Blood Orange Olive Oil Bundt Cake

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 ½ cup sugar
• 1 ½ cup skim milk
• ½ cup SOOC Blood Orange Olive Oil
• ¼ cup orange juice (blood orange preferred)
• 3 large eggs
• 2 ¼ cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup powder sugar
• 1 teaspoon butter, melted

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Coat a 12 C Bundt pan with cooking spray or Olive Oil; dust with 2 tablespoons flour and set aside
2. Combine sugar, milk, Olive Oil, 3 tablespoons juice and eggs in a large bowl. Combine 2 ¼ c flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda; stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture to Olive Oil mixture stirring until smooth. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350 F for 55 minutes or until golden brown and cake pulls from the edge of the pan. Cool cake upside down on a wire rack and then invert onto a plate.
3. Combine powder sugar, remaining tablespoon juice and butter, stirring well. Drizzle glaze over cooled cake

Walleye with Balsamic Vinaigrette and Leeks

Ingredients for Vinaigrette:

• ¼ cup SOOC Traditional 18 year balsamic
• ¾ cup SOOC Lemon EVOO
• ½ cup mustard (Dijon or Horseradish mustard if you like a bite)
• Sea salt and fresh ground pepper

Ingredients for Fish:

• 1-2 lbs. walleye filet (cod or tilapia work as well)
• 4-5 leeks, greens only
• 5-6 cloves minced garlic
• 3 tablespoons SOOC Garlic EVOO

Directions:

1. In a blender mix the balsamic vinegar and mustard together. Slowly add in the lemon EVOO and blend until it thickens or emulsifies. Add the salt and pepper to taste. Then set aside.
2. Wash and dry the fish filets with a paper towel. Rub filets with the minced garlic and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Slice the leeks and boil approx. 7-9 minutes until tender, drain and set aside. Brush the fish and leeks with the garlic EVOO. Add the remaining garlic EVOO to a sauté pan and fry the fish filet and leeks on medium to high heat and cook until lightly brown and the fish is opaque through.
3. To serve, place a filet and a few of the leek slices on top and drizzle the vinaigrette on top of the fish, leeks and plate. Add fresh pepper and red pepper flakes for added heat.

Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:  
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup loosely packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup SOOC Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Butter or a mild natural EVOO)
2 large eggs, beaten
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup walnut pieces
1/2 cup raisins or chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Position a rack in the center of the oven.
Lightly coat a 9 x 5 inch load pan with olive oil.
Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and the salt in a mixing bowl and stir with a fork or whisk until thoroughly combined. Be sure to break up any lumps of brown sugar.
Combine the pumpkin, olive oil, and eggs in a separate bowl with 1/4 cup of water. Beat until perfectly blended. Stir in the nuts and raisins or chocolate chips.
Gently stir the dry ingredients into the liquid ingredients just until combined. Do not over mix or the bread will not rise.
Pour the batter into the loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the bread cool in the pan slightly, 5-10 minutes. Turn out onto a rack and cool thoroughly.

Gingerbread

Ingredients:

Cake:

• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup finely grated zucchini
• 1 cup finely grated carrot
• 1/2 cup SOOC Roasted Walnut oil
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup hot water

Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon SOOC Honey Ginger White Balsamic

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Grease a 9-inch-by-5-inch loaf pan with walnut oil.

Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, allspice, and cloves and baking soda in a large bowl. Whisk well and set aside.

In a separate bowl stir combine the walnut oil, brown sugar, eggs, molasses, and ginger. Whisk well.  Add the carrot and zucchini.  Add the flour mixture in three parts alternating with the hot water in three additions, beating until flour is just incorporated. Pour into prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes and then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.

Whisk the powdered sugar with the honey ginger white balsamic and drizzle over the cooled gingerbread.

Baked Parmesan Zucchini

Ingredients:

• 4 zucchini, quartered lengthwise
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 3 tablespoons SOOC Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Garlic or Tuscan Herb are great)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a cooling rack with olive oil and place on a baking sheet; set aside.
2. In a small bowl, combine Parmesan, thyme, oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt and pepper, to taste.
3. Place zucchini onto prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan mixture. Place into oven and bake until tender, about 15 minutes. Then broil for 3-4 minutes, or until crisp and golden brown.
4. Serve immediately with parsley leaves. (optional)

Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad

Ingredients:

Marinade/Dressing:

• 1/4 cup SOOC 18 year Traditional Balsamic Vinegar
• 2 tablespoon SOOC Basil Olive Oil
• 2 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Salad:

• 4 chicken thigh fillets, skin removed (no bone)
• 5 cups Romaine lettuce leaves, washed and dried
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, sliced
• 1/2 cup mini mozzarella
• 1/4 cup basil leaves, thinly sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Whisk marinade ingredients together to combine. Place chicken into a shallow dish; pour 4 tablespoons of the dressing / marinade onto the chicken and stir around to evenly coat chicken. Reserve the untouched marinade to use as a dressing.
2. Heat about one teaspoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, or grill marinaded chicken until golden, crispy and cooked through. Once chicken is cooked, set aside and allow to rest.
3. Slice chicken into strips and prepare salad with lettuce, avocado slices, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and chicken. Top with basil strips; drizzle with remaining dressing; season with salt and pepper.

