Chocolate Chip EVOO Banana Muffins

Looking for the perfect accompaniment for your cuppa tea on a frosty fall day? Take out some of the guilt with these butter-free, banana-full muffins. Add in the fact that you can whip these up in less than half an hour including baking time… and you are golden.

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Why we don’t sell flavoured oils.

Not a week goes by without someone asking me about flavoured olive oils. Do we sell them? When will we sell them? Why don’t we sell them? The short answers to those questions are: No. Never. We care about your health. And now for the long answer….

Mediterranean Mondays: Crema di Cavolfiore

We had a long and luxurious summer this year in Italy that lasted well until the beginning of October. It seemed like summer would never end…. But it is official now, the coats and scarves have come out and it is Autumn with a capital A. That’s ok though because it also means it is officially soup season.

Apple Pecan Olive Oil Cake

Thanksgiving Emergency: Your kid/neighbour/brother/cousin/wife hates pumpkin pie and you need a dessert replacement that is beautiful, healthy and uses the bounty of delicious autumn produce that Thanksgiving is all about.

Mediterranean Monday: For the Joy of Tomatoes

We use them when we have to. When there is nothing else to eat. Tasting them and really enjoying them rarely enter the picture. And when paired with extra virgin olive oil, they transform into something that is pure Italian –  yes, ladies and gentleman, may I introduce you to the tomato.

Mediterranean Monday: Pasta with Zucchini and Pine Nuts

Everyone I know in Canada that has a vegetable garden, grows Zucchini. And every year, each and every one of them will ask me: do you want some? I have soooo much!

Despite their prevalence in Canadian vegetable gardens, I have always thought that the Zucchini played an even bigger role in Italian cuisine.

Olive Oil Gelato?

This week I am going to ask you to open your mind. I mean wide open. Now just a little bit wider. Okay, we are getting close.

When people come back from their Italian vacations, they can disagree on many things: where was the most romantic spot, which was the best bowl of pasta or who was the creepiest taxi driver. However, there is one thing they all agree on. The gelato.

Bruschetta. Not just with tomatoes anymore…

It is summertime. Finally. And the heat has arrived, not complaining of course… but with the arrival of this kind of temperature, cooking big meals over the stove ends for me. Full stop. So….say hello to my good friend Bruschetta – and be sure to pronounce it right [brusˈketːa] so the Italians in the room don’t take offence.

Mediterranean Monday: Cold Lentil Salad

For the last few weeks I have been craving lentils. A real deep lusty craving. And they say that when your body craves something, it is trying to tell you that you are lacking a particular nutrient, mineral or vitamin. So, since my craving didn’t involve something illegal or unhealthy… I thought I should listen.

Mediterranean Monday: Pasta con Cime di Rapa

Cime di Rapa, also known as Rapini, Broccoli Rabe (or Raap or Raab), Broccoletti, Broccoli di Rape, Rape, Rappi or Friarielli is a veggie commonly found in many of the dishes of Southern Italy (in particular Basilicata , Puglia and Sicily).