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Sliced tomatoes of many different sizes and flavors are nestled into fresh pesto and baked into a rectangular tart made of puff pastry

Heirloom Tomato Pesto Tart

Here's another idea for you tomato lovers. This Heirloom Tomato Pesto Tart makes a lovely appetizer or side dish for a light lunch or dinner.

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Porcelain ramekins are filled with traditional, herbed, and sriracha mayonnnaise

Cooked Egg EVOO Mayonnaise

I'd like to think that, ever-practical, Julia Child would be a fan of cooked egg mayonnaise. As with most techniques, understanding the fundamentals are key to executing successful variations. Here...

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A freshly sliced loaf of blueberry olive oil cake sits on a  wooden cutting board. Two slices reveal a high percentage blueberries inside.

Blueberry Olive Oil Cake

The recipe is simple, and the result is a moist dense cake with an abundance of fresh blueberries. This recipe is suitable for a 9" round, a standard loaf pan, or for particularly luxurious muffins.

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A pint glass is filled with ice and a refreshing beverage with bubbles. A strawberry is stuck to the rim of the glass, and a stainless steel straw sticks out at a jaunty angle. Scene is in a marble and tile kitchen.

Tangy, Sweet, Refreshing Strawberry Balsamic Shrub

We're headed toward another week of triple digit temperatures, so offer this refreshing beverage from our friend and colleague, Laura.

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Cucumber Mint, Strawberry Ascolano Daiquiri, and Cherries & Cream Paletas shown on a plate with a 12 section ice pop maker in the background

Tasty Trio of Paletas!

We're looking at forecast that indicates 20 days (or more) of triple digit temperatures up here, and I know we're not alone. It's 117º F today in Corning, and I just finished an Ascolano Cucumber M...

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Ascolano EVOO is drizzled onto a rectangular slice of puff pastry with apricots, frangipane, and Ascolano Mascarpone Cream

Apricots & Frangipane in Puff Pastry with Ascolano Mascarpone Cream

Abundant fresh apricots have us on our toes looking for ways to enjoy them, so this week created an simple yet artful dessert layering almond-rich frangipane, succulent baked apricots, and a peach-...

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Angie rinses olives as part of the home cure process

Angie Makes Home Cured Green Olives

This is a personal account from a first time olive briner using a special Corning home town recipe. See the special food safety note at the end.

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A small bowl of fresh pesto sits on an olivewood board in a marble and copper kitchen. A bunch of fresh basil, large chunks of parmigiano reggiano, and a scattering of pine nuts are shown out of focus in the background

Genovese Basil Pesto with Garlic Scapes

One of the flavors of a summer garden come from scapes harvested from hard necked garlic. Scapes bring a fresh, green, and slightly sweet taste with a hint of garlic's familiar warmth without the o...

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Mixed baby greens are adorned with fresh cherry halves, toasted pecans, and thin slices of blue cheese on a small French porcelain plate.

Cherry Pecan Salad with Blue Cheese and Cherry Vinaigrette

Now that cherries are in season it's a terrific time to enjoy them in salads as well as desserts. As it happens, Ascolano is a terrific pairing, and our Amarena Cherry Balsamic Vinegar an excellent...

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Smoky Balsamic Glazed Ribs

Smoky Balsamic Glazed Ribs

These ribs are fall off the bone tender with the heady aroma of smoke and the sweet tang of balsamic vinegar used in Donald's glaze recipe.  Caution: consider wearing a bib. Welcome, summer!

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Raspberry & Ascolano Dressing

Raspberry & Ascolano Dressing

It's too hot to cook, so how about a simple salad that features fruit, flowers, and the magical combination of Ascolano EVOO and Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar?

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Two scoops of vanilla ice cream are visible beneath a coating of raspberry coulis, raspberry balsamic vinegar and fresh raspberries. Shown in a heavily molded vintage sundae glass with a spoon placed on a marble board.

