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.

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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.

 

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Roasted grape and goat cheese salad

This salad presents a new way to enjoy grapes. Roasting the grapes with balsamic vinegar creates a sweet and savoury vinaigrette to spoon over a simple salad.

2 cups grapes, halved

2 tbsp Blackberry Ginger Balsamic Vinegar

2 tbsp Lemon Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Pinch of salt

8 cups mesclun mix or mixed baby greens

3 kiwifruit, peeled and cut into wedges

4 oz goat cheese, crumbled

1/4 cup toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped

Directions

Heat oven to 400 F.

Toss grapes with the vinegar, olive oil, black pepper and salt in an eight-inch baking dish. Roast for 30 minutes or until shriveled and juices are released; cool slightly. (Grapes can be made ahead and reheated gently before serving.)

Meanwhile, divide greens and kiwifruit between four serving plates. Sprinkle evenly with goat cheese and walnuts. Spoon the warm grape mixture, along with juices, over the salads.

Tips
Add sliced grilled chicken, pork or salmon to serve as a main-course salad. Or spoon the warm grape mixture over Brie or Camembert cheese and serve with crackers as an appetizer or as part of a cheese coarse.

~ Recipe courtesy of California Grapes and News Canada

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