When purchasing gifts during the holidays most of us have everything we need. However, when you actually make a gift for someone it means so much more. My go-to gift for friends and family is homemade infused olive oils. In fact, I love these gifts so much that whenever we go to an event at someone’s home I am the only one who brings a bottle of olive oil instead of wine. It’s always a hit.
A note before beginning the recipe. You will need a separate bottle with a large mouth, so you can easily pour the oil and ingredients in. The ingredients make the olive oil so pretty, so make sure your bottle is clear in color. If you want to dress up this gift, give it with a loaf of bread and a saucer to serve the oil. Homemade infused olive oils can be refrigerated for up to one week. To enjoy, simply remove olive oil from the refrigerator and let sit for 15-20 minutes to return to a pourable consistency.
Also, make sure to use a higher quality olive oil. We recommend Verde Valley infused olive oils, so you start with a nice base. Starting with an unflavored olive oil will take a lot longer to absorb the full flavor. The great part is you can make one gift or as many gifts as you need when the time comes!
Here are a few olive oil recipes to get you started.
Simple Basil Chili Infused Olive Oil Recipe
Ingredient List:
1 cup Verde Valley Basil Olive Oil
6-8 Small Dried Red Chili Peppers (Can be less than 6 if want a milder spice)
Simple Spicy Garlic Infused Olive Oil Recipe
Ingredient List:
1 cup Verde Valley Garlic Infused Olive Oil
2 garlic cloves peeled
1 ½ teaspoons chili flakes (Add more or less to taste)
Simple Olive Wood Smoked Rosemary Infused Olive Oil
Ingredient List:
1 cup Verde Valley Olive Wood Smoked Olive Oil
4 washed and completely dried rosemary sprigs (about five inches long)