Spice it Up! 0

Spice up your week with one of our original EvilO recipes: Seared Spiced Steak with Crispy potato hash.

Ingredients:

24 Oz Sirloin Steak
2 Medium Yellow Onions
2 Ears of Corn
(If you are a busy chef with limited time substitute the ears of corn for a 12 Oz bag of frozen, or a standard can of corn)
24 Oz Russet Potatoes
2 Poblano Peppers
1 Bunch of Cilantro
1 Can Chipotle in Adobo
4 TBL Sour Cream
2 TBL Beef Stock Concentrate
1 Large Clove of Fresh Garlic
2 TBL EvilO's Garlic Mushroom EVOO
2 TBL Spice Lab Ancho Chile & Coffee Meat Rub
1 TBL EvilO's Garlic Cilantro Balsamic Vinegar

 Prep Time: 40 Minutes        Serves 3 

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Halve, peel, and thinly slice half of the onion. Finely dice the remaining half of the onion. Core, seed, and remove ribs of the poblano, slice thinly. Wash potatoes, peel and cut into ½ inch cubes. Cut corn off of the cob, or substitute with frozen or canned. Mince cilantro, garlic clove, and two chipotle peppers from can. Save the rest of the chipotle peppers for another day.
2. Toss potatoes onto baking sheet with 1 Tablespoon of Garlic Mushroom oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place in oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
3. While the potatoes cook heat up ½ Tablespoon of Garlic Mushroom oil in a large pan on medium heat. Add the sliced onion and poblano peppers to the pan and cook until softened and lightly caramelized about 7-8 minutes. Now add corn to the pan cook for another 3-4 minutes (if using frozen cook you may have to add 1-2 additional minutes) , season to taste with salt and pepper then set aside in -a medium bowl, cover and keep warm.
4. In the same pan heat remaining Garlic Mushroom oil on medium high heat. Season steak generously on all sides with Spice Lab Ancho Chili & Coffee meat rub. Add steak to pan and sear each side for 3-4 minutes. Then place steak on the same baking sheet as the potatoes and return to the oven to finish cooking until desired doneness. 4-7 more minutes. When you have reached your desired doneness set aside and let rest for 5 minutes. This means do not touch the steak, very important to let rest.
5. Now add the chopped onion to the same pan on medium heat, add oil if necessary. Cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic, and as much chipotle as you want (more chipotle means more heat!) to the pan and cook until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Stir ½ cup water and beef concentrate into the pan and simmer until thickened and reduced by half. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream. Taste and season with salt and pepper as necessary.
6. Remove potatoes from oven and add to vegetable hash then toss to mix. While tossing potato hash, drizzle in Garlic & Cilantro Balsamic Vinegar. Thinly slice steak against the grain. Plate the hash, then place sliced steak on bed of hash off center and spoon sauce from pan over steak. Finish with sprinkling of cilantro over entire dish and enjoy!

It's Party Time 0

Super Bowl 51 kicks off Sunday night in Houston, TX.  Are you hosting a party this year?  We've got everything you need to start your party prepping and planning.  Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Recipes

Our oils and vinegars are the perfect ingredients or finishing touches to take your Super Bowl snacks from good to great.  

Slow Cooker Smokey Italian Pulled Pork Sliders

1 pork tenderloin
buns
Garlic EVOO
Hickory Dark Balsamic Vinegar
salt and pepper

1.  Heat up slow cooker on lowest setting.  Season pork tenderloin with salt and pepper, on all sides.  Place in the slow cooker.

2.  Drizzle EVOO and vinegar over pork tenderloin.

3.  Cook on low for 4 hours.  Check every 30 minutes and turn over, so that all sides are covered with oil and vinegar.

4. At 4 hours, remove pork from slow cooker, and shred or "pull" with a fork.  Serve on buns with desired condiments and sides.

Spinach and Caramelized Onion Dip
(adapted from Real Simple)

1.  Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add onions, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.  Cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown, about 12 to 15 minutes.  Transfer to a medium bowl, and let cool.

2.  Add sour cream, spinach, vinegar, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to the onions and stir until combined.

