lunes, 27 de mayo de 2013

Under-the-highchair-mat

Shortly after I wrote about gift ideas for parents of babies just starting to eat, I discovered a long forgotten piece of oil cloth in our storage closet. It definitely helps to keep the floor a bit cleaner during feeding time.

domingo, 26 de mayo de 2013

OATS KAARA PANIYARAM USING IDLY/DOSA BATTER

                                      oats paniyaram  

Nowadays i am making oats buttermilk porridge and oats- wheat rava idly for my hubby very often. I wanted to try some other simple and yummy dish with oats. Last weekend i tried this for our breakfast . I got this recipe from aval vikatan supplementary. It was very nice. The actual recipe called for grinding , fermenting and all. But i made an instant paniyaram with little left over idly/dosa batter. The taste was awesome. It was like the usual one we make with idly batter.We loved it. Try this and let me know.I've also written the actual recipe at the end of the post.Please have a look at it.

INGREDIENTS

  • Quaker quick oats – 1/4 cup
  • Idly / dosa batter – 1/4 cup
  • Salt & water – As needed

To temper

  • Olive oil/ Cooking oil – 1 tsp
  • Mustard seeds – 1/4 tsp
  • Urad dal – 1/2 tsp
  • Channa dal – 1/2 tsp
  • Big onion – 1 no (chopped finely)
  • Green chilly – 1 no (-do-)
  • Ginger – 1 small piece
  • Curry leaves – a few

SOUR CURD – 1.5 TSP (OPTIONAL)

 

METHOD:

  • Dry roast oats for few minutes and grind to make a fine powder.
  • Mix  idly batter and powdered oats with the required salt and water. The batter should not be too thick.
  • Temper all the items given above and mix in the batter.
  • Take a non-stick paniyaram pan and pour the batter. Drizzle little oil if necessary.
  • Cover and cook for sometime. Flip and cook the other side for few mins.

Delicious oats paniyaram is ready to savour with coconut chutney or any other chutney of ur choice !!

NOTE:

  1. This paniyaram would be very soft inside . So dont think its uncooked. It cooks very fast just like our normal paniyaram . Just cover and cook in sim fire for sometime. Its enough.
  2. I dont like the smell of oats to be dominant here . So i've added equal quantity of oats and idly batter. U can lesser the amount of idly batter and try.
  3. Sometimes the sourness of batter may reduce if u add oats. Add little sour curd if needed.

ACTUAL RECIPE GIVEN IN THE BOOK

  • OATS – 1 cup
  • Urad dal – 1/2 cup
  • Salt & water – as needed

To temper :

The same ingredients as mentioned above.

METHOD

  • Soak the urad dal for 30 mins and grind with oats in a mixie .
  • Leave it for 4 –5 hrs for fermentation. If u feel the batter is not sour , add little curd to it. Now make the paniyaram with seasoning as mentioned above
.

                                                                 oats paniyaram 1

KITCHEN CLINIC

OATS

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day as it can affect mood and energy level for the entire day. And the best way to start your day is Oatmeal. Oatmeal has long ranked among the best foods for fighting cholesterol. A single bowl of oatmeal provides all essential nutrients like complexcarbohydrates, B vitamins, fiber, and minerals such as phosphorous, iron, selenium, and calcium.

The Oat (Avena sativa) was originally cultivated in southern Europe some 5000 years ago. Hippocrates wrote that oats made into porridge or gruel (a thin porridge) is refreshing and helps hydration. During wars, the Scottish soldiers use to carry a bag of oatmeal as a source of strength. They also believed that it could build and regenerate bones andligaments.

We are all aware of the high fiber content of Oats but very few people know about the other benefits of Oats. These include:

  • Lowers cholesterol: Beta-glucans, a soluble fiber present in oats has been proven effective in lowering blood cholesterol thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).  A study confirms that having a bowl of oat meal everyday reduces the CVD risk by 10%.

  • Reduces high blood sugar: Being a lowglycemic index (GI) food and the fact that it is high in fiber content, it can normalize blood sugar spikes. Type 2 diabetes patients can benefit a lot from a morning breakfast of oatmeal.

  • Boosts Immune system: Selenium and Vitamin E present in Oats significantly enhances the human immune system's response to bacterial infection. This makes oatmeal the perfect food to have on the table during flu season. Zinc, present on oats, helps in metabolism, healing wounds and growth of new cells.

