Healthy Heart Cooking With Olive Oil

I love the taste of olive oil and I know it is very healthy. Olive oil promotes good cholesterol and lower the bad cholesterol in your body. Olive oil is chock full of antioxidants.

Organic olive oil is good because it has no bad toxin's in it. If you can't purchase it in your area or store select a good extra virgin olive oil or virgin olive oil. The cheaper olive oils have less of the valuable nutrients in them. Extra virgin is of course better for the heart.

Making Olive Oil

To make Olive Oil the olives are pressed leaving in the juices,smell and flavor. Cold pressed is the best to buy. Cold pressed means the olives are kept at room temperature no hotter. The best extra virgin olive oil means care is taken to make sure the olives are perfectly ripened.

Countries that are major producers of olive oil are Spain,Italy and Greece.

Storing Olive Oil

Olive oil should be stored in a glass container or stainless steel to preserve the quality of it. It will break down if stored in plastic and will not be good.

Recipes using Olive Oil

These recipes are tasty and good for you too.

Dipping Bread Olive Oil

slices of bread

olive oil extra virgin 1/4 cup

1/8 tsp. chili powder

1/8 teasp. ground pepper

1/8 teasp. onion and garlic poder

Mix all ingredients well and serve in a flat dish or shallow bowl.

Mashed potatoes with Kale and Olive Oil

3 1/2 pounds of cut up potatoes

4 Tbsp. olive oil

1 bunch of chopped up kale

1/2 cup milk

5 chopped up scallions

grated cheese

Cook potatoes until done. In a pan cook until warm the olive oil and kale together. Mash up the cooked potatoes add the other ingredients in. Put in the warm olive oil and kale and stir up in the potatoes. Garnish with cheese on top.

Olive Oil Salad Dressing

3 parts extra virgin olive oil

1 part good wine or lemon juice

Add in salt,pepper and garlic to your taste.

Greens and Olive Oil

Cook washed greens in pot of boiling water. Remove the greens season them with salt and a little hot pepper.

Cook the pasta in the same pot of water the greens were in. Leave a cup of water in the pot mix in the greens with ricotta cheese or tofu slices on top. Sprinkle on grated chees