Dipping Dish Set made for gourmet Bread Dipping, a fine gourmet gift selection for any occasion. Dipping Dish set is custom made in the USA

Dipping dishes are the ideal table compliment to Italian Bread dipping, minced herbs and spices, and quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The new bread dipping dish is both versatile and stylish. For the perfect Italian appetizer, drizzle a premium extra virgin olive oil in dipping dish and then dip crusty fresh baked bread or crisp vegetables into the dip. The white porcelain of the bread dipping dishes heightens a visual display of color graduations in the dish when they are filled with olive oil. Hues of olive green tones will appear, providing a work of art with the feast.

The next time you have friends over, enjoy fresh baked bread dipped in Olive Oil with Herbs and Spices. Serve with quality porcelain dipping dishes custom made for bread dipping. Olive oil dipping dishes are made of bisque white porcelain. Each durable dipping dish features delicate spiral lines for a pleasing aesthetic tabletop appearance. With olive oil added, the spiral design dish makes a lovely floral rose appear within the dish. When using fine Italian balsamic vinegar, you will notice the classic oil and vinegar shape separation as the vinegar settles to the bottom of the olive oil in the dipping dish.

The dipping dish also works well for other oil dipping applications and gourmet sauce dipping uses. Enjoy dipping your favorite fresh baked Italian bread or use as a sauce dipping dish for spring rolls, steamed vegetables, or even pot stickers.

The high quality bread dipping dishes make unique gifts for every occasion and easily fit in with any kitchen décor. Dishes are made of fine American chip resistant porcelain. They are microwave and dishwasher safe.

Use the dipping dish for serving flavored oils, or to spice the bread dip up a little, add a teaspoon of Italian crushed herbs and a dash of fresh ground red peppercorns to ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil. You can also sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the dipping dish with olive oil. Dip a slice of bread into the oil, herbs and parmesan cheese. Your guests will be pleasantly surprised at the remarkable taste and flavor.

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For years, many people have been looking for the ideal, healthy diet and it may have been in plain sight the whole time. The Mediterranean Diet is one of the newest health food crazes because it allows people to take care of themselves while still feeling satisfied after a meal or snack. People who follow the Mediterranean diet faithfully eat a variety of vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, oily fish, olive oil, and other foods that are low in saturated fat. A minimal amount of wine may also be on the menu for some.This diet has been shown in recent studies by the American Heart Association (or AHA) to reduce many peoples’ chances of heart attack or stroke. This is surprising since many products that were not allowed by heart doctors before have now been given the ok and are a major part of the Mediterranean diet. Products that are high in unsaturated fat, like olive oil, are among those that are now acceptable for recent heart attack victims. These products have been shown to reduce the risk of Type-2 Diabetes, cancer, and even Alzheimer’s disease as long as meats and dairy products are eaten minimally.

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Italian Bread Dipping Recipe

An interesting and individual bread dipping recipe can be created by using plenty of imagination and your personal preferences. Italian cuisine makes good use of wonderful herbs and spices, particularly, oregano, garlic and black pepper. The ingredients can always be adjusted to suit. Recreate the Italian restaurant experience in your own home with this wonderful garlic bread dipping recipe.You will need the following:

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Bread dipping is not a new fad, nor is it only found at nice Italian restaurants. In Mediterranean countries a traditional part of the meal includes bread dipping and is completely commonplace, especially so in Greece and Italy. Its popularity is attributed to the enjoyment that comes from the simple ritual of dipping freshly baked bread into oil that has been infused with herbs and spices.

Bread dipping lends itself perfectly to any social gathering at home with friends and family. The usually buffet far of uninspired vegetables and cheese board cannot compare. Imagine an array of freshly Mediterranean bread accompanied by a dip made from superb herbs and spices infused in a bowl of extra virgin olive oil. Your guests will sample a gourmet experience that will not fail to delights them.The uses for bread dips are endless. Use your imagination and create delicious dips that can be used for all the savoury elements of your meal. The flavour of the Mediterranean can be brought to your home by adding
your dipping sauce to pastas, salads and all kinds of meats.

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Ingredients:
1/4 teaspoon each oregano and basil 
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil 
Fresh ground black pepper 
Crusty Italian bread

Preparation Directions:
Mix together seasoning spices and extra virgin olive oil on a shallow plate.
Grind fresh black pepper over the top. Dip bread into oil.

