Uses of Olive Oil and How to Taste Olive Oil

Posted by admin on July 18th, 2010

healthy urban kitchen logo nutrition expertise and cooking tips for vibrant health and fat loss

Would you expect to find an Olive Grove in the middle of rural New Zealand ?

In Winter ?

Aren’t they normally in the Mediterranean ?

In a sheltered valley, off the beaten track there is an olive grove where  local olives thrive and are picked in the traditional way by hand and cold pressed to give the best flavour and quality.

There is a variety of taste sensations to savour and enjoy from spicy, zesty, herby and citrus flavours, to nutty and peppery and through the whole range and a great olive oil can make a huge difference to your culinary endeavours especially when  you use a good quality extra virgin olive oil

Did you know that olive oil tasting is like wine tasting ?  The oil needs to have a good nose on it and a really experienced olive oil taster can recognise the characteristics instantly. If olive oil  has an full and complex aroma then the oil will also be rich and full  and will be just the ticket to drizzle over all kinds of dishes to spice them up and add interest.

Uses of Olive Oil

  • Add olive oil to vegetarian dishes and meals to enhance the flavour
  • Add it to salads and stir fries
  • Pop it on mashed potatoes
  • Drizzle it over grilled patties and tofu
  • Cook runner beans with summer savory and drizzle olive oil over and sprinkle with herbs
  • Add olive oil to pizza, foccacia and flatbreads
  • Drizzle over hummus

How to taste Olive Oil

  • Hold the oil up to your nose to inhale the aroma
  • Dip small pieces of bread in the oil and inhale the aroma
  • Put the  bread dipped in oil into your mouth and draw in through your teeth to get the full effect and allow all the flavours to disperse through your palate before swallowing and enjoying the  health benefits of  extra virgin olive oil.

Olive Tree 25 Seeds - Olea europaea - Great Houseplant Olive Tree - Tree of Peace - Olea europaea - 4" POT Arbequina Olive Tree Live Plant Cold Hardy 2-3 feet tall

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Crispy Cheese Frittata

Posted by admin on July 16th, 2010

Cheese Frittata

This recipe is so quick and easy you can have it on the table very fast but it is still versatile enough to add extras and change it completely by different herbs or cheeses, adding a chutney to serve or as a main with veggies or green salad.

If you have more people then add more to your frittata and serve with vegetable dishes  and salads to extend it.

To serve 2

  • Beat or whisk 4  large eggs or 6 small bantam eggs (organic or free range best)
  • Heat olive oil (about 2 tablespoons, more or less according to size your your pan, heavy based pan best so it will not burn.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste
  • Pour into hot pan
  • When Frittata is set on the base add sliced cheese, sprinkle herbs
  • Set under the grill to puff up and brown

We like this served with a peach chutney, or  tangy Tamarillo  or  Tomato salsa, crisp French Baguette  and a green salad

I use a Magic Bullet to quickly whisk it up and have it cooking in minutes

Extras to add to expand the recipe or make it a more satisfying meal

Cooked potato, pumpkin, beans, peas, celery, mushrooms, egg plant, zucchini and practically anything else you may have on hand or in the garden.

Serve with baked potato crisps and a glass of your favourite wine

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Quick, Easy Hummus Recipe

Posted by admin on July 16th, 2010

healthy urban kitchen logo nutrition expertise and cooking tips for vibrant health and fat loss

Want something  quick, healthy and delicious  ?

Quick Hummus Recipe for 1 1/2 cups of Dip

  • 1 can chick peas
  • 1 Tablespoon Olive oil
  • 1/4 cup water
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika – optional
  • 1 clove garlic  minced or chopped finely if not using a processor

Combine all ingredients and blitz in a blender or food process until smooth or the consistency you desire.  Serve with Pita Bread, crackers, on pizza as a base, corn chips

Chilli Sauce is a great addition


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Insects – Something to think about !

