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

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First Course:

Curried Carrot Soup

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:

Seared Scallops

served on a bed of White Beans and Sautéed Spinach 

featuring medium intensity Mission Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Dessert:

Citrus Zest Cake

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