Oh my gosh… dinner last night turned out so amazing. Check out the main course:
Gah! Want more.
As I mentioned, The Olive Oil Press in Sonoma sent me four different kinds of their award-winning olive oils to try with a challenge: Create a 4-course meal using one of the olive oils in each course.
I was sent three extra virgin olive oils of increasing intensity (Arbequina, Mission, and Italian Blend, respectively), as well as their special Blood Orange Olive Oil! I had so much fun brainstorming ways to use all of it 
Here’s the final result!
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(For the recipes, click on the name of the course!
I created a separately recipe page for each.)
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Menu
…
First Course:
featuring robust intensity Italian Blend Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Second Course:
Mixed Green Salad with Pear, Feta, and Walnuts
with homemade balsamic vinaigrette
featuring delicate intensity Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Main Course:
served on a bed of White Beans and Sautéed Spinach
featuring medium intensity Mission Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Dessert:
with vanilla ice cream
featuring Blood Orange Olive Oil
Wine Pairing:
What a delicious dinner and fun challenge! Major thanks to the The Olive Oil Press for the opportunity!
And special thanks to my assistant (the homemade vinaigrette was all him!) and hot date 
Here are the recipes again with a few notes:
- Curried Carrot Soup (Super easy, healthy, and flavorful thanks to the curry seasoning and creamy coconut milk!)
- Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette (My new favorite dressing! SO much more flavor than the bottled kind)
- Seared Scallops served on a bed of White Beans and Sautéed Spinach (Scallops are a restaurant favorite of mine and these tasted JUST like a fancy restaurant!! I also had no idea how easy it was to sear scallops — literally 3 minutes flat and you are done!)
- Citrus Zest Cake (Whole wheat and amazing!! It’s not too sweet and almost tastes like biscotti or something — it would be delicious with tea or coffee!)
Check out the recipes and give one a try this weekend!
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Time to study!! Our second exam in Anatomy & Physiology is this afternoon. It’s also looking sunny out — I’m thinking my scheduled training run (4 miles since I only did 3 Tuesday) today will be outside!! Yay!
**Don’t forget that you have until tonight at 9 p.m. to enter my Aurorae yoga mat giveaway! I’ll be announcing the winner around then so come back to see if it’s you
Miss Anne, it’s not even 8:30 and now i’m starving! Your meal looks absolutely divine.
Holy crapola. That meal looks amazing. I am now starving for all of that. Drool. Please come cook for me!!
I love using olive oil in cakes! It adds such a unique flavor!
This is AWESOME! After hearing about it on Tuesday I was sooo excited to see how this turned out – it looks amazing! I can’t wait to try these recipes.
I’m open to dinner invites!!
It ALL looks delicious!!!!
-emily
Holy Cow-can you come cook for me? There are no words to describe. And you documented each dish so well! Awesome Anne, just Awesome.
what a feast! i love how fresh these recipes sound…you’re definitely going to win
Wow, your dinner looks so fantastic! Definitely something you’d order at a fancy restaurant! Way to go, chef
AWESOME!!! That meal looks great! Love it!
Course 1 and 4 are shouting my name
Wow! What creative and fun recipes. I’m impressed!
This looks like a really yummy meal! I especially want to try the balsamic vinaigrette and the carrot soup!
I dont know if you saw or not but in the DC area we are suppose to be in the 50s this weekend!!! Good and nice running weather outside.
BTW, that meal looked awesome!!
My goodness that all looks so good – Made me hungry just looking at it!
OMG that looks extraordinary!!!And now I’m starving!
What an amazing dinner! I love olive oil, so I am basically salivating on my end. Brava!
PS – I just found your blog through Meghann’s, and I’m really enjoying it!
Okay, I just drooled all over this post. TMI? Awesome job! Each recipe looks amazing!
The meal just kept getting better and better! I need to experiment with different olive oils. Fab recipes!
OMG!!! I don’t think I have anymore words. Yum!!! Oh, look, I guess I had one more!!!
Wow! The dinner looks amazing. Great job Anne!
Yum!! How awesome and creative are YOU!
SACLLOPS!! My mouth is WATERING just looking at these photos. I love dessert, but given the choice of either ice cream or scallops, I might choose scallops…actually I’m 100% sure I would. One of my favorite dishes is seared sea scallops in and orange-hoisin sauce with baby bok choy and brown rice. Looks fantastic!
What a wonderful foodie dinner! Yum.
Hope the test went well!
And happy weekend!
Wow, great blog! I really like your outlook on eating and health. I am officially a fan. Also, great entry, I love the idea of pairing a yummy seared scallop with cannelini beans. I may do that for dinner tonight.
Thanks!
Those seared scallops look divine!!!
I have recently begun eating seafood and scallops are one of my favorite things to eat now. I’m so excited to try this recipe! Your blog has inspired me to look into becoming a RD. How should I get started??!!
Awesome! I hope you like the recipe
And regarding becoming an RD – check out the ADA’s website: http://www.eatright.org/students/education/accreditedprograms.aspx . Good luck!
Thanks Anne! I appreciate it. I’m ready to leave my cubicle job to find something I’m passionate about too!