What Are the Different Types of Olive Oil?

olive oil, different olive oil

Italian olive oil is one of the most common oils used in cooking and in recipes. Olives are washed and then crushed into a paste. The past is soaked in water and then a centrifuge is used to separate the oil and water from the soil pieces. After that, the water is removed leaving the oil behind.  When you want to purchase olive oil from https://ninideluca.com/, it is helpful to know the different kinds of olive oil, so you can purchase the right one for your needs.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

This is considered to be the highest grade of olive oil. It comes from virgin olive oil production, which means no chemicals are used. Some think this type of olive oil has the best taste. It is 0.8 percent free acidity. This is perfect for use in salads as a dressing. It is light. Extra Virgin Olive Oil may look and taste different based on the brand.

Virgin Olive Oil

This olive oil is slightly less quality than that of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It has about 1.5 percent free acidity. It has a great mild flavor and it perfect for sautéing and frying and other low heat cooking. This is not a refined oil. It has a cold pressed extraction method. This allows a natural aroma and flavor. This type of oil is resistant to changes in temperature.

Refined Olive Oil

If you see a label that says pure olive oil or just olive oil, it is usually a refined olive oil. It is typically extracted from black and ripe olives. This is great for cooking, especially at high temperatures. You would not want to use this oil for anything other than cooking. It has the same calories and fat content as other types of olive oil.

Extra Light Olive Oil

This type of oil is a lighter oil, both in color and flavor. It is not any lower in calories or fat. This oil does not have much in the way of flavor. That makes this oil best for baking because the flavor, or lack thereof, has no impact on the flavor of the food.

Cold Pressed Olive Oil

Cold Pressed Olive Oil is pressed without heat, making the oil much richer in flavor. There is another type of cold pressed process that is called first called pressed which means it is part of the first press. This first pressed oil usually has a higher price and is superior to most other cold pressed olive oils.

Sweese Butter Dish – Beautiful Butter Storage

sweese butter dish, porcelain butter dish, large butter dish

I don’t know about you but I am a reborn fan of butter. Growing up I was told margarine was butter and I figured everything was the same. The golden churned goodness all tasted the same for the most part right?! Now that I have really harnessed my health I have found a new appreciation for butter and keeping it in a beautiful butter dish. So we love the Sweese porcelain butter dish. Continue reading “Sweese Butter Dish – Beautiful Butter Storage”

Outdoor Spring Activities – Physical Fitness Month

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Hard to believe that we are already into May and almost half way through the year. Spring is in full swing with warmer weather, plants are in bloom, and a great time to get outdoors and get active. May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month—which makes it the perfect time to renew your commitment to a healthy, active lifestyle while inspiring your kids to do the same. Continue reading “Outdoor Spring Activities – Physical Fitness Month”

Bowls of Plenty – Healthy Hearts Giveaway


For many eating out is a thing of the past. Between supplying proper nutrition to our families and gathering around the dinner table to interact with family, even if only for a short time, eating is has become the new norm for most families. Finding great inspiration for preparing these meals is important and with Bowls of Plenty, Recipes for Healthy and Delicious Whole-Grain Meals by Carolynn Carreno, you’ll have a great place to start. Continue reading “Bowls of Plenty – Healthy Hearts Giveaway”

PB Crave Giveaway & Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

PB crave, peanut butter, gourmet peanut butter

Can I be totally honest? A life without peanut butter is a life not worth living. Not really, but I have always loved peanut butter, fresh, raw, with a large spoon, right into the jar of goodness. So my friend Joie introduced me to the gourmet awesomeness that is PB Crave.