 

Lemon Olive-Oil Cake

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup SOOC EVOO Olive Oil (can use SOOC Lemon Olive Oil), plus additional for greasing pan
• 1 large lemon
• 1 cup cake flour (not self-rising)
• 5 large eggs, separated, reserving 1 white for another use
• 3/4 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoon sugar
• Blueberries or Strawberries to garnish (optional)
• Special equipment: a 9-inch spring-form pan; parchment paper

Directions:

1. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350 º F. Grease springform pan with some oil, then line bottom with a round of parchment paper. Oil parchment.
2. Finely grate enough lemon zest to measure 1 1/2 teaspoon and whisk together with flour. Halve lemon, then squeeze and reserve 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice.
3. Beat together yolks and 1/2 cup sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until thick and pale, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to medium and add olive oil (3/4 cup) and reserved lemon juice, beating until just combined (mixture may appear separated). Using a wooden spoon, stir in flour mixture (do not beat) until just combined.
4. Beat egg whites (from 4 eggs) with 1/2 teaspoon salt in another large bowl with cleaned beaters at medium-high speed until foamy, then add 1/4 cup sugar a little at a time, beating and continue to beat until egg whites just hold soft peaks, about 3 minutes.
5. Gently fold one third of whites into yolk mixture to lighten, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly.
6. Transfer batter to springform pan and gently rap against work surface once or twice to release any air bubbles. Sprinkle top evenly with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar. Bake until puffed and golden and a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center of cake comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool cake in pan on a rack 10 minutes, then run a thin knife around edge of pan and remove side of pan. Cool cake to room temperature, about 1 1/4 hours. Remove bottom of pan and peel off parchment, then transfer cake to a serving plate.
7. Garnish with Blueberries or Strawberries (optional)

Balsamic Glazed Ham

Ingredients

• 1 – bone-in skinless smoked ham, shank or butt end portion, 6-8 lbs.
• 1 cup SOOC Maple Balsamic or SOOC Cinnamon-Pear Balsamic
• 2 tablespoons Dijon or grainy mustard

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325.

Line a large roasting pan with foil.  With a sharp knife, score the fat all over the ham in a diamond pattern.  Place the ham, cut side down, in the roasting pan and cover tightly with foil. Bake  for 1 hour.
Meanwhile, reduce the balsamic to 1/2 cup, by gently simmering it in a medium sauce pan set over low heat.  This process should be done slowly, taking approximately 25-30 minutes to complete.  When the balsamic has become thick and syrupy and is reduced by half, remove from heat and whisk in the Dijon mustard.

After baking for an hour, remove the ham from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 350.  Using a pastry brush, liberally apply the balsamic glaze all over the ham, paying special attention to working it in to the scored portions.  Cover just the shank end with a small piece of foil to prevent it from burning.  Return the uncovered ham to the oven and roast for approximately 35 minutes, or until the glaze has caramelized and the ham is golden brown.

Rosemary Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ tsp active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water, 110-115˚ F
• 2 tsp white sugar
• 2 tsp fine salt
• 3 Tb SOOC Rosemary Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 ½ cups bread flour
• ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• Extra EVOO for brushing on top and serving (I used SOOC garlic EVOO)
• Coarse sea salt and dried rosemary for sprinkling on top
• Serve with SOOC  Balsamic Vinegar

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, sprinkle yeast into 1 cup warm water. Mix in the sugar and salt. Let sit for about 10 minutes or until it foams. Add in Rosemary Olive Oil. Add flour and knead (by hand or mixer) for about 10 minutes. Add black pepper, and oregano. Knead another 5 minutes. Dough should come together well at this point; slightly sticky is fine. Place dough ball in well oiled bowl (I use Garlic EVOO) turning dough a few times so that dough surfaces are protected by oil. Tightly cover owl with cling wrap. Place in warm, draft-free area to rise until dough is doubled, approximately 1 hour, depending on room temp.
2. After dough is doubled, punch it down and shape into a rounded loaf. Using sharp knife, make a criss-cross design on top. Place rounded loaf on greased baking sheet. Cover up loaf with large mixing bowl inverted over it. Make sure bowl is large enough that it gives your loaf room to rise. Let rise until doubled again, approx. 1 hour.
3. After dough has doubled again, gently brush with olive oil, sprinkle with coarse sea salt and a bit of rosemary. Bake at 375F for 25-30 minutes. Bake until top is a nice golden brown, taking care not to over bake.
4. Serve bread fresh and warm, with your favorite SOOC olive oil, ground pepper and SOOC balsamic vinegar.

Avgelomono Soup with Cayenne Chili Olive Oil

 

Ingredients
8 cups good quality chicken stock or broth
1 cup short grain starchy rice
2 large shallots, or 1 medium onion diced
1 bay leaf
2 large fresh eggs
1 pound chicken breast cut in 1″ dice
1/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons SOOC Cayenne Chili Olive Oil (or Chipotle Olive Oil)
copious amounts of fresh cracked pepper
sea salt to taste

Directions
In a large stock pot, heat 2 tablespoons Cayenne Chili Olive Oil over medium heat.  Add the diced shallots and sauté until soft, approximately 2 minutes.  Add the chicken stock, chicken breast, bay leaf, and rice to the pot and bring to a simmer for approximately 30 minutes, or until the rice is very tender, and the soup is slightly thickened.

In a heat proof bowl whisk together the eggs and lemon juice.  Add one cup of hot stock to the egg and lemon mixture whisking constantly.  Add the egg and lemon mixture back in to the stock pot while stirring constantly.  The soup will instantly thicken and become somewhat creamy.  Simmer for an additional minute over medium heat stirring constantly.

Remove the bay leaf, taste and adjust the seasoning with additional pepper, and salt if desired.

Serve each bowl with a healthy drizzle of Cayenne Chili Olive Oil