  • Reduces weight: The high amount of soluble fiber in oats forms a gel when digested. This causes the viscosity of the contents of the stomach and small intestine to be increased. The gel delays emptying of the stomach making you feel full longer which helps with weight loss. Also, being low in fat content, oats don't add to your weight as well. A new research found that the children who ate oatmeal were 50% less likely to become overweight, when compared to those children that did not eat it.

  • Good source of Protein: Oats have a higher concentration of well-balanced protein (100 gm of oats have around 17 gm of protein) than other cereals - 100 gm of oats contains twice as much protein as 100 gm of wheat or cornflakes). Also, the quality of the protein is superior to the quality of protein found in wheat or other grains.  Protein is used to build, repair, and maintain all body tissues and provide the body energy.

  • Improves digestion: The high fiber content of Oats makes it an ideal medicine-food for individuals suffering from gastritis, colitis, and other digestive problems. Oats promote healthy bowel movement and cure constipation.

  • Reduces the risk of cancer: Phytochemicals present in oats are thought to reduce a person's risk of getting cancer. Lignan, a type of phytochemical especially abundant in oats has been linked to decreased risk of breast cancer and colon cancer. Whole oats result in bulky stool, which in turn dilutes carcinogens.

  • Stronger bones: Oats are rich in calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Regular consumption of oats helps keep bones strong and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

  • Excellent for Pregnancy: It is a good source of folic acid, thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin. Pregnant women need 400mcg of folic acid a day. A bowl of oatmeal can reduce the chances of having a baby with spina bifida.

  • Good for skin: Oatmeal bath helps heal dry & flaky skin, eczema and other skin conditions. Skin rashes and insect bites are also healed with mashed oats. Oatmeal scrubs exfoliate your skin and are very beneficial to oily skin.

  • Reduces stress: The use of oats is very suitable in cases of depression, insomnia, and physical or nervous fatigue. A mixture of oats, milk and honey reduces stress in the morning and boosts concentration.

  • Energy booster: Being high is carbs, they are excellent when it comes to boosting performance. Other nutrients present in oats like Phosphorus, vitamin B, magnesium and iron help in energy production.

The lipids present in oats contain a good balance of essential fatty acids, which has been linked with longevity and general good health. You should aim to eat roughly 1 cooked cup of oatmeal each morning for optimal health benefits.

Be sure that you have a bowl of oatmeal every morning. Your body will thank you for it!


MASALA CHAPATHI | KHARA CHAPATHI

Apart from chapathi , I usually make Wheat flour adai for dinner.But my husband is not a big fan of it. So i was looking for some other alternative . I got this recipe from Mrs.Mallika badrinath's cookbook. Its a simple , easy to make chapathi which is ideal for lunch box and dinner. Onion raita or pickle would be the best combination...Bachelors can give this a try..

KHARA CHAPATHI

INGREDIENTS

  • Atta / Wheat flour – 1 tsp
  • Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp
  • Red chilly powder or sambhar powder –3/4 - 1 tsp
  • Garam masala powder – 1/2 tsp
  • Dry mango powder/Amchoor powder – 1/2 tsp (optional, i dint add)
  • Salt – As needed.
  • Curd & Milk – Equal quantity as needed
  • Oil – As needed.

METHOD

  • Take a wide bowl and mix all the ingredients given above to make a soft , pliable dough.Dont add water. Just use milk & curd in equal ratio..
  • Cover & leave it for 30 mins
  • Make flat , thin , round chapathis .Brush with ghee or oil..

Enjoy with onion raita or pickle !!

 

 


jueves, 23 de mayo de 2013

UPPU SAARU / BITTERGOURD RASAM

I learnt this delicious kuzhambu /rasam from my MIL.Just like Kazhani kuzhambu , this is also an easy , unique recipe.I usually make pitlai with BG.But this is something different in taste and the procedure.Here comes the recipe with the picture..

uppu saaru

INGREDIENTS :

  • Bittergourd - 1 no (medium size)
  • Tamarind - Small gooseberry size
  • Salt & water - As needed

To roast & grind :

  • Oil - 1 tsp
  • Toor dal - 1.5 tsp
  • Channa dal- 1 tsp
  • Urad dal - 1 tsp
  • Red chilly - 4 -5 nos
  • Grated Coconut - 1 tbsp

To temper :

  • Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
  • Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
  • Curry leaves - few

METHOD :

  • Slice cut Bittergourd with 1 inch thickness.
  • In a pressure cooker , take the bittergourd slices and cook till 1 whistle.
  • Take a tsp of oil in a kadai and roast the ingredients given above. Powder it coarsely and set aside.
  • In the  kadai , heat oil and temper the items given under 'to temper'. Now add the tamarind extract , salt , hing and curry leaves.
  • Add the cooked bittergourd pieces and allow it to boil for sometime.
  • Now mix the coarsely ground powder and boil for 5 mins.
  • The mixture should be watery in consistency.
  • Finally garnish with coriander leaves.

Serve hot with plain rice & papad.

 uppu saaru 1

KITCHEN CLINIC :

BITTER GOURD :

The bitter melon (also known as bitter gourd) looks like a cucumber but with ugly gourd-like bumps all over it.

As the name implies, this vegetable is a melon that is bitter.  There are two varieties of this vegetable:  One grows to about 20 cm long, is oblong and pale green in color.  The other is the smaller variety, less than 10 cm long, oval and has a darker green color.

Both varieties have seeds that are white when unripe and that turn red when they are ripe.  The vegetable-fruit turn reddish-orange when ripe and becomes even more bitter.

Bitter gourd thrives in hot and humid climates, so are commonly found in Asian countries and South America.

Westerners may not be so used to bitter melons, so may find them more difficult to consume.  But if you can generally take bitter taste, you may be able to take this too.  Try it, at least for all its healthful virtues!

Nutritional Benefits

Bitter gourds are very low in calories but dense with precious nutrients.  It is an excellent source of vitamins B1, B2, and B3, C, magnesium, folic acid, zinc, phosphorus, manganese, and has high dietary fiber.  It is rich in iron, contains twice the beta-carotene of broccoli, twice the calcium of spinach, and twice the potassium of a banana.

Bitter melon contains a unique phyto-constituent that has been confirmed to have a hypoglycemic effect called charantin.  There is also another insulin-like compound known as polypeptide P which have been suggested as insulin replacement in some diabetic patients.

Health Benefits

Few other fruits/vegetables offer medicinal properties for these ailments like bitter melon does.

Blood disorders:  Bitter gourd juice is highly beneficial for treating blood disorders like blood boils and itching due to toxemia.  Mix 2 ounces of fresh bitter gourd juice with some lime juice.  Sip it slowly on an empty stomach daily for between four and six months and see improvement in your condition.

Cholera: In early stages of cholera, take two teaspoonfuls juice of bitter gourd leaves, mix with two teaspoonfuls white onion juice and one teaspoonful lime juice.  Sip this concoction daily till you get well.

Diabetes mellitus:  Bitter melon contains a hypoglycemic compound (a plant insulin) that is highly beneficial in lowering sugar levels in blood and urine.  Bitter melon juice has been shown to significantly improve glucose tolerance without increasing blood insulin levels.

Energy:  Regular consumption of bitter gourd juice has been proven to improve energy and stamina level.  Even sleeping patterns have been shown to be improved/stabilized.

Eye problems:  The high beta-carotene and other properties in bitter gourd makes it one of the finest vegetable-fruit that help alleviate eye problems and improving eyesight.

Hangover:  Bitter melon juice may be beneficial in the treatment of a hangover for its alcohol intoxication properties.  It also help cleanse and repair and nourish liver problems due to alcohol consumption.

Immune booster:  This bitter juice can also help to build your immune system and increase your body's resistance against infection.

Piles: Mix three teaspoonfuls of juice from bitter melon leaves with a glassful of buttermilk. Take this every morning on empty stomach for about a month and see an improvement to your condition.  To hasten the healing, use the paste of the roots of bitter melon plant and apply over the piles.

Psoriasis:  Regular consumption of this bitter juice has also been known to improve psoriasis condition and other fungal infections like ring-worm and athletes feet.

Respiratory disorders:  Take two ounces of fresh bitter melon juice and mix with a cup of honey diluted in water.  Drink daily to improve asthma, bronchitis and pharyngitis.

Toxemia:  Bitter gourd contains beneficial properties that cleanses the blood from toxins.  Sip two teaspoonfuls of the juice daily to help cleanse the liver.  Also helpful in ridding jaundice for the same reasons.