PB Crave offers four delicious flavors that I loved to snack on right out of the jar. Flavors like Cookie Nookie which tastes just like a chocolate chip cookie, Coco Banana, Choco Choco and Razzle Dazzle. These fabulous flavors really kick up any sandwich, smoothie, and or cookie recipe! Continue reading “PB Crave Giveaway & Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe”

Fill Your Pantry this Holiday with Newman’s Own Organics Family Pack


 

noo

Welcome to the Networking Perks 2016 Family Gift Guide

Welcome to the Networking Perks 2016 Family Gift Guide

Your Gift Guide Co-Hosts Are:

The Five Fish

Networking Witches

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A Little Bit of Everything

My Dairy Free Gluten Free Life

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Peyton’s Momma

I have worked with Newman’s Own Organics for a few years now. They were one of the first companies to introduce me to organics when I knew nothing about them. I was amazed at how delicious all of their food was and that they carried everything from snacks and pet food too! Continue reading “Fill Your Pantry this Holiday with Newman’s Own Organics Family Pack”

CLA for flat belly

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As someone who works out on a regimented basis I am always looking to ensure I am adding all the proper supplements to my diet and exercise routine. Working with weights and cardio exercise can take a toll if you are not eating and or sleeping properly. Not to mention our foods do not always have the adequate amount of nutrition we need for a fully rounded diet. So I like to supplement in my diet, such as a good fish oil and daily multivitamin. Continue reading “CLA for flat belly”

Easy Guacamole Recipe

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The other day while perusing Facebook a friend of mine had shared a great video for an awesome recipe for guacamole. An easy and awesome recipe for guacamole, literally five ingredients or less. I could not resist having this recipe, making said recipe and sharing with my family. Then exploiting the awesomeness with each of you. I digress. This recipe was like no other and looked exceptionally tasty and did not require roasting hot peppers and hours or dicing and mashing. Continue reading “Easy Guacamole Recipe”

First Bites: Superfoods for Babies and Toddlers

Food is such an integral part of our lives. As a conversation piece, comfort and of course sustenance. For new moms, feeding your infant and or toddler can be worrisome, frustrating and concerning. Am I giving them enough options? Am I feeding them the right foods? Should I feed them these foods? When I had my twins I threw the traditional thoughts out the window and gave them everything. Brussels Sprouts were my favorite when they were teething, as were apples, bell peppers, the whole gamut of different fruits and vegetables. From the time they could sit up unassisted and gnaw on foods, I experimented on them. With G-man I was more concerned on being the perfect mom, giving him the “right” foods and never rocking the boat. I wish I had this book with my oldest, First Bites: Superfoods for Babies and Toddlers, so I had some sort of compass and guide to tackle simple struggles like picky eating.

Picky Eaters

I’ve been interviewing experts about dealing with picky eaters for years and there are times when all that I have learned goes out the window! Do your best and when all else fails, take a deep breath and let it go. Don’t get up and make something different, let your child take ownership and decide not to eat, they won’t starve to death if they skip dinner one night. Allow them to have some of the control, it will empower them believe it or not they will (almost always) come around.

first bitesTry to:

  • Lead by example—parents have to be willing to eat and try things too
  • Offer a combination of foods your child likes along with things that may be a bit outside their comfort zone
  • Have a discussion about where food comes from
  • Get to the farmers’ marker or plant a garden
  • Make mealtime fun—eat, talk, share
  • Prepare meals together

Try not to:

  • Freak out!
  • Get noticeably frustrated
  • Fight over meals
  • Use dessert or other food as a reward
  • Insist that your child eat everything on their plate

(Photo and excerpt from FIRST BITES: Superfoods for Babies and Toddlers with the permission of Perigee/Penguin. Copyright Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, 2015.)

Today I do one of the “try not to” with my kids, but they are now 7,7 and 12 so having them finish their plate usually consists of did you at least eat all of your vegetables on your plate? When I was growing up I was limited on my exposure to foods, fruits and vegetables. I wasn’t even aware of farmers markets, local farmer co-ops, or the like. At the young age of 17 I was exposed to artichokes and capers. I never looked back. My children were a fraction of my age when they were exposed and that is one of their all time favorite requests, including asparagus, roasted Brussels Sprouts, stuffed bell peppers, bok choy, spinach, mushrooms, onions and kale.

