Olive Oil or...?

[vivandorron]

I've never really taken to Olive Oil for cooking. Perhaps it's something 'Freudian' because I remember as a young lad ( many years back ) being given spoonfuls of the stuff to do me good. ( or was it Castor Oil...equally as bad.)

Consequently, I ask "Is Olive Oil, all that it's 'cracked-up' to be.?

I am quite happy with Sunflower Seed Oil and can't tell the difference when I put it in Ciabatta Bread which I make quite regularly.( Packet mix, I admit....which tastes even better with butter instead of oil.)

[BBWCHATT]

Viv & Ron - you know I wouldn't steer wrong after all this time. To test whether you like it or not do this:

Dice some tomatoes - or cut some grape tomatoes in half - mix in some chopped garlic - drizzle it with olive oil. Chill it long enough to let the flavors blend - then take it out to bring it back to room temperature and eat it as a side with your meal - or on some toasted crusty bread. You might sprinkle some cheese over top too. You may just find that you enjoy it!

[oldwoman]

http://www.apollolipids.org/cms/templates/arti cle.aspx?articleid=5178&zoneid=1 Stick with your sunflower.

[vivandorron]

Hi there our friend in Chattanooga.........We always trust your advice; it's good at all times. However it's not so much a question of whether we like the taste of Olive Oil, and we'll not fall-out on this one, but the oldwoman has made a really good point.

We are inclined to think that it's a bit like whether some vintage wines are really better than plonks, which cost less, taste as good, but are not linked to a snob value...........V & R the Gower Grubbers!!

[BBWCHATT]

Viv & Ron - now you know we aren't going to fall out over something as small as whether you like the taste of a decent olive oil!!! I don't use it much for anything except dressing something - I use vegetable oil most of the time myself:)

[vivandorron]

Hey BBW.....We are in agreement because our original comments were aimed at olive oil being used in cooking. No objection to a drizzle on salads and it should go well with garlic and tomatoes. Perhaps a chopped bell pepper would also go well with them.

We feel sure that if matters became heated, you'd find a recipe for cooling down issues.

Kind thoughts from Olive Oyl and Popeye of the peninsular.(Gower of course.)

Now where's that uncooked spinach.!!

[Figi]

Olive oil all the time for me (except when making curries!). And it would have been castor oil you were given by the spoonful as a child. Olive oil would have been dribbled in your ear when you had ear-ache - bought at the chemists and kept in the medicine cabinet!!!

[vivandorron]

You are quite right Figi about the usage of the oils.

I was raised by victorian grandparents and can recall the medicine cabinet which was a shelf in a walk-in cupboard under the stairs. There along with the oils were medicines and pills, such as Gee's Linctus; Dr.Collis Browne's Chloridine; Aspirin; Carters Little liver pills; etc.. and a bottle of whisky for medicinal purposes only.

I always understood that my grandparents were strict teetotallers. So, as a young lad, I was unable to comprehend the fact of the whisky depleting in the bottle which when empty would be replaced with a fresh one. Perhaps there was a lot of sickness in the family which was being hidden from me.!!!

Thanks for having responded and continue to enjoy your cooking with olive oil.

Bon appetit.........Ron.

[BBWCHATT]

lol Olive Oyl and Popeye of the peninsular.(Gower of course.) - I certainly would try to find a recipe to help us!!!

Now as for that spinach - have I told you about taking frozen chopped leaf spinach and mixing it in with eggs and then scrambling them as usual? It turns them green - but tastes WONDERFUL!!! And if you have leftovers they are great with a little mayo in a wrap!!! OR you could make "Green Eggs & Ham" :)

BBWCHATT
The old lady in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA

[vivandorron]

Hello again BBWCHATT........Pleased we made you laugh.

Never thought of cooking spinach with eggs. Have done maybe something simular with cream cheese and spinach., a little salt, plenty of freshly ground black pepper and a reasonable sprinkling of garlic granules. Any left over goes into a Bungy Bake.

'What's that' did we hear you say; it sounds rude!. O.K. we know that the slang word 'bung' has a few strange meanings, especially in the States. However, in our area it is often used as another way of saying 'throw-in'. So a Bungy Bake is our name for left over veg, chopped-up and mixed together with some mayo, dried herbs, garlic granules and seasoning (spices if you choose). In other words you bung anything you like into the dish and pop it in the microwave for five mins. and serve hot with cold/hot meat; if indeed you need anything further on your plate. A good meal for those who are Veggies; especially if then topped with grated cheese and placed under the grill for a few mins.

Perhaps we should have secured copyright on the name 'Bungy Bake'!! It could catch-on, now that we've published it !!.

Cheers to Chattanooga,
V & R (The Gower Gourmets!!!!)

[vivandorron]

BBWCHATT.......If you are still threading this item, we would wish you to know that our meal this evening was cold ham (bacon joint actually, cooked last Saturday in our Slow Cooker) with a big plateful each of your recommended recipe; Spinach, scrambled with Eggs............Delicious........Thanks for having suggested scrambled S & E.

The thought now occurs to us that 'Laverbread' ( which you already know is made in our area and has a certain resemblance to chopped cooked spinach ) might take kindly to being scrambled with eggs. Certainly worth a try; can't be any worse than some of the dishes we see 'knocked-up' on a T.V. programme we have in the U.K. called 'READY,STEADY,COOK'. We might try it out one day; after we have cooked all the other recipes which you have given to us.

Kind thought from the old folk who are lucky to be living in Gower.(the first area in the U.K. to be given AONB status; Area of outstanding natural beauty.)

Viv & Ron.....who do go on and on.!!!

[sasspot]

Try rapeseed oil - very good for you

[vivandorron]

Hi sasspot, Thanks for replying some three months after our question was posted. That's the beauty of Answerbank; you get an e/mail when a reply comes along; never mind how long after the initial entry.

We agree, rapeseed oil is great. Furthermore, the sight of a field of growing rapseed when in flower, is really breathtaking. There is however a problem , inasmuch as the seed are dispersed over a wide area and become almost like a weed into the rest of the countryside. The bright yellow flowers are still a sight worthwhile.

Best wishes..........Viv & Ron.