Downtown Phoenix Olive Oil Store Now in Scottsdale

Urban Olive Oils & Balsamics, Downtown Phoenix’s first and only olive oil store, has expanded into Scottsdale through their partnership with the Edible Exchange Market located  at 8700 E. Via De Ventura, Suite 205 (just West of Pima Rd and Via De Ventura).

 

 

 

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The Edible Exchange Market, Owned by Lori Baker, is Scottsdale’s FIRST and ONLY boutique grocer featuring farm fresh foods from local growers, ranchers, farmers and food artisans. The Edible Exchange Market is an alternative to large supermarkets, open 5 days a week for your shopping convenience. With weekly deliveries and special events, you have the opportunity to meet your local farmers, ask questions and find out where your food comes from. The Edible Exchange Market likes to say they offer, “Uncommon Food in an Uncommon Location”.

“There are two main reasons why Urban Olive Oils & Balsamics has decided to partner with The Edible Exchange Market. First, Lori’s vision of bringing farm fresh food and top quality products like our olive oil and balsamic vinegar to Scottsdale, in an indoor Farmers Market type atmosphere, is what people want, it’s the future of shopping for high quality products. The second reason why having our products in the Edible Exchange Market is because it allows us to bring the BEST balsamic on the planet to the people of Scottsdale without the high cost of retail space and overhead that would be required to open a olive oil store in Scottsdale,” says Jay Veniard, Owner of Urban Olive Oils & Balsamics.

So if you are looking for an alternative to the big grocery store chains and want to buy local go check out Lori and the Edible Exchange Market. Also, if you live in Scottsdale and want to find our products in your area the Edible Exchange has you covered. And just like the 100% money back guarantee offered by Urban Olive Oils & Balsamics, the Edible Exchange also stands behind the quality of all the products they carry  and will gladly refund or replace any items that did not meet your expectations.

Urban Asparagus Lemon Pasta | Olive Oil Recipe

For some us the thought of eating our veggies, is well, a drag. Good thing for recipes like this that takes the veggie and pretty much makes it disappear. Although I have to admit that I do like asparagus especially when it is slathered in butter. Not healthy, right? Yeah I know that’s why we are talking about this delightful asparagus lemon pasta recipe. This is one of Urban Olive Oils & Balsmaics olive oil recipes that has been a hit with both adults and the kids. And god knows we have enough kids to try these recipes on. So let’s get started.

Here’s what you will need to get rockin’ and rollin’.

1. 1 pound of fresh, medium thickness asparagus with the tough ends trimmed
2. 1 tsp of finely grated, fresh lemon zest
3. 1/4 of Urban Olive Oils & Balsamics Meyer Lemon olive oil OR Urban Olive Oils & Balsamics Lemon Pepper olive oil (I prefer the lemon pepper olive oil, but the kids liked the Meyer Lemon olive oil better)
4. 1lb of Penne pasta
5. 1/2 cup of fresh, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Prep

Cut asparagus into 1-inch or so pieces and put all tips aside for later use. Cook asparagus stems in 6 quarts of boiling water with 2 tablespoons of salt until very tender. Approximately 7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer into a colander. Keep the water boiling and rinse the items in colander under cold water. Drain asparagus well and transfer to a food processor or blender.

Now cook your asparagus tips in the same boiling water until just tender, about 3-5 minutes. Again, use slotted spoon to transfer to a colander, keep water boiling in pot, and rinse the tips under colder water. Drain asparagus tips well.

Next you will puree the asparagus stems with your finely grated, fresh lemon zest, Urban Olive Oils & Balsamics Meyer Lemon olive oil OR Urban Olive Oils & Balsamics Lemon Pepper olive oil, and a 1/2 cup of asparagus cooking water. Transfer sauce to a 4-quart saucepan.

Cook pasta in boiling asparagus water for about three-fourths of the recommended cooking time so you create a very al dente pasta. Reserve 2 cups of asparagus water and drain pasta.

Add pasta, asparagus tips, and 1/2 cup of reserved water to asparagus sauce and cook over high heat, stirring every 3-5 minutes, or until pasta is almost al dente and sauce coats the pasta. Add more cooking water, 1/4 at a time, until sauce coats pasta but is still a little loose (the cheese will thicken it slightly). Stir in Parmigiano-Reggiano and salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring, until cheese is melted. Serve immediately while hot.

So there it is, easy, fresh and delicious. Tell us what you think.

Sun Dried Tomato Pasta OR Tomato Basil Pasta | Olive Oil Recipe

Take your pick! Everyone likes pasta and this recipe is guaranteed to delight even the most discerning critic. With just the switch of the olive oil used in this recipe you can create 2 delicious dishes And talk about easy, this dish can be thrown together in just a few minutes. The best thing about this simple recipe is that it tastes great hot, but is also wonderful the next day as a cold pasta salad.

Here is what you will need for this recipe.

