The Smiling Olive Blog

With less time to spent outside, cooking healthy meals at home are the best way to use your free time and spend it with the family.  Remember, family that cooks and eats together, stays together!

To encourage customers to stay home, you can still enjoy our products by orderin them in different ways:

• Curbside Pick-Up: Order and pay by phone (952) 361-9939.  Call the store when you arrive and we'll bring it to your car.
• Order Online and choose "pick up at store" at check out.
• Order Online, UPS Shipping, great shipping rates!
• Free Home Delivery!  Call the store and we'll deliver directly to your home (952-361-9939).  Or, order online, choose "pick up at store" at checkout and write "Home Delivery" in your notes.
• Shop in the Store  We have removed samples from shelves and only our personnel will be able to give samples when requested.  Se have always been diligent about keeping the the store clean, and we continue sanitizing all surfaces and keeping the mandatory social distance.

Ingredients 1 Fresh, Sweet Baguette, sliced into 1/2" slices on the diagonal 12 oz. Thinly Sliced Wild Smoked Salmon 3 Ripe Avocados, sliced thin 1 Small Red Onion, sliced very thin 1 Large Garlic Clove cut in half 2 Tablespoons Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice 1/3 Cup +2 Tablespoons any "The Smiling Olive" Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Try Arbequina, Coratina, or Picual) Pinch of Sea Salt Fresh Ground Pepper 1/4 Cup Flat Leaf Parsley, coarsely chopped Directions Whisk two tablespoons of lemon juice with 1/3 cup of olive oil and sea salt in a small bowl. Add the thinly sliced onions and...

That's quite a title, no?  You could just shorten the name of this dish to "Nom-Nom!". Other descriptors include, easy, elegant, comforting, and delicious. Ingredients 1 1/2 Pounds Free-Range, Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs or Breast Tenders 4 Thick Strips Bacon, Diced 1 Large Sweet Onion Sliced Thin 8 oz. Assorted Wild Mushrooms, sliced (Cremini Mushrooms will work in a pinch) 4" Piece of Fresh Thyme, stem discarded 1/4 Cup Traditional Dark Balsamic 2 Tablespoons of Fruity-Floral Extra Virgin Olive Oil such as Picual, or Wild Mushroom-Sage Infused Olive Oil 1/2 Cup Heavy Cream Sea Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper to Taste...

Ingredients ½ Cup Bulgur 2 Squeezed Persian Limes 1 1/2 Teaspoons Salt 2 Cups Tomatoes (Ripe yet Firm) ½ Cup Chopped Spring Onions ½ Cup Chopped Fresh Mint 2 Cups Chopped Parsley 2 Small Cucumbers 1/4 Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Try Arbequina or Piqual) Directions Place bulgur in a bowl and cover with cold water. Leave to soak for 30 minutes. Drain through a fine sieve, pressing with back of a spoon to extract moisture. Spread onto a cloth and leave to dry further. Meanwhile, prepare parsley. Wash well, shake off excess moisture and remove thick stalks. Wrap in a...

Ingredients 1 Pound Brussels Sprouts, Stem End Trimmed Off 1/4 Cup Shaved Parmesan Cheese 2 Large Shallots, Thinly Sliced 1/4 Cup Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 Tablespoon Lemon Fused Olive Oil 2 Tablespoons Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice Sea Salt to Taste Fresh Ground Pepper to Taste Directions Shave or slice the Brussels sprouts as thinly as possible.  This can be done on a mandolin, using the slicing disk of a food processor, or by using a very sharp knife coupled with decent knife skill. In a large sauté pan, heat the Arbequina EVOO over medium-high heat.  Begin by sautéing...