3.  Serve with fresh veggies and crackers.

Kickin' Chicken Nachos

2 cloves garlic, crushed
6 green onions, thinly sliced (green and white parts separated)
3 tablespoons Jalapeno EVOO
1 whole cooked chicken breast, shredded
Chile Lime Margarita Salt
pepper
1 cup salsa
1/2 large bag of tortilla chips
1 (8 ounce) package shredded cheddar/Monterey jack cheese blend
1/2 large tomato, diced
Garlic Cilantro Balsamic Vinegar

1.  Preheat oven to 350F.

2.  Heat a large skillet over medium heat.  Add EVOO and allow to heat.  Add garlic and white parts of the green onions and cook until tender.  Add shredded chicken, salt, and pepper.  Stir to mix until coated with oil.  Stir in salsa.

3.  Arrange tortilla chips on a baking sheet.  Spoon chicken mixture over chips.  Top with shredded cheese and tomato.  Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Remove from oven.  Sprinkle with green parts of sliced green onions and drizzle with vinegar.  

Other ideas:

-- Drizzle hummus with Meyer Lemon EVOO and serve with fresh veggies, crackers, and pita chips.

-- Add our Serrano Chili Honey Vinegar to your hot wings recipe

-- Make a pot of chili with our River Road Chili Mix and garnish with our Crimson Hot Sauce from Bravado Spice Company.

-- Serve Mom's Veggie Dip with your hot wings.

-- Try our dessert cheeseball mixes with fresh fruit, gingersnaps, vanilla wafers, and graham crackers.

We can help you plan a spectacular Super Bowl spread.  Come down to the shop today.

Just a Few More Days 0

You've heard the saying...the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.  We just wanted to let you know the shop will be closed a few more days while we complete updates to the facility.  As always, you can shop online to purchase all your favorite flavored and infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars.

If you haven't already tried our best selling olive oil, now is a great time.  Garlic Mushroom EVOO is a favorite of both staff and customers.  One of our regular customers described it like this, "The Garlic EVOO tastes like fresh, raw garlic, while the Garlic Mushroom EVOO tastes like a rich, roasted garlic."  That is the perfect description.  The mushrooms add a earthiness that takes the garlic to the next level of yumminess.  

Garlic Mushroom EVOO can be used tossed on pasta or vegetables, rubbed on steak, drizzled on popcorn, or as a bread dipper.  It pairs well with 25 Star Dark Balsamic, Fig Dark Balsamic, and Italian Lambrusco Red Wine vinegars.

Here is my favorite way to use it:

Cut up some fresh onions, carrots, sweet potatoes, Brussel sprouts, and any other veggies you like.  Do not dice them or cut into small pieces. Keep the pieces about 1".  Toss them in a Ziplock bag and drizzle in 1 or 2 tablespoons of Garlic Mushroom EVOO, and add some salt and pepper.  Toss vigorously, then spread in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking pad or parchment paper, and roast in the oven at 450F for 30-35 minutes.  Toss the veggies with cooked pasta and a little more Garlic Mushroom EVOO (if needed) and enjoy!

Get Lucky in 2017 0

It's a tradition as Southern as SEC Football.....beginning the new year with a pot of black-eyed peas to bring luck and prosperity in the upcoming year.  Whether you serve your peas at a large family gathering or a quiet meal for two, we have all the ingredients to make your black-eyed peas extra special.

We have a variety of olive oils and balsamic vinegars to accompany your peas and take them from good to great.  For a smokey flavor, add a dash of Smokey Hickory or Chipotle EVOO or Hickory Dark Balsamic Vinegar.  To heat things up, try Jalapeño or Habanero EVOO or Jalapeño White Balsamic Vinegar.  And you can never, ever go wrong with a touch of garlic.  Try Garlic Mushroom or Garlic EVOO or Garlic Dark Balsamic Vinegar.

If you plan to serve cornbread with your peas, we suggest using Jalapeño or Rosemary EVOO to prepare the cornbread or for frying your cornbread.