Raspberry Coulis with Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar and Ice Cream

If you're in the mood to try something new, we put our Italian Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar to work this week as a topping for vanilla ice cream. This works well especially when paired with this rasp...

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A 3 oz grilled salmon steak with balsamic olive oil glaze rests atop a charred corn salsa

Balsamic Glazed Salmon With Charred Corn Salsa

Meals such as this herald summer to me. Quick and easy to make with fresh and bright flavors, this salsa makes an excellent foil for succulent grilled salmon.

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Donald's hand  reaches for a warm slice of Farinata

Farinata Chickpea & Rosemary Pancake

Making this thin and crispy chickpea flour pancake scented with rosemary is ridiculously simple and the results immensely satisfying. All you need is water, chickpea flour, olive oil, and seasoning...

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An 8" "Torta Pasqualina" savory eggy cake is topped with crispy phyllo and shown on a fancy porcelain plate. One slice has been removed.

Torta Pasqualina alla California

This tasty savory ricotta custard is encased in phyllo sheets baked to a delightful crispiness with liberal brushes of olive oil. Chock full of greens and--if you choose--whole eggs--make this for ...

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Close up image of Donald's hand as he  scoops a generous serving of Irish cottage pie from an Emile Henry pie dish into a brasserie plate with a large stainless steel spoon.

Irish Cottage Pie

This recipe is a simple and delicious belly-warming meal for the chilly days of early Spring. Known as "cottage pie" if beef is used and "shepherd's pie" if lamb is your meat of choice; did you gro...

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5 fried dumplings with pea sprouts. Served with choice of Firecracker sauce or Hoisin.

Lucky Dragon Dumplings with Firecracker Sauce

Gung hay fat choy, we wish you prosperity this Dragon Year. Please enjoy reading and/or making this tasty dumpling recipe and find out why we make dumplings for the Spring Festival.

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This is an overhead image of a heart shaped chocolate cake with some diagonal chocolate stripes running left to right and 8 little chunks of almond praline placed upon them.

Chocolate Almond Olive Oil Torte

Here's a fun project if you like to bake. Happy Valentine's Day!

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Beef, Beans, Butternut Squash, and Barley Soup

Beef, Beans, Butternut Squash, and Barley Soup

This hearty one pot meal relies on a good homemade beef stock and generous helpings of beans, barley, and other vegetables. We enjoyed it over the past few days, so the yield is 4 to 6 servings.

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A vintage Chinese porcelain bowl, footed in a rounded diamond shape, holds a vegetarian stir-fry with green beans, red bell pepper, mushrooms, and crispy tofu batons in a glossy sauce.

Tweak Your Tofu Technique

Learn how to transform firm tofu into a sauce-friendly and satisfying meaty-texture with something you already have at home.

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A delicate round  Limoges Platter is filled with 7 Gougères with Mornay Duxelles filling. The bottom of a bottle of Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque is barely seen on the edge of the image.

Olive Oil Gougères with Mornay Duxelles Filling

Crunchy, cheesy, and immensely satisfying! Might warm olive oil gougères with a Mornay Duxelles filling make your short list for New Year's Eve hors d'oeuvres?

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Olive Oil Brioche with Candied Fruit

Olive Oil Brioche with Candied Fruit

This is variation on brioche and panettone substitutes olive oil for butter. The soft luxurious texture, flavor, and aroma remain intact without the butter, lowering the cholesterol a bit, although...

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Making and Enjoying Candied Citrus Peel

Making and Enjoying Candied Citrus Peel

Here are the technique notes for candying citrus peels and five ways to use them.

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Pork Tenderloin with Spiced Fig Balsamic Butter Sauce

Pork Tenderloin with Spiced Fig Balsamic Butter Sauce

Here is a variation of our most downloaded recipe of 2023, Balsamic Butter Chicken. In a brilliant turn, Donald also thought to marinate the pork with a dry rub of homemade garam masala. Read on to...

