasts a plethora of functions, all easy to use, and very reliable. While worth it’s $2000+ price tag, this machine exudes gourmet class when it comes to espresso and coffee.

Make a cappuccino, cafe’ mocha, latte, or a latte’ macchiato, all with the touch of just one button. Features our programmable buttons that let you personalize your coffee size, strength, and temperature.

What an impressive Christmas gift! We’re definitely standing behind this one, as the quality of our morning coffee usually deciphers the rest of our day! For those looking for something a little less flashy and/or pricey, the next best place to view gourmet espresso machines would definitely be Amazon.com.

Listed at Sur La Table

.

What are some of YOUR favorite Holiday Foodie and Chef gift ideas for the 2010 season? We’d love to hear about them!

Introducing Gourmet Tunisian Olive Oil

Cibaria Fine Oils is proud to introduce the newest members of our Gourmet Olive Oil and Vinegar line:

.

Tunisian Extra Virgin Olive Oil and

.

Organic Tunisian Extra Virgin olive Oil

.

Both new olive oils come in 500ml quantities, and are sure to leave you wanting to use it in everything. This olive oil has a smooth flavor, and is amazingly fresh and vibrant. Perfect as a Holiday / Christmas Gourmet gift, or to use yourself. You can’t go wrong with oil from the amazing Mediterranean country of Tunisia. (Which boasts a near-perfect climate for amazing olives!)

.

Tunisia is one of the oldest known Olive Oil producing countries, and they even are home to one of the world’s oldest Olive trees. It is estimated that this tree is at least a few thousand years old.

.

This fine olive oil is imported directly from the beautiful country of Tunisia. This long-time olive oil producing country has many olive oil trees that exceed 100 years old. It is also the home of the world’s oldest olive oil tree. In November the fruit is hand­picked in the tra­di­tional way, the ripe olives being raked from the branches with a spe­cial comb. They are care­fully sorted and then crushed straight away. Tunisian Olive Oil is recognized by many chefs and connoisseurs as one of the best olive oils to utilize. This is a smooth, rich olive oil, that is very versatile.

.

Olive Oil and Tunisia – The History

For thousands of years, olive oil had been prominent in all the great civilizations that have prospered in Tunisia. The olive tree was cultivated by the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Carthaginians, the Romans and the Arabs, in a tradition that has been passed down from father to son ever since.

Olive cultivation in Tunisia dates back to the 8th century BC, even before the founding of Carthage by the Queen Dido. The Phoenicians were the first to introduce this crop to North Africa.

In the Carthaginian period, olive cultivation started to spread an account of several advantages granted to olive-growers.
Romans continued the expansion of olive-growing stepped up irrigation, olive oil extraction techniques. Excavations at Sufeitula (present-day Sbeitla) and Thysdrus (El Jem) and Roman mosaics discovered in Sousse, attest the widespread culture of olive-trees throughout Tunisia.

Tunisia is the largest olive oil producer outside the European Union, and comes fourth in the world following Spain, Italy and Greece.

Since ancient times, olive oil was used for various purposes: Athletes used it to massage their muscles to make them suppler, women used it to keep their skin looking young, it was thought to be a strengthening tonic which helped prevent baldness, and with addition of wine and spices, it was used for cosmetic.

The collection of the archeological and ethnographic objects and utensils attest the importance of olive oil in the everyday life and people’s art living throughout the History of Tunisia.