Spice It Up

If you like your peas spicy, we've got you covered.  Try one of our Bravado Spice Company hot sauces and heat things up.  If you love traditional red hot sauces, Crimson is just right for you.  But, if you want something more exotic, you'll love Pineapple/Habanero or Jalapeño/Green Apple.  And for the truly adventurous, try the Blueberry/Ghost Pepper.  We also carry seasonings from Bravado Spice Company that will heat things up, too.

Finishing Touches

Right before serving, add a touch of one of our delectable finishing salts.  We offer a variety of flavors that will suit every palate.  Our favorites for peas and beans include:  Hickory Smoked, Alderwood Smoked, and Kentucky Bourbon Smoked.  

However you serve your black-eyed peas, we want to thank you for your business in 2016, and we hope 2017 is your best year yet.

Flavors of the Week, November 7th 0

As we dive deeper into Fall, we continue to highlight flavors of the season.  Our pairings this week will be perfect for all your Fall gatherings whether it's tailgating, watching the game on TV, Thanksgiving dinner, or refueling after a marathon day of holiday shopping. As a matter of fact, while you're out shopping, stop by the shop to taste these flavors yourself.

French Toast:  We've paired Cinnamon EVOO and Maple Dark Balsamic to capture the flavors of warm French toast.  This combination works well with other Fall foods such as sweet potatoes, winter squash (butter nut, acorn, etc), or Brussels sprouts.  They also go well in baking breads, muffins, pancakes, waffles, or scones.

Peach Cobbler:  Tempt your taste buds with our Butter Infused EVOO and Peach White Balsamic Vinegar.  Tastes just like the desserts your grandma made.  This combination complements chicken really well.

Spiced Orange:  This unique combination of Blood Orange EVOO and Honey Ginger White Balsamic Vinegar tastes great on salads, roasted vegetables, chicken, and pork.

The Bestseller:  You won't be able to get enough of our best-selling EVOO and our best-selling vinegar:  Garlic Mushroom EVOO and 25 Star Dark Balsamic Vinegar.  This combination is simply irresistible and versatile.  It will go with almost anything you plan to cook.  It even tastes delicious as a bread dipper.  This combination makes a great gift for every foodie on your gift list.

Flavors of the Week, 10/24/16 0

Welcome to Monday! We’re bringing you some incredible pairings this week, that will be perfect for a variety of dishes. Make time this week to come downtown and try them out. You’ll be hooked just like we are.

Garlic Mushroom and Hickory: We’ve paired our best seller Garlic Mushroom EVOO with Hickory Dark Balsamic Vinegar. This combination will elevate anything you throw on the grill. Marinate steaks, pork chops, or chicken for a few hours before grilling.

Garlic Cilantro and Serrano Chile Honey: This combination will highlight all your Mexican dishes. Add some to salsa, guacamole, or pico de gallo. Drizzle over tacos or taco salads. Marinate meat for fajitas in this combination. Our Garlic Cilantro EVOO and Serrano Chile Honey Vinegar were meant for each other.

Meyer Lemon and Raspberry Ginger: This fresh and light pairing of Meyer Lemon EVOO and Raspberry Ginger Light Balsamic Vinegar will make you swoon. It’s perfect for Asian salads and stir-fries. Use it as a dipping sauce for spring rolls and wontons.

Garlic Cilantro Honey Salmon
(adapted from Julia’s Album)

1 pound salmon
1 tablespoon Garlic Cilantro EVOO
salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons Serrano Chile Honey Vinegar
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced

Preheat oven to 400ºF.

Pat dry salmon and brush 1 tablespoon EVOO. Make sure to cover all sides of the salmon. Season with salt and pepper.

Place salmon on a large piece of foil. Fold up sides and ends (1 to 2 inches high) tightly around the salmon. Place on a baking sheet.

In a small bowl, combine vinegar, lime juice, cilantro, and garlic. Spread this mixture over the salmon.

Leaving foil open, place salmon in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

Carefully remove salmon from foil. Separate salmon from the skin that remains stuck to the foil. Transfer to a serving dish. Carefully top the salmon with the sauce remaining in the foil.