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Healthy snacks and appetizers that are made from olive oil and good for your heart

Most people associate oil with health problems such as obesity and coronary diseases and are, therefore, loathe to go anywhere near it. But, it is a fact that some oils are actually good for you and certainly only impact on your health in a positive way. The American Heart Association actively encourages the use of olive oil as a healthy alternative to other oils and fats that can increase the risk of heart attacks and associated coronary illnesses. So it makes sense to include olive oil as part of a healthy diet and nutritious diet. Not only is it a safe option to use if trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle but it is full of flavour and can be used for an array of dishes and appetizers. Bread dipping is a great to use olive oil and is delicious.

Because of its simplicity, versatility and taste, many people are choosing bread dipping as a favorite appetizer that can be enjoyed at any time and for any occasion. The reason for this is probably due to the fact that it is full of flavor and takes so little time to prepare. To prepare this nutritious and delicious dish all you have to do is prepare your bread by cutting it into slices, pour some extra virgin olive oil into a dipping dish and you are now able to serve to your guests, or enjoy it own your own as you wish. If you prefer, as a healthy alternative you can prepare some vegetables, either steamed, fresh or grilled and dip them into your oil. You can enjoy bread dipping on its own or add a salad of your choice, or you can prepare it for your party guests, and finally just as a snack with your hungry family.

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The history of bread as a food staple has ancient beginnings. Bread making began with the dawn of human culture. Some date it back as far as 10,000 years ago and placed it in the Mediterranean Region. The preparation of bread is acknowledged by scholars to be about the same time as the beginning of farming, when the development of crafts such as pottery and weaving, and the making of polished stone tools began.

Bread was considered the staff of life, long before the introduction of metalworking, writing, or other developments of urban civilization. Over the millennia, the taste of bread changed with the availability of ingredients, influences in local customs and culture, economic and climatic conditions, as well as methods of preparation. It is documented the earliest breads were unleavened. Numerous kinds of bread were noted because of variations in grain, thickness, shape, texture, and taste which varied from region to region and culture to culture. Biblical documentation references bread as an important food stuff and also as significant spiritual offerings.

In many countries flat bread or bread cakes, of both leavened and unleavened bread, are still prepared today just as they were made of old, especially at times of religious celebrations and observances. These bread loaves or cakes are often coated on the upper surface with olive oil and take on a glossy brown color when cooked; and sometimes they are sprinkled over with aromatic seeds and spices, which adhere to the bread loaves and impart a spicy flavor.

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Add Spice To A Salad Or Fish

There is no need to have the same “plain jane” meal on a daily basis. With the simple basics of olive oil, vinegar, sea salt and pepper, you can add zest to almost anything you prepare. The subtle taste of any dish is greatly enhanced with sprinkling of a vinaigrette dressing, prepared creatively to compliment a meal.

According to the French, “la sauce vinaigrette” can literally transform a salad bowl into something “extraordinaire.” Vinaigrette doesn’t have to be limited to the salad portion of a meal. You can sprinkle it on grilled fish, roasted chicken, seared steak or even wilted greens.

By using the standard three to one ratio, oil to vinegar, vinaigrette dressing is quite simple to prepare. The quality of the ingredients is important. You will want the best oil and vinegar as well as good quality sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper. By using a whisk and a small bowl, the salt and pepper is first blended into the vinegar and then whisking these ingredients into the oil. There you have it - the basic vinaigrette dressing. Sprinkle it over a bed of salad greens and joy this mellow taste along with the main course meal.

When preparing classic vinaigrette, use red wine vinegar and olive oil. That will be your basis to add a host of other ingredients and create an almost endless array of vinaigrettes.

Preparing honey mustard vinaigrette requires replacing red wine vinegar with white wine vinegar. Whisk in one tablespoon of honey and Dijon mustard. Then add the olive oil. Most definitely a wonderful addition when preparing grilled steak or salmon. Your dinner companions will think you worked hours to achieve a perfect meal.

Using different herbs is also a wonderful, tasty way to prepare a basic vinaigrette dressing. Again replace the red wine vinegar with white balsamic vinegar and mix a few tablespoons of cilantro and basil. Then add the olive oil.

