Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil Club

Triple Berry Ice Cream

Luscious and refreshing with chunks of frosty berries, this fruit- and EVOO-infused dessert is an ice cream lover’s dream. Ice cream isn’t complicated to make with a machine to churn it for you. If you have a KitchenAid stand mixer, buying its ice cream attachment is a cost-effective option; the bowl, as with other brands that don’t have a built-it compressor, needs 24 hours in the freezer before use.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • 3/4 cup sugar, divided use
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups mixed blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries, plus more for garnish if desired 
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Directions

Step 1

Make the ice cream base. Heat the heavy cream and half-and-half in a saucepan over medium heat until it reaches a simmer and forms a skin on the surface. Off the heat, whisk in 1/2 cup sugar, the salt, and the vanilla, whisking until the sugar is fully incorporated. Let the base come to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold (it can be made up to 3 days in advance).

Step 2

Just before you’re ready to make the ice cream, hull the strawberries and cut them into 1/2-inch dice. Add them to a bowl with the rest of the berries and the remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Toss well, then use a potato masher or pestle to mash the fruit just a bit. Fold in the olive oil and set aside. 

Step 3

Give the ice cream base a quick whisk, pour into your ice cream maker, and turn on the machine. Once the ice cream holds its shape, add in the berries with all their juices and finish churning. You can enjoy the ice cream as a soft serve after churning or, for a firmer consistency, transfer to a freezer-safe container and place in the freezer for 2 hours or more. Before serving, garnish portions with more berries if desired.

Yields 8 or more servings 

Cheesy Onion Wraps

Looking for a grain-free wrap to replace pitas or tortillas? This sheet pan hack is so flavorful you may never go back! It gets its goodness from sweet onions and salty Parmigiano-Reggiano. You can also cut the cooked sheet into shapes to top burgers or enjoy on their own as snacks. Bookmark this one for next autumn: Cut into rounds to make delicious toppers for French onion soup (use any sweet onion when Vidalias are out of season).

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • 1 large Vidalia onion, about 16 ounces
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed sheet pan with heat-resistant parchment paper. Shred the cheese and the onion using the medium shredding blade of a food processor or the large hole side of a hand grater (there’s no need to rinse the grater between the cheese and the onion). Toss the cheese and onions well, then spread out in an even layer on the prepared pan. Drizzle generously with olive oil and sprinkle with the salt and garlic powder. Bake for 20 minutes or until the onions and cheese have browned. It will be bubbly when you take it out of the oven.

Step 2

Allow to cool to room temperature to crisp up, about 20 minutes. Then cut into thirds for sandwich wraps and fill as desired.

Makes 3 wraps

Olive Toast

This makes a satisfying lunch and a great appetizer for your next get-together. I love the tangy, fruity taste of sumac, a spice that’s finally getting the attention it deserves. If you’ve got the grill on, drizzle olive oil on the bread and toast over the coals. 

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice  
  • 1 medium garlic clove, grated
  • 1/2 teaspoon sumac, such as Wild Sumac
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black peppercorns like Vine-Ripened Black Peppercorns
  • 1/8 teaspoon peperoncino (Italian crushed red pepper flakes)
  • 4 ounces each pitted Castelvetrano and Kalamata olives
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 8 baguette or crusty whole-grain bread slices
  • 8 ounces goat cheese at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Step 1

In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon zest and juice, garlic, sumac, salt, pepper, and peperoncino. Coarsely chop the olives and add to the bowl along with the parsley; let marinate for 30 minutes.

Step 2

When ready to assemble, toast the bread. Spread each slice with equal amounts of goat cheese, then top with the walnuts and the olive mixture. Drizzle with olive oil and serve.

Yields 4 lunch or 8 appetizer servings

Marinated Mozzarella Pearls

Add zest to mozzarella with this flavorful marinade. Pearls are cheese balls about the size of cherry tomatoes. Serve them as a finger food or pair with tomatoes for a first course. 

Ingredients

  • 1 medium lemon
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped mix of fresh parsley and basil leaves
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or more to taste
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt 
  • 16 ounces mozzarella pearls

Directions

Step 1

Use a Microplane set over a medium bowl to zest the lemon (reserve the rest of the lemon for another recipe) and grate the garlic. Add the herbs, red pepper, olive oil, and salt if using and whisk well.

Step 2

Place the mozzarella into a half-pint lidded jar. Drizzle the olive oil mixture over the pearls and let marinate on the counter for 30 minutes. If not eating right away, cover and refrigerate (bring to room temperature before serving). 

Serves 8