• 1 Red tomato
• 1 Yellow tomato. If you can’t find yellow tomatoes substitute a second Red tomato
• 1 Red bell pepper
• 1 Yellow bell pepper
• Pine nuts (toasted & unsalted)
• 1 package of any pasta of your choice
• 1/4 cup of Urban Olive Oils & Balsamics Sun Dried Tomato Parmesan and Garlic olive oil OR Urban Olive Oils & Balsamics Fresh Basil olive oil
• Fresh grated Asagio or Parmesan cheese

Prep

Chop tomatoes and bell peppers into even bite sized pieces and put to the side. Cook pasta until aldente and drain. Toss Urban Olive Oils & Balsamics Sun Dried Tomato Parmesan and Garlic olive oil OR Urban Olive Oils & Balsamics Fresh Basil olive oil, pasta, tomatoes, bell peppers and pine nuts together coating everything in the bowl. Add more olive oil if needed. Sprinkle fresh grated Asagio or Parmesan cheese on top and serve.

We hope you enjoy the fresh, easy pasta recipe and look forward to your comments after you try it. Let us know what you thought.

Chipotle Chili | Olive Oil Recipe

The season for chili is almost gone here in Phoenix, unless you need some chili for your hot dogs. But for those of you who are still enduring another month or so of cold weather you will love this recipe for Chipotle Chili.

Here is a list of things you will need for this recipe.

• 3 Tbsp of Urban Olive Oils & Balsamics Chipotle olive oil
• 1/2 cup of red onion (chopped
• 2 lbs of ground beef OR if you want to make your chili a bit more healthy substitute ground beef for ground turkey
• 1 1/4 cups of canned tomatoes
• 4 cups of canned black beans OR kidney beans
• 3/4 tsb of sea salt
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 Tbsp of chili powder

Prep

Start off by sauteing the chopped onions in Urban Olive Oils & Balsamics Chipotle olive oil. Add ground beef or ground turkey and stir until meat is browned. Add tomatoes and lack beans OR kidney beans. Stir in sea salt, bay leaf and chili powder. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce to low heat and simmer, stirring occasionally for 1 hour.

Serve with some fresh grated cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream.

Sesame Garlic Orange Chicken | Olive Oil Recipe

This is what’s for dinner tonight. This recipe was inspired for our love of orange chicken at the restaurant, but we want to help people create a healthy alternative that wasn’t fried and found this wonderful recipe on Sonoran Living Live. Enjoy!!

Sesame Garlic Orange Chicken 
Sesame Orange Sauce Ingredients:
·    ½ cup organic or regular honey
·    ½ cup low sodium soy sauce
·    ½ teaspoon freshly minced ginger
·    ½ teaspoon freshly minced garlic
·    2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
·    ¼ cup hoisin
·    2 tablespoons Urban Olive Oils & Balsamics Toasted Sesame, Ginger & Garlic Oil 
·    ½ cup orange juice

Preparation: Combine all ingredients in a sauté pan and bring to a simmer. Serve with your favorite chicken, meat or seafood.

Balsamic Recipe | Pears with Parmesan

Balsamic Pears with Parmesan

For this recipe, you will want one ripe pear per person.

1. Shortly before serving, halve the pear.
2. Scoop out core and stem, and cut each half into quarters.
3. Place the pear quarters on a serving dish and drizzle with a teaspoon or so of Urban Olive Oils & Balsamics Traditional ’25 Star’ Balsamic Vinegar. 
4. Top with a sprinkling of freshly ground black pepper.
5. Finish with 3 to 4 curls of fresh, thinly shaved Parmesan cheese.

Five Healthy Uses of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Extra virgin olive oil is so much more than just a great tasting cooking aid; this incredible staple is major in the culinary world, known for its variety of uses in the kitchen. The health benefits of the daily consumption of extra virgin olive oil are numerous. Simple changes to your dietary intake can pack powerful health boosting benefits to your daily routine.

The benefits of using extra virgin olive oil are many; this is a preventative culinary oil as well as a medicinal one. It is shown through many studies to fight diseases such as cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and many other ailments. It is known to be an ideal skin protectant, hair conditioner and above all a very powerful antioxidant.  It comes highly recommended by health professionals and nutritionists as one of the few oils known to be a “healthy fat”.   Extra virgin olive oil also acts as an anti-inflammatory nutrient within the human body. It is one of the few culinary oils known to have so many health benefits outside of its role in the kitchen. The benefits and uses of this culinary oil are countless and finding ways to implement more of this powerful culinary oil into your diet are just as many. Here are some great ideas to use extra virgin olive oil as the healthier alternative;

1.      As a salad dressing

a.       A mixture of fresh herbs for seasoning, balsamic vinegar to taste and a few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. This is the healthier alternative to a heavy salad dressing packed with unnecessary calories and fat.

b.      A few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil mixed with the juice of fresh squeezed lemons, thinly sliced cloves of fresh garlic and fresh ground pepper.

2.      As a drizzle over sautéed  vegetables

3.      As a healthy alternative to butter

a.       Try on Garlic breads and toasts instead of butter

4.      As a skin protectant

a.       Extra virgin olive oil is an excellent skin protectant; it can be used as a topical solution to hydrate dry and inflamed or damaged skin; it can also be used as natural oil for everyday use.