Posted by admin on June 24th, 2010

Something to get you thinking this time

Take a look at this site about insects and protein – I found it fascinating.  It has all the elements of healthy eating, its a snack food, a quick healthy meal, finger food, could be a salad with extras but is not vegan I guess with six times more protein than  fish and beef and its quick and easy to prepare.

Insect Cuisine

Yep, insect cuisine !   Problem from our Western perspective would be getting our heads around the whole thing but its green, it rids the planet of insect “pests” and could be pretty sustainable, its not over processed, no additives, emulsifiers or additives and could be as instant as you like !   There is a steady supply, they are inexpensive and found everywhere.

What is it   ?  Take a look here and find out …

.chef-a-gogo.blogspot.com/2010/06/bonus-for-cricket-fans-insect-cuisine.html

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Thai Potato Curry

Posted by admin on June 1st, 2010

Thai Potato Curry
1tsp coriander seeds(ground)
2tsp finely chopped ginger
2tsp finely chopped lemon grass (just put in a crushed stalk if you are short on time)
2tsp finely chopped garlic
2TBS oil
1 cup coconut milk
250 grams potatoes cut in 1″ cubes (no problem if you want to add more or less)
2TBS soy sauce (light is best)
1tsp sugar
half tsp salt
1TBS curry powder
half a cup of veg stock & 4 small onions

In a mortar, pound coriander, lemon grass, ginger and garlic to a paste.
Heat the oil, stir in paste and add coconut milk.
Stir briefly then add potatoes, soy sauce, sugar, salt and curry.
Bring to the boil and add vegetable stock. Add onions and simmer until cooked.
This is a really scrummy curry and can be adjusted to your personal taste.
The recipe looks longer than it takes to prepare and is a dish you can fling on and sit back relaxing while it cooks and will be sure to be a favorite in your household.

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Healthy Vegetarian Recipes – Tomato and Zucchini Casserole

Posted by admin on May 19th, 2010

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The Healthy Urban Kitchen  has even more quick, healthy recipes

In a quick rush tonight and wanted a fast and easy  using up what we already had but fancied something tasty with hardly any dishes to prepare and cook !

A tall order you might think but no, here it is and flexible enough to add more veggies, nuts, any kind of beans to extend the dish or make it extra yummy.

Recipe

Tomato Onion and Zucchini Casserole Serves 6

2 Tablespoons oil

2 onions peeled and finely sliced

1 – 2 Cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped

500 grams zucchini – cut into 2cm pieces

3 large ripe tomatoes, chopped roughly  ( OK to use either tinned or paste)

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce    ( substitute BBQ or other preference)

1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley ( or basil, or chopped chives as I have)

1 teaspoon dried basil

freshly ground pepper and salt to taste


Additional extras to add:   Celery, mushrooms, carrots, sweet potato, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli or anything else you may have available at the time.

  1. Heat oil in pan and add onion and garlic, saute until tender
  2. Add zucchini, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, basil and freshly                  ground pepper and salt to taste and bring to the boil.
  3. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook until zucchini or other veggies you have added are tender.

Serve with more freshly chopped herbs, grated or sliced cheese, cashew nuts if desired and enjoy a quick, easy, healthy meal.

The Healthy Urban Kitchen for even more quick, healthy recipes




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Healthy Vegetarian Recipes – The Fastest Pizza Ever

Posted by admin on May 16th, 2010

Healthy Vegetarian Recipes - Vegetarian Pizza Hunger forcing you to come out to investigate the pantry ?

You will be eating this pizza faster than you can drive for takeaways and quicker than the pizza delivery could arrive as well as know exactly what is in it.

Ingredients are usually stored in your larder, freezer but once you have the idea you can easily improvise

For each person take out one frozen Lebanese or Pita pocket each ( the large size if you are ravenous0 either microwave it to thaw or remember to take out before you get to the ravenous stage !  Choose wholemeal for a healthy choice or garlic if you prefer and Paninis  work just as well.

