Tom Hyland: Piemonte's Ambassador

Villa Graziella sits down with author & journalist Tom Hyland to congratulate him as Piemonte’s Ambassador for the region’s wine. Piemonte wine prides itself from the region of Piedmont—located at the base of the Alps in northern Italy, it is best known for the sparkling Asti, noble Barbera, Barolo, Barbaresco varietals & delicious Gavi white wine. Want to learn more? 

Videos, Kitchen ConversationsMorgan ShepardComment
Balsamic Glazed Salmon

Need an idea for Friday evening dinner after a busy week? How about fresh salmon fillets glazed with   Villa Gabriella Organic 8 year aged balsamic vinegar di Modena? Easy to prepare, we tweaked a recipe from allrecipes.com for a healthy & delicious dinner to start your weekend right!   Serves 5 to 6. 

Easy Ingredients

  • 6 5-ounce-fresh salmon fillets
  • 1/3 cup Villa Gabriella Organic 8 Year Aged Balsamic Vinegar di Modena
  • 3 tablespoons of Villa Gabriella Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 5 teaspoons Dijon mustard 
  • 3 tablespoons of dry white wine
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon oregano
  • Sea salt & fresh cracked pepper to season

Simple Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with foil & brush with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
  2. In a small saucepan, over medium heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil. 
  3. Add garlic & cook until soft & golden, approx. 3-5 minutes, do not brown. 
  4. Add white wine, honey, balsamic vinegar, mustard, salt & pepper. 
  5. Simmer, uncovered for 5 minutes, until liquid thickens, remove from heat & set aside.
  6. Arrange salmon on foil lined baking sheet, skin side down. 
  7. Brush fillets with balsamic glaze, season with oregano.
  8. Bake 10-15 minutes. To check for doneness, insert a knife on an angle into the center of salmon & gently part the meat. If opaque & flakes into small pieces, salmon is cooked.
  9. Remove fillets from oven, brush with remaining glaze, season with salt & pepper, allow fillets to “rest” 2-3 minutes & remove skin.
  10. Serve & enjoy with Villa Graziella artisan crafted IGT Bianco Toscano white wine made with organic grapes.

Tried, Tasted & True!

At Villa Gabriella Organic our team tries & tastes every recipe we feature.  While we love to share our family recipes & those of talented home cooks & chefs, sometimes we adapt them so they are even easier to make. As with our products, our goal is for you to have a healthy & delicious experience using Villa Gabriella recipes. So try them out in your kitchen, feel free to tweak them & please tell us what you think. We welcome your comments & feedback!

Grazie da Team VILLA GABRIELLA

clientservice@villagabriellallc.com

RecipesMorgan ShepardComment
Morgan’s Olive Oil & Honey Banana Bread
NewBananabread.jpg

Morgan’s banana bread is still your favorite recipe and so good you won't even know it's healthy! Whole wheat flour, naturally sweetened with honey and our organic certified extra virgin olive oil instead of butter. This recipe will satisfy your cravings without feeling guilty!

Ingredients

  • 3 overripe brown bananas, peeled and mashed

  • 1/3 cup Villa Graziella Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

  • 3/4 cup honey

  • 1 large egg, beaten

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher or sea salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, optional

  • 1/2 cp dark chocolate chips, optional

Directions 

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  2. Lightly spray a loaf pan with cooking spray.

  3. In a medium bowl, whisk the wet ingredients until well combined.

  4. In a separate large bowl, sift the dry ingredients together

  5. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon, until just combined. Do not over-mix.

  6. Fold in walnuts and/or chocolate chips, if using.

  7. Pour mixture into loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean

  8. Allow to cool in loaf pan before slicing

  9. Enjoy!

**Tip: If your bananas aren't quite brown yet, place them on a cookie sheet and pop them in the oven at 300 degrees. Keep a close on eye on them and take them out once brown. 

Tried, Tasted & True!

At Villa Graziella Organic our team tries & tastes every recipe we feature.  While we love to share our family recipes & those of talented home cooks & chefs, sometimes we adapt them so they are even easier to make. As with our products, our goal is for you to have a healthy & delicious experience using Villa Graziella recipes. So try them out in your kitchen, feel free to tweak them & please tell us what you think. We welcome your comments & feedback!