5.      As a medicinal /nutrient

a.       anti-inflammatory nutrients

b.      Anti-cancer benefits

c.       Cardiovascular benefits

d.      Bone health

While there are still many more healthful benefits that come along with the use of extra virgin olive oil the few mentioned above are excellent reasons to implement this wonder oil into your daily regimen. The benefits far outweigh any possible risk. Simple changes such as using this oil as the new alternative to a fatty salad dressing that tastes great and cuts the unnecessary calories or using it as oil that is loaded with vitamins and nutrients that will nourish your skin will have positive health benefits for you. These are changes that are non-evasive and can easily become a part of your daily routine with little to no effort.

The wonderful components in this culinary oil share a nutritional value like no other culinary oil and the studies are continuous. Researchers worldwide are actively conducting studies for more information regarding its health benefits and its affects in focused groups, ailments and other possible uses.

So take the step today to a healthier you by using extra virgin olive oil as a major staple in your kitchen and your home. Share the benefits of this wonder culinary oil with family and friends, give them the option to use a healthier alternative in cooking and home use by using extra virgin olive oil too.

Urban Olive Oils & Balsamics is located in Phoenix, AZ and ships throughout the United States and Canada. We carry high quality, certified extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Check us out a www.urbanoliveoils.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/urbanoliveoils

Top 5 Health Benefits of Balsamic Vinegar

The simplest way to live a healthier lifestyle is to add healthy foods to your diet. When you begin to focus on healthier foods, the first thing you will notice is you FEEL healthier. The old adage, you are what you eat, is truly sound advice. One of the healthiest foods you can use in your quest for good health is balsamic vinegar. The health benefits of balsamic vinegar are extensive and well known among the natural health community. It has been used for centuries in various parts of the world, both as a flavoring and for its nutritive value.

1. Weight loss – Balsamic vinegar is well known for its ability to suppress the appetite. Because of its ability to improve the body’s metabolism, it can also increase energy levels and allow the body to burn fat easily and efficiently. Including balsamic vinegar in the diet, increases a dish’s overall nutrient content. Including it at the beginning of a meal will help you to feel full much quicker, reducing the amount of food consumed.

2. Antioxidants – One of the main health benefits of balsamic vinegar is the abundance of antioxidants to be found in this liquid powerhouse. Trebbiano grapes, the fruit balsamic vinegar is made for, is responsible for the high antioxidant content. The nutrient value in balsamic vinegar boosts the immune system and helps to prevent chronic illnesses. Antioxidants are also thought to aid in the prevention of cancer and other illnesses.

3. Digestive System – Balsamic vinegar is widely known for its enzymes that improve digestion and helps the body assimilate nutrients more efficiently. As digestion gradually becomes more efficient, the body’s energy levels increase and their metabolism begins to speed up. Balsamic vinegar can be mixed with olive oil as a refreshing salad dressing or seasoning.

4. Trace mineral content – Another health benefit of balsamic vinegar is its abundant number of trace minerals. The wealth of minerals contained in balsamic vinegar can help reduce the risk of anemia and other illnesses associated with vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Trace minerals such as manganese, selenium and magnesium can be found in balsamic vinegar. While the amounts of each mineral may be small, they still provide the body with much needed nutrition they may not get with other foods.

5. Anti-bacterial/antiviral – Balsamic vinegar is also known for its anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. Adding it to foods passes on those properties increasing the body’s resistance to infection and various viruses and bacteria. Including it in meals during the cold and flu season can substantially reduce the risk of contracting the pesky illnesses.

Aside from the health benefits of balsamic vinegar, adding it to foods provides taste as well as nutrition. A common combination is mixing balsamic vinegar with extra virgin olive oil. Not only does this unique combination added massive amounts of nutrients, it adds the unique flavor of Mediterranean cuisine. Olive oil has been used for centuries and is well known for its omega 3 fatty acids and their healthy affect on the body. Combining the two health staples adds up to a healthy mix that can be used for baking, braising, for vegetables or for salads.

For a nice selection of gourmet balsamic vinegar please www.urbanoliveoils.com. Guaranteed the BEST balsamic vinegar you’ll try or your money back. Who does that? Urban Olive Oils & Balsmaics does.

Butter Olive Oil is Good For You

Do you like butter as much as we do, but don’t like the unhealthiness of regular butter? You are not alone and that’s why we put together this table for butter lovers that have vowed to eat healthier in 2013.

Instead of using butter, try our butter flavored olive oil as a healthy alternative. This extra virgin olive oil has all the flavor and aroma of movie theater butter with out all the unhealthy calories and fat. This olive oils

See the butter conversion chart below for the right substitution measurements.goes great on popcorn, for cooking and with the addition of some of our fantastic balsamics can be a light and tasty dipping oil.

Butter/Margine	Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Teaspoon	3/4 Teaspoon
1 Tablespoon	2 1/4 Teaspoons
2 Tablespoons	1 1/2 Tablespoon
1/4 Cup	3 Tablespoons
1/3 Cup	1/4 Cup
1/2 Cup	1/4 Cup plus 2 Tablespoons
2/3 Cup	1/2 Cup
1 Cup	3/4 Cup