Season's Eatings! Celebrate with Olive Oil

Our holidays may look a little different this year, but gifts made with olive oil are sure to bring cheer to our family and friends, wherever they may be. From baked goods for the home chef in your life to handcrafted bath and body products to help loved ones relax, these are a few of our favorite ways to celebrate the season. 

These tasty, bake ahead recipes are sure to put a smile on the faces of your loved ones. Just add a bow and a handwritten note for maximum effect:  

• Celebrate Hanukkah with Sufganiyot, a delectable fruit filled and deep fried jelly donut that can be made easily at home.
• Kick your Santa cookies up a notch with these delicious Olive Oil Sugar Cookies.
• Gift an instagram-worthy cake with the Internet-Famous Olive Oil Cake. 

These DIY olive oil bath and body products are the perfect gifts to help you and your family de-stress: 

• Beat the winter blahs with this Olive Oil and Sugar Scrub.
• Take the sting out of winter skin with this Olive Oil balm. 
• Create a custom cleanser with olive oil. 

Hosting a holiday meal over Zoom? These olive oil infused dishes are a snap to make and compliment a variety of cuisines. Share the recipes ahead of time and enjoy a flavorful, socially distanced celebration: 

• Take your appetizer game to the next level with this scrumptious marinated cheese
• This gluten-free Garlic and Rosemary bread pairs well with ham, turkey and other game meats. 
• Switch up your side dishes with these creamy olive oil infused mashed potatoes.  

Need to have something fun to unwrap this holiday season? Consider gifting a high quality bottle of  a EVOO. The complex flavor profiles of these oils really bring out the nuances of your favorite dishes and everyone from your best friend to your brother in law, the budding gourmand, will enjoy them. The 2020/21 harvest is well underway, and you should be able to find "novello" (i.e. new oil) bottles on line or at your favorite local specialty store.  But a high quality olive oil from last year will still be quite enjoyable.  Whether you are buying an oil from the new harvest or last, be sure your guest knows that they should not save it too long for a special occasion. Much the opposite of wine, olive oil doesn't get better with age.  But like wine, once the bottle is opened, it is best to consume it as soon as possible. 

Whether you are baking a batch of cookies for your cousins in Iowa or sharing a meal online with your family closer to home, gifts with olive oil are a reason to savor the season.