Olive Oil in your cooking
The benefits of Olive Oil
Olive oil is a must in any household with members who are suspected of being susceptible to cardio-vascular diseases or other heart related problems. Olive oil can be used to add fantastic flavor to food, and is widely used in Mediterranean cooking.
There are two different types of olive oil that you should use in different situations. The first, extra-virgin olive oil, is the most expensive and it should be used with foods that do not require cooking such as in fresh salads. This is because heat causes the olive oil to become burnt and gives foods an unappetizing taste.
For use in cooking or sautéing, you should use either pure or light olive oil. Light olive oil obtains its name from its light color and flavor, and not from any lack of calories or beneficial mono-unsaturated fats.
If you wish to make your meal resemble something from a restaurant, you could prepare a loaf of crusty bread with some olive oil-balsamic dipping sauce, or some other form of olive oil dip. Dipping sauces can be made by simply using plain olive oil or by flavoring olive oil with various herbs or cheeses. The following recipe is excellent if you wish to make a dip with some zest.
Olive Oil-Balsamic Dipping Sauce
3 Tablespoons of Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
1 Clove of minced Garlic
½ Teaspoon of Italian seasoning, dried
½ Teaspoon of Salt
½ Teaspoon of Pepper, freshly ground
¼ Cup of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons of Balsamic Vinegar
1 Loaf of Multi-grain bread, unsliced (16 Ounces)
Place the cheese, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix them together. Then drizzle the mixture with oil and vinegar and continue to mix.
Bake bread for 15 minutes at 350 degrees or until hot on the lower rack of your oven. Slice the bread into 1 inch pieces and dip in dipping sauce.
[tag] healthy olive oil, olive oil cooking[/tag[