Dukka (or Dukkah)


If you're someone who never manages to use up the nuts or spices you buy for a recipe dukka (aka dukkah) could be your salvation. Basically it's a ground up mixture of roasted nuts, spices and dried herbs in which to dunk bread or raw vegetables. It appears to originate from Egypt though has become very fashionable in Australia. And it's dead tasty.

To keep down the cost if you're making it from scratch buy one of those packs of mixed chopped nuts. I'm not mad about their flavour normally but if you roast them and mix them with spices they taste fine - just nicely nutty. And - hopefully it doesn't need saying by now - buy your spices from a ethnic grocer rather than from the supermarket. You'll pay a fraction of the price.

Makes about 250g mix - enough to feed a group of six to eight though obviously check no-one has a nut allergy.

100g chopped mixed nuts
75g sesame seeds
25g coriander seeds
10-12g cumin seeds
1 level tsp dried oregano
1 level tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black peppercorns

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4

Spread the nuts and seeds on separate baking trays or tins and roast them in the oven until lightly coloured and fragrant - about 7-8 minutes for the nuts, 4-5 minutes for the coriander and seeds and 3-4 minutes for the sesame seeds. (It might sound a faff roasting them separately but you don't want to overcook them. You could toast the cumin seeds in a dry frying pan if you like. The main thing is to watch them like a hawk).

Set the nuts and spices aside to cool. Put the nuts and peppercorns into a food processor or spice grinder, pulse a few times then add the coriander, cumin and sesame seeds and oregano and salt and pulse again. Don't overdo it - you want a rough textured mixture that looks like coarse breadcrumbs (see below). If you haven't got a food processor you could use a pestle and mortar to grind everything up but that's obviously harder work.

Serve with good olive oil, chunks of bread or warm pitta bread and raw veg like carrots and radishes. It's also great as a sprinkle over roast vegetables or you can use it as a coating for soft goats' cheeses - or a topping for roast fish. You could add a few chilli flakes if you want to spice it up but this version is better for kids (provided, just to stress it again, they're not allergic to nuts).

You can keep any leftover dukka for a week or two in an airtight tin or plastic box though you might want to refresh it in the oven for 2-3 minutes before you serve it.


By the way the beetroot dip in the rather messy pic above (suddenly remembered I should snap it half way through eating it) is made from a couple of vac-packed beets - a recipe I adapted from Stephen Markwick's A Well-Run Kitchen. You simply chop them up and whizz them with 2 tbsp Greek yoghurt, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, about a teaspoon of ground roast cumin, a pinch of hot pimenton or cayenne pepper and 3 tbsp olive oil and season well with salt and pepper.

domingo, 19 de mayo de 2013

PIDI KARUNAIKIZHANGU CHOPS / YAM FRY

I love chops made with vazhakkai and senaikizhangu ( Elephant yam ).Recently I bought small sized black colored pidi karunai kizhangu from my native.I heard its a good remedy for piles. We usually make vatral kulambu by adding this kizhangu. This time i tried chops by searching the recipe.I got from a discussion forum hub. It was very nice and aromatic with the perfect blend of spices. The original recipe was named as 'Karunai kizhangu kola ' and it was told to deep fry. But i followed the same recipe and made in dosa tawa instead of deep frying. I would say this recipe is apt for making with elephant yam and raw banana. My doter loved it very much.We enjoyed with sambhar  and curd rice !!
                                                              yam fry
INGREDIENTS
  • Pidi karunai - 4 nos
TO GRIND:
  • Pottukadalai/ Fried gram dal/ Dalia - 3 tbsp
  • Tamarind paste - 1/2 tbsp
  • Turmeric powder - A pinch
  • Cloves - 2 nos
  • Cinnamon - 1 inch piece
  • Fennel seeds/ Soambu - 1 tsp
  • Garlic cloves - 4 nos
  • Red chillies - 5 - 7 nos
  • Shredded coconut - 1 tbsp
  • Ginger - 1 small piece
  • Salt & water - As needed.
  • Lime juice - Optional
  • Coriander leaves - To  garnish.

