Olive Oil Can Lift Depression

I was interested to read today of a University study confirming that olive oil can help prevent depression. There is certainly something life affirming about adding olive oil to your diet. For me I think it is partly because it triggers memories of harvesting the olives.  I remember the views from the trees as I clambered around and the scent of crushed mint and oregano underfoot.  It certainly lifts my spirits on a grey cold January day.



Happy Days Harvesting Olives



Wine and Olives

I have come across a great Tuscan proverb that says: 'where olives can't grow, a great wine is impossible to make'. Olives and vines both have an ancient history of cultivation and respond to being grown with love and care.  This allows the terroir (the alchemy of plant, environment and soil) to influence the resulting oil and wine.  Visit the Olive Picking Video Diaries to see two wineries one in Portugal and one in California, both growing olives for extra virgin olive oil.

It has to be healthy - it contains figs!

I have just sampled a delicious taste of Italy ..

 

 

Imagine a log of wonderful things: dried honeyed figs, almonds, walnuts, dates, pistachios, bitter chocolate, brandy, strega and more ... dusted in icing sugar, wrapped in rice paper and served sliced into small sublime rounds.

Labelled as 'frustringo' I found 'frustingolo' mentioned on the internet - a traditional dolci from Le Marche, but their version is baked unlike here where the ingredients are just mixed together and left somewhere cool for a month to mature (it would be brilliant to make and serve alongside Limoncello as both take about the same waiting time).

A big thank you to my sister who introduced me to this delight and to her friend Jack who lovingly made it - grazie mille!

1/1/11





HAPPY NEW YEAR

1.1.11

What a special date!  I would like to wish everyone a very happy and successful 2011. May all your hopes come true.