Vinaigrette dressing can be used with a winter squash in which you use…

• 2 acorn squash
• ½ teaspoon black pepper and 1 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons olive oil 
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 ½ tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 to 2 teaspoons finely chopped hot red chili with seeds included 
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

You will need to preheat the oven to 450F. Cut the acorn squash in half lengthwise, scooping out the seeds. Then cut each half into ¾ inch wedges. Place the wedges in a bowl and sprinkle black pepper, ¾ teaspoon salt and 2 tablespoons olive oil on them. Place the acorn wedges in a shallow baking pan and roast the squash, rotating the pan midway through the cooking cycle. When the two squash vegetables are tender, in about 25 to 35 minutes, you will want to drizzle them with a pre-prepared vinaigrette consisting of mashed minced garlic using ¼ teaspoon salt and whisking in lime juice, chili, cilantro and the remainder of the olive oil. Your winter squash has acquired a taste of its own.

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Olive Oil offers warmth to your cooking and diet. For nearly 6,000 years many people all over the world have enjoyed the warm flavor and scent of the oil. With olive oil being available in the grocery stores, consumers are becoming very selective about the many brands and grades of olive they can choose from.

Olive oil tastings have been held similar to wine tastings. People use such words as mild fruity and mellow to refer to the aroma of the olive oil, and zesty, nutty, buttery, sweet, assertive and rich to refer to the taste. The appearance can be described as amber, clear, green, or cloudy. Olive oil can be stored for up to two years if it is kept in a dark and cool place, however does not taste better with age as wine does.

When looking for the best grades consider these tips:

Light olive oil has a different taste compared to the others, but has the same amount of calories and fat.

Pure olive oil is mixed with virgin oil and processed with chemicals and bleaching clay to reach an acidity level over 3 percent.

Virgin olive oil has a stronger taste due to an acidity level of 1 to 3 percent. It is sold in fewer quantities in the United States.

Finally, Extra virgin has an acidity below 1 percent. To achieve this the olives are not refined but cold pressed. The soil type of tree harvesting and growing techniques will affect the acidity and taste. Unfiltered extra virgin has a sharper taste and is best used for salads and cheaper extra virgin is better for cooking with.

The bottom line for flavor and taste; purchase a quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

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Mediterranean Diet is No Deprivation

Many diets are bland and uninteresting, with limited tastes and textures which make them hard to stick to. When you are dieting, you are usually doing so because you overindulged in delicious dishes which you found hard to resist. Dieting, therefore, is perceived as deprivation, punishment even, because you liked the taste of certain dishes too much. The allure of the Mediterranean Diet, therefore, is the variety it offers of fresh, tasty choices.

Whether hoping to shape up and pursue a healthier lifestyle or because of medical guidance, the diet is easy to follow with very basic guidelines:

• Cereals, Bread, Pasta and Potatoes
Half of your caloric intake should come from these foods and it is recommended they form the largest section of your main course. Add vegetables, salad or small amounts of meat, poultry or fish. Eat wholegrain varieties and all the types in this category combined to add fiber.
• Fruits & Vegetables
Think colorfully – red, yellow, orange and leafy green - with five portions daily. to ensure vitamins like beta carotene, A, C, and E and antioxidants which help protect against cardiovascular disease. If you also eat the seeds, nuts and pulps, you’ll provide your body with needed acids and fiber.
• The Main Course
Fish, abundant in the Mediterranean, should also be included in this diet a minimum of three times weekly. The fatty acid in fish oil will help fight different types of disease and ailments. Poultry and lean red meat are also allowed, but avoid fatty meat with higher levels of saturated fat.
• Dairy
As excellent sources of vitamins, minerals, calcium and protein, dairy products – even low-fat - are vital to the Mediterranean diet and are needed to ensure stronger, healthier bones. The higher levels of saturated fat or total fat in items like whole milk, butter, cream, and cheese should be avoided when possible.
• Olive Oil
The specific source of fat in the Mediterranean Diet is olive oil. Use it for baking, frying, stir fries, marinades and salad dressing.
• What You Should Strictly Limit or Avoid
Foods that are too fatty or too sugary should be avoided, as most diets dictate. However, if you simply are overwhelmed by a craving, small amounts of cakes, pastries, fried foods and chocolate may be allowed very sparingly.
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