Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil Club

The Ultimate Dog & Human Biscuits

Look at the label on a box of dog treats and you’ll be shocked at the number of ingredients, some unrecognizable and unpronounceable. My recipe has just four, and you probably already have them in your pantry. These biscuits supply not only healthy olive oil but also three whole grains. I’m reluctant to call them dog biscuits because they’re perfect for people too—top one with a slice of cheese and a teaspoon of fig jam and you’ll never buy boxed “human” crackers again!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, plus more for topping (optional)
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour, plus more for rolling
  • 2 cups medium-coarse cornmeal 
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1-1/2 cups warm water, or more if needed

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350ºF and take out two rimmed cookie sheets. In a large bowl, add the 2 cups of each grain and use a large whisk to combine. Add the olive oil and mix it in with your hands. Add the water, mixing again to make a dough. If it’s too dry, add more water until it comes together. 

Step 2

Turn the dough out onto a heavily floured countertop and flour a rolling pin. Divide the dough in two and roll out one half to about 1/4-inch thick. For a prettier cracker to serve to people, sprinkle the tops with a handful of rolled oats and go over the surface with the rolling pin to help set them. If you have a bench scraper, use it to cut the dough into 4-by-2-inch rectangles and then lift them onto a cookie sheet, placing them 1/2 inch apart. (You can also cut them with a blunt knife and transfer them with a large spatula.) Repeat with the remaining dough. All the biscuits should fit on the two sheets. 

Step 3

Bake the biscuits for 25 minutes, then reverse their positions in the oven and bake for another 25 minutes until crispy. Store in a cookie jar or tin—they’ll stay fresh for 10-14 days.

Yields 36 biscuits/crackers

Nutty Oat Muffins

These muffins have a great crunch and are packed with whole grain goodness. 

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 cups white whole wheat or whole wheat pastry flour 
  • 3/4 cup rolled oats 
  • 2 ounces almonds or walnuts, roughly chopped 
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar 
  • 1 tablespoon stevia
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 cup blueberries, rinsed and patted dry
  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 extra-large eggs
  • 1 cup milk, your choice of dairy or plant-based
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or paste

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 400ºF if conventional, 380ºF if convection. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, nuts, baking powder, sugar, stevia, cinnamon, and salt. Add the berries and toss to coat (this will help them stay well distributed in the batter).

Step 2

In a separate bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the olive oil, eggs, milk, and vanilla. Pour the liquid ingredients over the flour mixture and use a spatula to fold them in just until no traces of flour remain.

Step 3

Use a large ice cream scoop to fill a 12-muffin tin and bake for 20 minutes or until the tip of a knife comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes and then transfer the muffins to a rack to finish cooling. Store in a covered tin for up to two days and then refrigerate.

Yields 12 muffins

Chimichurri Aioli

This olive-oil based recipe turns chimichurri into an aioli, a highly flavored, garlicky mayonnaise. It’s great as a veggie dip, a condiment, and even a dressing for cold pasta salad.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup best quality prepared mayonnaise
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled and coarsely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves
  • 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, such as Vinaigre de Banyuls, plus more to taste 
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt, or more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 

Directions

Step 1

Combine everything except the olive oil in the bowl of a food processor and process until the garlic and herbs are finely chopped. 

Step 2

With the motor running, slowly drizzle the oil through the feed tube until the mixture is smooth. 

Step 3

Taste, adding more vinegar or salt as needed. If the mixture is too thick, add a few drops of water and process for a few seconds. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. 

Yields about a 1/2 cup 

Cheddar Chile Cornbread

This zesty take on cornbread makes a great accompaniment to so many meals—an egg-based breakfast, a lunch of hearty chili, or a gumbo dinner. Reheat any leftovers and top with red pepper jelly for a great snack. Along with the peppers, the cornmeal and white whole-wheat flour bring a little of the always-needed fiber.

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup olive oil, plus more for the pan
  • 2 eggs
  • 1-1/4 cups milk
  • 1/2 cup sugar 
  • 1-1/2 cups 100% whole-grain, stone-ground cornmeal
  • 1-1/2 cups white whole-wheat flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper powder 
  • 2–3 chile peppers, such as serranos or jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • 3 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Lightly coat a 9″ round cake pan with olive oil.

Step 2

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, eggs, milk, and sugar. In a large bowl, whisk the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, and cayenne to blend. Add the peppers and cheese, toss to coat, and then add the liquid mixture. Fold gently until combined and pour into the pan.

Step 3

Bake until a tester comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool for 5–10 minutes before turning out onto a plate. Serve warm.

Yields 8 generous wedges