METHOD
  1. Wash & soak the kizhangu in abundant water for sometime to remove all the mud.
  2. Pressure cook in high flame for 1 whistle.It should be half done.(Skin should be hard to touch)
  3. Now grind all the items given above adding required salt & water to make a smooth paste.
  4. Remove the skin of the kizhangu and chop it round.
  5. Now mix the paste ans marinate for sometime. The  kizhangu should be fully coated with the paste.
  6. Now heat the dosa tawa and sprinkle some oil. Cover Cook the marinated pieces for sometime.Keep the flame low for even cooking. flip the pieces to cook the other side and do the same.
  7. I Wanted a brown layer to be formed so i kept for a longer time.
  8. Finally garnish with coriander leaves and add lime juice if necessary.
  9. Karunai kizhangu Chops is ready !!

NOTE:
  • If u want to try kolas , just cook the kizhangu well till it mashes.Mash it with ur hands and add the paste.Mix well. Add finely chopped onions and coriander leaves . Make small balls and deep fry them in batches.
  • If u wish to try the same with senai / elephant yam , add little more tamarind paste by avoid the irritation in tongue.Add less tamarind paste to make the same with raw banana.
 I am glad in sending this recipe to priya's event..




KITCHEN CLINIC
Description
These tender and tropical perennials grow up to a height of 12-18inches (around 30-45cm) in a spacing of 24-36inches (around 60-90cm). The leaves are around 50 cm in length and consist of many oval leaflets. These plants bloom around spring producing mauve or magenta colored flowers with fragrance. 3-4 years are generally required for the corms to be harvested. These evergreen plants can be grown in container as well if the soil is acidic. Elephant yam is an edible tuber. It is one of the oldest plants known to provide food. It is so called because of its huge size and resemblance with the elephant foot. It is widely consumed as a food crop, usually boiled or baked.
Buying tips
It is preferred to buy elephant yam from the markets where it is available is a fresh condition. It is preferable to wear gloves while handling the elephant yam as the sap of these plants causes skin irritation.
Elephant Foot Yam 300x200 Know about Karunai Kilangu (Elephant Foot Yam)
Culinary usage
Karunai Kilangu (elephant foot yam) can be consumed in many ways safely only after removal of its toxic materials. In scarcity of different staple foods, yam is used. So it is also sometimes referred to as a 'famine food'.  Before cooking, the wild forms must be soaked in water and boiled for a long time to remove bitterness. The outer brown skin of Karunai is thoroughly washed and removed. Then they are generally cut into small cubes. It can be boiled in clean water as well as with a pinch of turmeric in water. Delicious recipes are available for cooking elephant yam.
  1. Elephant yam can be cooked in tangy sauce.
  2. Using minimal oil and by shallow frying yam kabab can be made.
  3. Deep frying half boiled Karunai in red chilli and turmeric powder can make a nice side dish.
  4. Adding paste made of coconut, snuf and jeera to the deep fried Karunai, it can be roasted and served as a delicious dish.
  5. Boiled Karunai can be also consumed by mixing it with lemon-juice, mustard paste and salt. Green chillies can also be added to the preparation for enhancing its taste.
  6. Yum pulusu ia a dish made of elephant yam. It is made by cooking it in nice tangy and spicy tamarind sauce.
  7. Yam can also be eaten as a supplement of cereals.
Storage For planting purposes only the fully matured, cured and graded tubers are used for storage. Cool and well ventilated places are used for storing. Generally the tubers are stored in single layer. If there is insufficiency is storage space, then the tubers can be stored in two layers as well. But storing the tubers in a heap should be avoided.
In seed bank vaults, the dried and packed seeds are stored at a sub zero temperature. The seeds resemble a flat lens. The light brown, apical seeds of diameter 5mm have membranous wings which are usually 10mm long and about 7mm wide.
Medicinal values It has been proved that Karunai Kilangu (elephant foot yam) has many medical benefits as its root is highly stomachic, restorative, carminative and tonic.
  1. The cooling effect of Karunai Kilangu can be a cure for Hypertension.
  2. It is often use as a treatment for piles.
  3. Yam helps to reduce cholesterol levels in blood.
  4. It can even act as an anticoagulant.
  5. Elephant yam can be safely consumed by diabetic people.
  6. Karunai Kilangu helps to maintain the hormonal balance by increasing the estrogen level in women. It can relieve the women from pre-menstrual syndrome as well.
  7. Hemorrhoids patients are also prescribed to have elephant yam.
  8. Powerful antioxidant Vitamin C is present which delays aging.
  9. It is also provided as a medicine for treatment to patients suffering from acute rheumatism.
  10. Irregular bowel movements and constipation can also be cured with its intake.
  11. However, it should be borne in mind that elephant yam is a cooling food. Hence patients suffering from cold, sinus infection or asthma should avoid its intake.
Where to buy the vegetable in US This plant is grown mostly in tropical regions like Florida. Altamonte Springs, Brooksville, Cape Coral, Fernandina Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Gainesville, Lakeland, North Fort Myers, St. Augustine, Tampa, Winter Haven are the places in Florida where the plant grows. Clayton and Sacramento in California, Kenner in Louisiana, Portland in Oregon, Reynoldsville in Pennsylvania, Puyallup in Washington and Cabin Creek in West Virginia are also known for growing this plant.
Nutritional and dietary information Karunai Kilangu (elephant foot yam) has a rich nutritional profile.
It provides energy about 330KJ/100g (approximately).
Potassium, Phosphorous and Magnesium are the key minerals found in elephant yam. It also contains trace minerals like zinc, copper and selenium.
  1. It also contains Calcium. 50-56mg/100g of its contents is Calcium.
  2. Its 18-24% is carbohydrate content.
  3. About 0.8% is fibre.
  4. Its water content is about 72-79%
  5. 1.7-5.0% of its content is protein.
  6. It has omega-3 fatty acids.
Diosgenin, a molecular hormone which has potential anticancer effects, is found in yam.
  1. Elephant foot yam is high on vitamin B6 content.
  2. It also contains Vitamin C and Vitamin A.
From its wide medicinal benefits and nutritional profile we can hereby conclude that elephant yam is very potent source of nutrition. So its consumption will prove beneficial to health. It can also be consumed by people looking for weight reduction as it is low on fat content (0.2-0.4%).