Drizzle Olive oil over your pita bread and scatter some herbs of either dried for speed or chop up something like spring onions, chives, garlic chives,but basil or oregano is tastiest if available .

Spreading over tomato paste is optional or just slice tomatoes and sprinkle cheese over, more herbs scattered on top and pop into a hot over until deliciously browned and crispy

Serve with a green salad.

Optional Extras depending on what is on hand:

  • Sliced or chopped mushrooms
  • Crushed pineapple
  • Any leftovers like potato is good
  • Onions of any kind

Enjoy

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Watermelon and Goats Cheese Salad

Posted by admin on April 6th, 2010

A fast and refreshing quick and easy watermelon and goats cheese salad

Vegan Ebook Recipes, Kale Chips, Cookie Recipes and More !

Recipe

  • Cubed watermelon chunks (de-seeded)
  • Soak chopped red onion in lime juice
  • Goats cheese  cut into chunks
  • Cubed cucumber (optional addition)
  • Small amount of olive oil – enough to moisten
  • Add the onion and lime juice
  • Stir through
  • Add chopped mint as a tasty extra
  • Enjoy
  • Vegan Ebook Recipes, Kale Chips, Cookie Recipes and More !
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Healthy Vegetarian Recipes – Delicious Italian Primo Lentil Dish

Posted by admin on March 12th, 2010

I was given this recipe recently by an Italian friend  - yes, the same one who showed us how to make pasta from scratch ! AND he demanded we make it exactly how he told us but we like to experiment ….

Quantities are not exact and can be varied according to how many people and what you have in the pantry and feel free to make your own additions.

Delicious Italian Primo Lentil Dish

Very simple, quick and easy to make and yet it  tastes delicious

  • Take chopped onion, celery, garlic and fry until translucent, (or “blonde” as our friend calls it ) something like Wolfgang Pucks skillet would be ideal to cook it in.
  • Add sausages, or spare ribs if you prefer.   Brown and cook
  • Add half a glass of wine and let cook for a few minutes
  • Add one tin of tomatoes ( or half a large tin)
  • When all the water has evaporated and 10 minutes before you wish to serve it add  one tin of lentils including the liquid, stir through and let simmer
  • Serve garnished with your favorite herbs
  • We have cooked this four times since getting the recipe, once with pork and fennel sausages. Our Italian friend said it didn’t go and we thought it was extra scrummy  !
  • Enjoy
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Fast and Easy Frozen Snack

Posted by admin on January 31st, 2010

Today has been roasting hot again and we have come up with a fast and easy frozen treat that tastes divine and is healthy. Kids love this frozen popsicle even more when if comes in a rocket mold or in the long popsicle shape just like the bought ones but you know what is in your own home made frozen treats.

Plum Ambrosia Popsicles – ambrosia as it tastes so scrummy and delicious !

We were given some plums that looked mouthwatering but tasted “mouthwateringly” sour and made our eyes water. We left them on the bench in disgust until we hit on the brainwave of iced plums , then even better, iced Popsicles and the tartness just adds to the flavor. How can something so good for you taste so good ?

How to:

  • Stew your plums
  • Add either sugar – honey for a healthier version
  • Take out the stones ( this is the most time consuming but stick with it as its so worth it when you taste it – besides they play havoc with your blender !
  • Blend the plum puree ( blend for a long time if you want smoother or we like it more chunky to give it more body. Pour into your chosen molds and leave to set. These have gone down a treat today and we spent part of the afternoon reclining in the shade slurping and drooling.

We were so taken with the idea that we have expanded it to tart, stewed cooking apples but any fruit and apricot or berry fruit would be sublime and is only limited by your imagination. What about adding Lemon Grass or Ginger to the mix ?

Adult version of Plum Ambrosia

Serve plum puree over crushed ice in a tall glass with a long spoon, add a sprig of mint and a dash of Cointreau or your preferred liqueur.   Serve with pistachio nuts and if feeling decadent shaved dark chocolate.

Try Peach Schnapps with peach puree and crushed ice.

Enjoy.

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