What I found with my oldest is just as Dana suggests, have your kids take ownership. I let my kids rummage through the fridge when they were toddling and we discussed the different fruits and vegetables and I let them try. I also tried. I stock my fridge to this day with an assortment of foods. Such an empowering feeling to have your children try and share and tell others about the foods they like.

Seth defined that moment and humbled me as a parent when at his Boy Scout den meeting he explained the various foods on his plate as part of a nutrition project. Mind you, my little gem is barely six at the time and he explained grilled chicken or salmon as his protein, quinoa or brown rice as his grain, broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, asparagus and green beans (because he clarified those are his favorite) as his veggie, strawberries as his fruit and Gouda was his choice of cheese (dairy) but he also likes almond milk. His dessert, of course, was my gluten free, dairy free, caramel apple cake. Of course, a meal would be incomplete without dessert!

When his den leader and The Chad shared this with me I felt so proud. I felt like we crested a hump. A pressure was relieved regarding the work I put into my kids to ensure they are eating the right foods and are educated about proper nutrition.

However I know I am truly blessed because my children do not lack a food allergy. Many children these days have or develop food allergies which can make meals tricky and tough to navigate, First Bites: Superfoods for Babies and Toddlers helps provide helpful tips and insightful information on how to ensure we as parents are maximizing our children’s diets. The book release and copy could not have come at a better time as a friend from church was experiencing her own frustrations and concerns as a new mom. Her post on Facebook immediately prompted me to provide her with my copy of the book, to give her the tools I wish I had when I was a new mom, the tools I just figured out with having twins. If you are facing some of these struggles: food allergies, picky eaters, maximizing a vegetarian/vegan diet, or food transitions First Bites: Superfoods for Babies and Toddlers should be in your arsenal of tools in the kitchen and your home. First Bites was released on February 3rd and is available nationwide and on Amazon, get your copy today and take the frustration out of navigating meals and foods for your child with amazing meal options and friendly recipes sure to transform even the pickiest of eaters.

What The Fork Are You Eating

If you are like others who started off the new year feeling not yourself or your health is less than favorable, your initial thought might be to start exercising, eating better, and then maybe visit your doctor. Did you know that most physicians who advise to eat a healthy diet and exercise cannot even tell you what a healthy diet looks like? That’s right! In fact, 99 of the 106 medical schools polled in a survey indicated they only required some form of education (conference, seminar, etc), but do not require a formal university course study. So what the fork are you eating and what the fork can your doctor really tell you about your diet when they don’t even know? Stephanie Sacks, author, certified nutritionist and chef, can help you overhaul your plate and your pantry in her book “What the Fork Are You Eating?: An Action Plan for Your Pantry and Plate.”

This book is absolutely revolutionary in breaking down the foods we eat, why we should or should not eat, buy, or consider them as food items. We spend so much time focusing on “low-fat” or “sugar free,” with the intention of helping ourselves, but all we are doing is pumping more artificial additives into our bodies that we simply cannot process.

By no means am I a dietary professional, scientist or physician, however, I am a consumer and person who struggled with the reality of food and how it wreaked havoc on my life. My weight suffered, my skin as I had horrible acne, fatigue, and my own personal struggle and triumph with cervical cancer. Converting to a whole foods, organic diet allowed me to take control of all these ailments and help me live a better life with more energy and radiance.

“What the Fork Are You Eating” will help you understand how foods are made, how they affect your body, our environment, and your budget. A step-by-step guide to the small changes that have a big impact on our family health and the financial health of our budgets. Not only will you learn about how, or how little, our food is regulated, but this book is packed with wholesome, affordable recipes that your entire family is sure to love.

If you are ready to read the most powerful, life changing book of the year, then enter to win your very own copy of “What the Fork Are You Eating: An Action Plan for Your Pantry and Plate

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Disclaimer: No purchase is necessary to enter. One entrant per household, per address. Void where prohibited by law. Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. The sponsor will be responsible for product shipment to winner of this sweepstakes. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. Contact karie@thefivefish.com if you have any additional questions or comments.