"I'll bring a side dish!"

Have you ever told someone you'll bring the side dish to a gathering then realize you have no idea what you're going to make?

We got your back!

This classic mashed potato recipe is enhanced with Gremolata EVOO and Bacon EVOO

This recipe gives a refreshing update to a perennial classic. The duo of dark chocolate and cocoa powder gave these brownies depth, and the vanilla enhanced the flavor of both of them.

The combination of tahini and sugar replicates the sweet sesame flavor of halvah candy but was easier to work with—and to find. Swirling the reserved tahini batter into the chocolate created a visual and textural contrast and let the tahini flavor shine. The best way to marble the brownies was to run the tip of a paring knife through the dollops of batter.

This is our favorite Tahini to use in the brownies: Villa Jerada Tahini

We borrowed this recipe from Christopher Kimball's Milk Street.

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons salted butter (½ stick), plus more for pan
• 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate,
• finely chopped
• 16 grams (3 tablespoons) cocoa powder
• 3 large eggs
• 223 grams (1 cup plus 2 tablespoons) white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon table salt
• 180 grams (¾ cup) tahini
• 47 grams (⅓ cup) all-purpose flour

Directions

Heat the oven to 350ºF with a rack in the middle position. Line an 8-inch-square baking pan with 2 pieces of foil with excess hanging over the edges on all sides. Lightly coat with butter.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate and cocoa, whisking until smooth.

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Whisk in the tahini.

Fold in the flour until just incorporated. Set aside ½ cup of the mixture. Add the chocolate mixture to the remaining tahini mixture and fold until fully combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading evenly. Dollop the reserved tahini mixture over the top, then swirl the batters together with the tip of a paring knife. Bake until the edges are set but the center remains moist, 28 to 32 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Use the foil to lift the brownies from the pan. Cool on the rack for at least another 30 minutes before removing from foil. The longer the brownies cool, the more easily they cut. Cut into 2-inch squares.

Is there anything better than a bowl of warm chili after a day full of fun fall activities?

It's absolutely amazing how putting together a bunch of common ingredients can come out tasting so delicious...tis the case with chili!

Looking to add a little variety to your chili? All it takes is two additional ingredients - Chipotle EVOO and Chocolate di Torino Balsamic Vinegar. A 60ml bottle of each is all you need to add extra flavor to your chili. The recipe for this delicious spin on Turkey Chili is below (if you right click on the recipe and save it you should be able to print it for future reference.)

Happy fall and enjoy!

Let’s get into each one, shall we?

What kinds of foods can you use them on, you may ask?

What's next for Philbur's?

Testimonials:

Imagine the ultimate soup of the season, stocked with vegetables, rich flavor, and our favorite, EVOO. Stay warm and cozy with this Soupe au Pistou recipe, perfect for the cooler evenings with your family!

Soupe au Pistou

Recipe and photography by Christopher Kimball's Milk Street

Ingredients

8 oz dried pinto beans

kosher salt and ground black pepper

1 pint cherry tomatoes

1 medium leek, white and light green parts only, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced

1 medium head of garlic, top 1/3 of head cut off and discarded, plus 5 medium garlic cloves smashed and peeled

2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 oz fresh basil

1 oz parmesan, roughly chopped

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided (we'd recommend either our Arbosana or Hojiblanca extra virgin olive oil!)

2 tablespoons pine nuts

4 oz small pasta, such as elbows

1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch pieces

1 small zucchini, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces 

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the beans with 8 cups water and 1 tablespoon salt. Stir, then let soak at room temperature for at least 12 hours or up to 24 hours.

Drain the beans and add them to a large pot along with the tomatoes, leek, garlic head, bay, thyme and 9 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium-high, then reduce to medium and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally and adjusting heat to maintain a simmer, until the beans are tender, 45-55 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the basil, Parmesan, 2 tablespoons of oil, the garlic cloves, pine nuts and ½ teaspoon salt. Process until the mixture has a spreadable consistency, 30 to 60 seconds, scraping the bowl as needed. Transfer the pistou to a small bowl and set aside.

In a small saucepan over medium, head the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil until shimmering, Add the pasta and cook, stirring often, until toasted, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.

To the beams, add the carrot, 4 teaspoons salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the carrots are barely tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the toasted pasta and zucchini, then continue to cook until the pasta and zucchini are tender, 6 to 10 minutes.

Remove and discard the bay. Using tongs, remove the garlic head from the pot and squeeze the base of the head to release the cloves into the pot. Using the tongs, gently squeeze any tomatoes that are still whole so they burst. Taste the soup and season with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls. Swirl 1 tablespoon of pistou into each, serve with remaining pistou on the side.

Recipe and photography courtesy of Christopher Kimball's Milk Street

With our favorite holiday season right around the corner, we're preparing with this warm and cozy Apple Spiced Hot Toddy recipe! The combination of honey, cinnamon, brandy and our Mulled Cider Whole Fruit Vinegar creates the perfect fall evening.

Recipe courtesy of The Olive Oil & Vinegar Lover's Cookbook by Emily Lycopolus

Ingredients

Directions

Pour the honey, vinegar, and brandy in a large mug. Stir and combine ingredients. Top with almost boiling water and stir again to ensure the honey is melted. Add the cinnamon stick.

Giving this recipe a try? Enjoy a kickstart to cozy weather with 20% off all sizes of our Mulled Cider!

One thing we here at Port Plums are passionate about is cooking and the top-notch, authentic ingredients that build the true experience behind a meal. That’s why we partner with artisanal vendors that provide us with high quality and nurturing foods, such as Fork on a Road.

Fork on a Road was founded on the basis of eating local, fresh, and in season. “What happens when you do that is you’re buying something hyperlocal that is growing right around you and is seasonal…which means the food’s ability to nourish you is at its peak,” explains Suman Shah, founder of Fork on a Road. 

Suman Shah, Founder

Suman curates a unique selection of spice blends and meal kits that work together to bring the ultimate flavors to your taste buds. Some of her meal kits include the Five Lentil Dal and the Stone Fruit & Heirloom Tomato Tabouli. Examples of some of her spices are the turmeric blend called Grandma’s Gold, and the Chai Masala.

After hosting live cooking demos at farmers' markets and teaching cooking classes for a few years, her business quickly began to develop, as a high demand for her spice blends grew. Now, she hosts various cooking classes, offers an assortment of recipes that utilize her spices, and an online store to get an inside look at what’s included in her spice packs. Her spices are also featured in recipes such as one for Rhubarb Vinegar Chicken and Seared Scallops with Garam Masala Creamed Corn, both by Chef Jody Adams.

Five Lentil Dal with Greens

Cannellini Beans with Fennel & Basil

Whether she’s hosting a cooking class or selling her spices at a farmers market, the most exciting part of the job for Suman is showcasing what the local farmers are harvesting, and for good reason. “The food is so beautiful and so delicious, nutritious, fresh and vibrant,” she explains. When discussing her passion for cooking, she advocates for the mindfulness that comes along with it: “When you’re present and really doing it with love, that shines through when you present the final product.” 

Suman is now offering online cooking classes and is excited to announce there may be some new blends that will be coming in right before the holidays.
We don’t know about you, but we’ll sure be keeping an eye out!

Need some inspiration on where to start off? At Port Plums we offer one of Suman’s go-to spice blends, the Garam Masala, as well as a few of her meal kits that make your meals just that much tastier and easier to cook. The collection we offer will change and grow with the seasons. Be sure to try them out for yourself and hear your taste-buds ask for more!

Photos via Fork on a Road