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Warm Herbed Olives for Easy Entertaining

Warm Herbed Olives for Easy Entertaining

These warmed herbed olives are both fast and simple, yet transform a jar of grocery store olives into something truly memorable. Here is one of my favorite serving suggestions for easy entertaining.

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A French porcelain soup plate is filled with luscious roasted beef and stewed prunes, sweet potato, new potatoes, and carrots in a savory sauce.

Not Your Mother's Tsimmes

There is an unmistakeable voluptuousness about tsimmes glistening on one's plate on a cold winter night, especially by candlelight. Make this succulent stew ahead of time to enjoy during the dark d...

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We all love potato latkes

We all love potato latkes

It's time to light the menorah, eat delicious fried food, and think about miracles. Read more to learn how Donald makes latkes, and perhaps you'd like to let us know--if you're a latke-eater--how y...

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Lightly sugared fire dried walnuts in a blue and white Chinese porcelain pedestal bowl and lightly sugared fire sugared fire dried pecans in a blue and white Japanese porcelain rice bowl are shown close up on a plain background.

Fired Dried Walnuts & Pecans

"These nuts have a beguiling texture and an irresistible gloss of caramelized salt and sugar that make them almost universal favorites. These are not the heavily candied walnuts one finds in Hunane...

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Smashed Potatoes

Smashed Potatoes

A crispy and chewy alternative to butter and cream laden mashed potatoes, these "smashed" potatoes rely heavily on your technique and extra virgin olive oil for a satisfying texture and taste.

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Sweet Italian Sausage Pizza with Artichoke Hearts and Mushrooms

Sweet Italian Sausage Pizza with Artichoke Hearts and Mushrooms

The thin crispy crust, acidic tomato sauce base, and bright tangy marinated artichoke hearts provide a good balance to the unctuous umami of the sweet Italian sausage, chewy umami of the crimin...

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Donald slides a Fig and Gorgonzola pizza from a peel to a wooden cutting board

Fig and Gorgonzola Pizza with Balsamic Caramelized Onions and Prosciutto

The combination of juicy figs, unctuous gorgonzola, chewy-salty prosciutto, and sweet-tart balsamic vinegar caramelized onions makes a fairly complete meal in itself. This pizza and a simple salad ...

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A small plate holds a generous portion of fresh cabbage and bacon salad with a white sausage in the back. A small pot of mustard and glass of beer with a good head in a frosty glass are ready to be enjoyed with the meal.

Bianco Vinaigrette Cabbage, Sauerkraut's Fresh Cousin

Here's yet another way to enjoy a simple Bianco Balsamic vinaigrette by softening and acidifying fresh cabbage for an instant version of a fermented favorite. Featuring Coratina EVOO.

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A professional weight half baking sheet is filled with small dog biscuits shaped like hearts, diamonds, squares, and "dog bones" rest on a silicone "exopat".

Golden Goodness Dog Biscuit Recipe

The ingredients are healthy, and "golden" with EVOO "liquid gold", and fresh turmeric  the "golden spice". Human grade ingredients make our dog jump and spin in anticipation, and we find ourselves ...

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Warm honey and rosemary syrup is poured over a moist slice of apple honey cake with two forks. The rest of the cake is in the background

Olive Oil Apple Honey Cake with Honey & Rosemary Syrup

This moist dense cake is really a quick bread, easy to make and enjoy. Best served warm with the accompanying syrup.

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Warm Figs with Goat Cheese and Balsamic Vinegar

Warm Figs with Goat Cheese and Balsamic Vinegar

Fresh figs are in stores through early fall, so keep this delicious recipe in mind as you plan

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Five crispy rounds of fried green tomatoes are arrayed on a chunky French porcelain plate. One whole and one sliced uncooked green tomato are shown in the background.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Today we're writing about which tomatoes are the best for this southern classic, share a traditional recipe, and mention some variations. Let's get cookin'!

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Caramelized balsamic mushrooms cascade off a sautéed chicken breast, and a bit of summer squash fills the rest of the plate.

