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.

In order to prove the validity of the Mediterranean diet the AHA performed a study which involved splitting 202 heart attack victims up into three groups. The first group was only given the normal advice that a heart attack survivor receives from their doctor when leaving the hospital, the second group was given a low-fat menu, and the third group was given eating standards equal to the Mediterranean diet.

When the groups were studied again four years later, it was found that those who were put on the Mediterranean diet and those who were put on the low-fat diet survived further health risks 30% more of the time than those who were given the usual doctor’s orders. The fact that native Mediterranean’s have a low occurrence of heart disease backs up these studies.

The American Heart Association has proven that it is not fat itself that causes heart attacks and strokes,  but that for many it is only a certain type of fat – saturated fat – that is dangerous. Because of these findings, more people can now enjoy foods like nuts, oily fish, and olive oil that were once taboo. 

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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:

5 cloves of pressed garlic
1 tablespoon of dried oregano
2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
½ teaspoon of aged balsamic vinegar, preferably Modena
¼ Cup of Spanish or Italian extra virgin olive oil
freshly ground black pepper
1 loaf of either Italian flat bread or French baguette

Prepare the garlic bread dip by pouring olive oil onto your serving dish or plate, and then add your pressed garlic to the edges. Slowly drizzle the balsamic vinegar over the oil and garlic. Finally, dust the mixture with a sprinkling of oregano, black pepper and grated parmesan.

The bread should be thick sliced to about 3/4 inch each.
Arrange on a platter. Serve before the main course.

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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.

When creating your bread dipping sauce consider breathing life and freshness into your herbs by soaking them in a little water for a quarter of an hour, then drain. To complete add seasonings of your choice.

Because extra virgin olive oil will be the base ingredient of your bread dipping sauce it makes sense to use only the best. This also applies to the balsamic vinegar you use. You may have to pay a little more but the quality of the oil and vinegar will be reflected in the taste and appearance. The type of bread you choose for your bread dipping appetizer is also important, and the breads that are most suitable are Italian Foccacia and Ciabatta, however, French baguette and sourdough work very well with this dish.

Finally, arrange your sliced bread attractively and present to your guests with bowls of flavoured dipping sauce. You may also wish to add oil dressed with swirls of balsamic vinegar, which is very eye catching and will add to this gourmet experience.

Bread dipping is one tradition that has stood the test of time and its revival is due to our need for a healthier diet without compromising on flavour and choice. Not only is bread dipping good for you but it is delicious and so simple to create.

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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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To obtain a nutritive meal out of this salad, you will need to mix it with some sliced chicken breasts. It will take up to a quarter of an hour to prepare this salad and you will obtain 4 servings.

Here is what you need for the salad:

• Half a cup of chopped walnuts
• Half a cup of crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
• Half a cup of dried currants or dried cranberries
• One eight ounce package of mixed Spring Greens

Here are the necessary ingredients for the dressing:

• Two tablespoons grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
• Four to five teaspoons of balsamic vinegar
• Two tablespoons grated Asiago vecchio
• Half a cup of extra virgin olive oil
• Two tablespoons grated Romano cheese

Place all the salad ingredients in a large bowl and mix them. The dressing ingredients should be mixed in separate bowl until emulsified. Cover the salad with ½ dressing and toss the mixture really well. Use five separate salad plates to serve the salad and use the other half of dressing to add to taste.

During the past few decades, many studies were carried out to understand the role of certain types of fat in increasing or decreasing blood cholesterol levels and their health implications, particularly the risk of developing heart disease, certain types of cancer and cognitive impairment. The large-scale mass media campaigns to promote low calorie food and other medications simply create the impression that cholesterol is something bad and should be reduced. But, there is an answer. Olive oil. Regardless of what you perceive from late-night commercials, cholesterol is extremely important for vital body functions like synthesis of hormones and production of bile acids, cell membranes and vitamin D. In fact, cholesterol is very crucial for our survival. The cholesterol levels mainly depend on the hormones of an individual. There are many controllable as well as uncontrollable factors that determine cholesterol build up. Eating behavior, physical activity, weight, stress and smoking are some of the controllable variables while we can hardly alter the factor like age and heredity.

There are basically two types of cholesterol. The low-density lipoproteins or LDLs are known as bad cholesterol because they get stuck to the artery walls causing arteriosclerosis. On the other hand, high-density lipoproteins or HDLs keep the arteries clean by carrying the LDLs to the liver where they are recycled. Therefore, the chances of arteriosclerosis and other heart complications are significantly reduced when the ratios of LDLs to HDLs are below the recommended reference level of less than 3. Unfortunately, all the factors that cause cholesterol to build up haven’t been explored yet, and the low-calorie food manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies present a distorted view in the media that all cholesterol is bad. These companies enjoy a very thriving business by promoting the fear of fat. Therefore, we are living in a society that harbors raging fear against fat. There is no denying of the fact that excessive consumption of dietary fat increase cholesterol levels, but it cannot be taken as valid justification for supporting extreme view that all dietary fat must be avoided. There is no need to become a victim of cholesterol neurotics. In fact, suffering from hysteria of any kind is extremely bad for health. The modern research has proven that fatty acids like omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 are very good for health, and they recommend oils that serve as a very rich source of these fatty acids. In fact, oils like Spanish extra virgin olive oil are known for its medicinal values and completely rejuvenating effects. So, more research is needed to resolve the issue and find out whether dietary fat is really bad for good health.

Sautéing is a very simple way to pan fry food, in a small to medium sized frying pan, with a small amount of olive oil. When you use this method for cooking food, you will continuously toss and turn the food over in a pan, allowing the food to jump around. This movement of the food in the pan will ensure that the food is cooked evenly and that it does not go brown too quickly. Sautéing was traditionally done using butter, but any type of oil is great for the purpose, the higher the smoke point, the better.

If you want to cut back on the amount of animal fat you use when cooking, you can easily use a mixture of oil and fat for sautéing. Firstly, heat the oil, and then add the food to the pan. For optimum results, the food added to the pan should be at room temperature. Using a mix of oil and butter, you will retain all the flavors you want, producing a richness that is less high in fat. Once you have cooked, use the excellent flavors in a process known as deglazing. Simply add some stock to the pan once you have removed the food, and then swirl around to mix up the juices. For this purpose you may like to use wine, vinegar, or a liquid stock, all of them working equally well to get rid of particles that are stuck to the pan. Then continue to heat until the liquid reduces, and pour it over the food, ready to serve immediately. In the recipe section you will find several dishes that use this method for creating a sauce for the food.