viernes, 17 de mayo de 2013

California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil

California Olive Ranch
California is producing some very good extra virgin olive oil, some using old European varieties of olives, harvested the old fashioned way, and--some high quality extra virgin olive oil harvested in a very modern way, for a fraction of the price. So how is possible to get high quality extra virgin olive oil at a low price? Last week I visited California Olive Ranch, the largest California olive oil producer, and learned just how they do it.

California Olive Ranch
It all comes down to freshness and quantity. California Olive Ranch plants three varieties, arbequina, arbosana from Spain and koroneiki from Greece. Their olive orchards look nothing like what you may have seen in Europe. The olive trees are pruned into a hedge shape that is harvested mechanically, using a harvester specially developed for shaking the trees to get the olives off without damaging them. Less damage means better quality oil.

Here are some numbers for California Olive Ranch:

Their olive trees grow 6-8 feet high

Trees are planted 5 feet apart

There is 13 feet between each row

There are about 675 trees planted per acre

Each tree yields 7-12 pounds of olives

Only 20% of the olive is oil, 55% is water

12 harvesters run 24 hours a day during harvest season

5,000 acres are owned by the company

5,000 acres are managed by 67 farmers who have long term leases

Each truck holds 66,000 pounds of olives

Each truck is unloaded in 35 minutes

California Olive Ranch
Some more facts:

The tree trimmings are mulched

The ground pits and olives, called pomace, is fed to cattle

California Olive Ranch is using bird boxes and buffer zones to minimize the use of pesticides and tests each batch of olives, and has test plots for organic olives

California Olive Ranch
If you ever get a chance to ride a harvester and see the olives jiggle off the trees I highly recommend it! That I got to share the experience with blogging friends Chef John from Food Wishes, Chrystal Baker from The Duo Dishes, Aleta Watson from The Skillet Chronicles, and Jane Bonacci from The Heritage Cook made it all the more sweet!

California Olive Ranch
Speaking of sweet, all exra virgin olive oil should be a balance of fruity, bitter and pungent. The best way to find your favorite, is to taste them...however...California Olive Ranch uses descriptors like intense and bold and mild to help you find one to your taste.

California Olive Ranch
* If you want the freshest olive oil, known as 'olio nuovo in Italy, sign up to buy California Olive Ranch's Limited Reserve.

* If you like a buttery mild oil without too much bite, look for their basic extra virgin olive oil

* If you like a fruitier variety, try the Arbequina

* The Arbosana is most complex

* The Miller's blend is bold and balanced (and a favorite of some bloggers, food writers and chefs too.)

My thanks to California Olive Ranch for inviting me up to visit during harvest and letting me sample their fresh oils!