Balsamic Caramelized Mushrooms

This recipe for Balsamic Caramelized Mushrooms is an umami-bomb of "meaty", vegan wonder. How can 3 ingredients taste so amazing? Find out here!

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A classic soup plate is filled with creamy tomato soup embellished with half an egg, slices of ham, sour cream, and herbs artfully arranged and sprinkled with chili flakes

Salmorejo, Classic Andalusian Tomato Soup

Salmorejo is an iconic cold soup from Córdoba, and although it features fresh fragrant tomatoes and a lot of olive oil, offers a wholly different culinary experience from Gazpacho. Find out more a...

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Smoky Brined Pork Chops with Peaches

Smoky Brined Pork Chops with Peaches

Make these smoky, salty, and succulent pork chops with grilled peaches and  crisp fennel and grilled corn salad. 

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An 8" European soup plate holds a smooth soup with small bits of melon, a swirl of yogurt, and sprinkle of fresh thyme.  A freshly pressed cotton napkin and vintage silver soup spoon are shown just to the left

Chilled Cucumber Melon Soup

This quick and easy summer recipe is light and refreshing. Be sure to plan ahead in order to have it fully chilled before serving.

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Asian Fusion Beef Bonus Recipe!

Asian Fusion Beef Bonus Recipe!

This bonus is an addendum to the Cold Asian Noodle Salad published today. We had not planned to use beef in our salad, however, having some on hand after the photoshoot created this happy accident.

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Cold Asian Noodle Salad

Cold Asian Noodle Salad

There are many variations of traditional and non-traditional Asian noodle salads. This one is a Japanese-California fusion using three Japanese specialty ingredients (soba, soy sauce, and sesame se...

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Sweet & Smoky Grilled Asparagus

Sweet & Smoky Grilled Asparagus

Tangy, sweet, savory, and salty elements come together in this simple marinade to enhance asparagus on the grill.

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Sweet & Smoky Roasted Red Pepper Relish

Sweet & Smoky Roasted Red Pepper Relish

Simply roasting red peppers, even on the stovetop, imbues them with the requisite smokiness we've come to love, however, the addition of smoked salt and smoked sugar in this recipe adds another lay...

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A juicy grilled portobello mushroom is shown enclosed in a hamburger bun with layers of romaine lettuce, heirloom tomato, and vinegar marinated onion on a 20 cm Deruta-style plate.

Balsamic Glazed Portobello Mushroom Burger

Here is another umami-rich mushroom recipe, this time using meaty Portobello mushrooms as the featured ingredient. Do you make a point of making meatless meals from time to time? This one is satisf...

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Balsamic Caramelized Onions

Balsamic Caramelized Onions

Get ready for summer-time entertaining with this make-ahead condiment. Serve as a tasty relish on hamburgers or other sandwiches.

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Ascolano Olive Oil Orange Sauce

Ascolano Olive Oil Orange Sauce

Here is another quick and easy (a la minute) sauce. The fruity aroma of the Ascolano and the bright citrus flavor of the orange are a delightful pairing for this delicate sauce.

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Close up image of sliced chicken with balsamic butter sauce on top of mashed potatoes with green beans in background.

Balsamic Butter Chicken

This recipe only takes a few ingredients and is very easy to make in about an hour, including the time it takes to marinate. The butter enhances the vinegar, highlighting the caramel aspects of it ...

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2 rare lamb chops, sauced, on a bed of mashed potatoes with fresh asparagus.

Garlic Confit Rosemary Sauce

Here is one more way to enjoy garlic confit besides spreading on toast or swirling into your pasta--use it as an ingredient in a sauce! The sauce, or vinaigrette, uses a technique you already know,...

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Donald pours Lucero Arbequina EVOO into a small oval baker filled with peeled garlic cloves and herbs.

Garlic Confit in Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Confit is a French culinary technique for slowly cooking meat or vegetables in fat or oil at low temperatures. The slow cooking process not only preserves the food but also imparts a rich, deep fla...

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