NEW!   Bread Dipping Tips:

For extra flavor, try adding any of the following to our Carapelli Premium or Extra Virgin Olive Oils:

· Add a swirl of your favorite basil and pine nut pesto to Carapelli Premium or Extra Virgin Olive Oils.

· Place a scoop of olive tapenade in the center of a small plate. Pour our Carapelli Premium or Extra Virgin Olive Oils around the tapenade and use with your favorite breads for dipping.

· Add freshly grated Parmesan cheese to our Carapelli Premium or Extra Virgin Olive Oils.

· Add fresh, coarse ground black pepper to our Carapelli Premium or Extra Virgin Olive Oils.

· For herbed oil, add 1 teaspoon fresh chopped herbs such as Italian Parsley, Basil and Rosemary to every 2 tablespoons of our Carapelli Premium or Extra Virgin Olive Oils.

· Add roasted garlic to our Carapelli Premium or Extra Virgin Olive Oils. This mellow combination is great with bread!

· Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes to our Carapelli Premium or Extra Virgin Olive Oils.

Salads

· Caprese Salad on a bun? You bet! Ripe, red tomatoes sliced thin, fresh buffalo mozzarella drizzled with Carapelli Extra Virgin Olive Oil and splashed with red wine vinegar. Layer with fresh basil and surround this feast with a crusty Italian roll—delicious!

Soups and Sides

· Brush corn on the cob with olive oil. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and fresh herbs.

· Toss your favorite vegetables in olive oil before roasting in a 450° F oven to seal in flavor and help the browning process.

· Lightly sauté vegetables for soup in Carapelli Mild Olive Oil to bring out their natural sweetness before adding to your soup stock.

· Toss new red potatoes, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper with olive oil. Bake at 450° F in the oven or wrapped in aluminum foil on the grill for 30 minutes for flavorful roasted potatoes.

· Brush potatoes with olive oil before baking to make the outside crispy and flavorful.

Main Courses

· When assembling pasta dishes such as lasagna, brush cooked noodles with olive oil for easier handling.

· Sauté any of summer's vegetable garden bounty (peppers, green beans, carrots, onions on fresh herbs) with Carapelli Extra Virgin or Mild Olive Oil and toss with whatever pasta you have on hand (penne, fusilli, etc.). Top with Parmesan cheese and your dinner is made!

· Make a gourmet pizza using olive oil instead of tomato-based pizza sauce. Brush Carapelli Extra Virgin Olive Oil on pizza dough, top with a variety of ingredients like artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, roasted peppers - whatever you have on hand - top with cheese and bake at 450° F until the crust is golden brown (approximately 8-12 minutes). Drizzle with olive oil and serve.

· A little olive oil goes a long, flavorful way when sautéing chicken breasts. Pan-broil the chicken uncovered in a skillet lightly coated with olive oil.

Baking

· Before kneading bread dough, rub your hands with olive oil to prevent sticking.

· Homemade croutons can't be beat when you make them with Carapelli Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Cut stale bread into cubes and toss with olive oil, basil, garlic and parsley. Sprinkle with coarse salt and pepper and bake at 350° F for 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally. Great as a snack or on top of salads and soups.

· Use Carapelli Light Olive Oil in place of all-purpose cooking oil when preparing baked items from pre-packaged mixes. Baked goods stay moist and delicious with the natural goodness of olive oil.

· When you substitute Carapelli Light Olive Oil for vegetable oils, butter, margarine or shortening, it not only makes baked foods moist, it helps all the flavors to blend. See our Baking Conversion Chart for a quick and easy reference.

Marinades and Dressing

· For a simple yet delicious salad dressing, whisk 1/4 cup Carapelli Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil with 1/4 cup champagne vinegar or balsamic vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Toss with favorite salad greens.

· Gently warm olive oil and use as a delicious dip for lobster or crab.

· Marinate meat or chicken in equal quantities of Carapelli Extra Virgin Olive Oil and an acidic liquid such as lemon juice, vinegar, or wine. Add garlic, salt, pepper, and herbs of your choice for extra flavor. The combination of oil and vinegar will both flavor and tenderize the meat.

· Summer salads sing with this easy Italian Vinaigrette. Whisk ½ cup Carapelli Extra Virgin Olive Oil with ¼ cup balsamic vinegar and ¼ teaspoon each oregano, basil and mustard. Add 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese and 1 minced garlic clove. Refrigerate any leftover dressing.

Other Tips

· Sauté sliced apples, bananas, pears, peaches, or pineapple in Carapelli Light Olive Oil. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar to taste, and serve over ice cream.

· Try a flavorful twist on a grilled cheese sandwich—brush the outside of the bread (top and bottom) with olive oil instead of using butter.

· Rub olive oil on a cold grill so foods won't stick.

· Marinate your favorite cut of beef, chicken or fish in olive oil, garlic and fresh herbs before firing up the grill.

· Add a few drops of olive oil to prepared pasta sauce to deepen and enhance the flavors.