Olive oil is technically a fruit juice rather than an oil. The olives are pressed to release their juices just like an orange or a lemon is pressed.

We've been rummaging through our recipes and have come up with a few for your Thanksgiving Day Feast.

Extravagonzo Garlic and Thyme Green Beans
Sometimes the simplest of recipes are the most delicious. Plenty of garlic, some thyme, and really fresh green beans add up to more than the sum of their parts.

This is a good recipe to experiment w/ Extravagonzo Oils. Use whichever flavor you like and use the corresponding juice or crushed red pepper. The original recipe called for lemon juice and that would be a great choice w/ the Roasted Garlic Oil.

Time: 25 minutes

Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients
1 tbs Extravagonzo Culinary Oil
1½ lbs green beans, trimmed
2 tbs minced garlic
½  tsp kosher salt (we prefer seasalt)
2 tsp chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 tbs fresh lemon juice (orange juice or ¼ - ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper)
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tbs additional Extravagonzo Culinary Oil

Preparation

1. Heat Extravagonzo Oil in a large frying pan over medium heat
2. Add green beans and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to soften and brown, about 8 minutes
3. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, another 2 minutes
4. Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients, stirring well
5. Eat and enjoy

Adapted from recipe by Lynn Thomasson, Kelseyville, CA, Sunset, July 2009

Extravagonzo Cranberry-Nut Bread

When baked in mini-loaves, these are great for gift giving. To add a little Holiday gifting grin, wrap the cooled mini-loaves in cellophane and tie the ends w/ some bright colored ribbons or gold/silver cord.

Yield: 3 mini-loaves or 1 large loaf

Ingredients

1¾ cup unsifted all-purpose flour
½ tsp salt
½ tsp baking soda
1½ tsp baking powder
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
½ cup orange juice
¼ cup grated orange rind
¼ cup Extravagonzo Blood Orange Culinary Oil
1 cup fresh cranberries, ground
½ cup chopped walnuts

Preparation

1. Heat oven to 350 F
2. Butter three 5x3x2" mini-loaf pans or one 9x5x3" loaf pan
3. Sift dry ingredients into bowl
4. Beat egg with juice, rind, and Extravagonzo Blood Orange Oil
5. Beat into flour mixture
6. Stir in cranberries and nuts
7. Spoon batter into prepared pans and bake in center of oven 40 minutes for mini-loaves, 1 hour for large loaf
8. Cool 20 minutes
9. Turn out of pans onto a wire rack to cool completely
10. Wrap and let stand overnight to allow flavors to develop fully
11. Slice, if desired, once cooled

Adapted by D. Stevens, Bluffton, SC

Extravagonzo Herb Oil for Dipping Bread
This recipe can utilize any of the Extravagonzo Culinary Oils depending on which flavor you would like to accent. The Roasted Garlic is the original oil and goes very well here. Enjoy your experimentation!

Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp granulated garlic
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp kosher salt
¼ cup Extravagonzo Culinary Oil (or as needed)

Preparation

1. Combine all ingredients, except the oil, on a deep plate or bowl
2. Pour olive oil over mixture

We suggest you make this using tablespoon or larger quantities of all dry ingredients and storing extra amount in ziplock baggie for future use.

Adapted from a recipe from CDKitchen for Carrabba's Herb Oil for Dipping Bread

Additional beautiful uses for Extravagonzo Roasted Garlic Culinary Oil during Holiday Season are:

• baste your turkey with it
• drizzle it over potatoes w/ Rosemary and seasalt
• add to your stuffing mix
• add to your morning spuds and eggs

The list is endless, limited only by your imagination.