Grazie da Team Villa Graziella Organic

clientservice@villagraziellaorganic.com

RecipesMorgan Shepardrecipe, banana bread, olive oil, healthy, baking with olive oil, bakingComment
Award Worthy Apple Walnut Crostoni

What to serve while watching the Oscar ceremony? Crostoni! Large bread crusts in Italian, crostoni are thick bread rounds, toasted & topped with a meat or cheese garnish. We modified a recipe from the reluctant entertainer, using Villa Gabriella Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil & a reduction of Villa Gabriella Organic 8-year aged organic balsamic vinegar. Prepare ahead, pop in the oven & enjoy the show!  

Makes 8-10 Crostoni

Simple Ingredients

  • French bread baguette, sliced diagonally (about 2 inches thick)
  • 4-5 tablespoons Villa Gabriella Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus extra to flavor
  • Reduction of Villa Gabriella Organic 8 year aged, balsamic vinegar  
  • 3-5 tablespoons fresh goat cheese 
  • ½ cup Gorgonzala cheese
  • 1 medium Honeycrisp apple, finely diced
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
  • 3 teaspoons honey
  • Sea salt & cracked pepper (to taste)

Easy Directions

  1. Pre-heat oven to broil. 
  2. Brush bread rounds with olive oil, place on a parchment lined baking sheet
  3. Broil for 3 minutes, until toasty, remove from the oven 
  4. Spread each toasted round with goat cheese & set aside
  5. Combine gorgonzola cheese, chopped apple & walnuts in a bowl  
  6. Add honey & mix together
  7. Spoon the mixture on top ofcrostoni rounds
  8. Return to the oven & broil 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted
  9. Remove from the oven, drizzle each crostoni with balsamic vinegar reduction (recipe here) 
  10. Serve & enjoy! 

Pair with Villa Graziella artisan crafted Bianco Trebbiano IGT wine made with organic grapes.   

Tried, Tasted & True!

At Villa Gabriella Organic our team tries & tastes every recipe we feature.  While we love to share our family recipes & those of talented home cooks & chefs, sometimes we adapt them so they are even easier to make. As with our products, our goal is for you to have a healthy & delicious experience using Villa Gabriella recipes. So try them out in your kitchen, feel free to tweak them & please tell us what you think. We welcome your comments & feedback!

Grazie da Team VILLA GABRIELLA

clientservice@villagabriellallc.com

RecipesMorgan ShepardComment
Balsamic Vinegar Reduction

We used our 8-year aged organic balsamic vinegar to make a luscious reduction. No need to add sugar or other ingredients, we slowly simmer the vinegar for 60 minutes over a low heat.  Bursting with complex, natural flavors coming from the various woods the vinegar ages in, we drizzled our reduction on Apple Walnut Crostoni. A glaze on grilled steak or chops, dress steamed or roasted veggies, top fresh avocado slices & shaved fennel or on spring greens; the delicious & healthy combinations are endless!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Villa Gabriella Organic 8 year aged, balsamic vinegar  

Easy Directions

  1. In a medium sauce pan, add balsamic vinegar
  2. Simmer over medium heat 10-15 minutes or until vinegar begins to bubble
  3. Stir slowly & reduce heat to low for 45 minutes until vinegar thickens & reduces
  4. Place a spoon in the reduction, if vinegar coats the spoon remove from the heat
  5. Set aside & allow to cool
  6. Pour into air tight jar or container, store in cupboard away from heat, light & air. Vinegar can be re-heated over low heat, add a small amount of water if necessary.

Tried, Tasted & True!

At Villa Gabriella Organic our team tries & tastes every recipe we feature.  While we love to share our family recipes & those of talented home cooks & chefs, sometimes we adapt them so they are even easier to make. As with our products, our goal is for you to have a healthy & delicious experience using Villa Gabriella recipes. So try them out in your kitchen, feel free to tweak them & please tell us what you think. We welcome your comments & feedback!

Grazie da Team VILLA GABRIELLA

clientservice@villagabriellallc.com

RecipesMorgan ShepardComment
Did You Know: Enjoying Organic Food

Did you know? There are more reasons to enjoy organic food!  Scientific research studies continue to indicate the health & environmental benefits from cultivating & eating organic food. From increased anti-oxidants levels, healthier diet practices, better early childhood development, the decreased risk of disease & lower pesticide residue levels in our food and in the soil. Want to learn more?  Visit The Organic Consumer’s Association to learn more!  

 

Morgan ShepardComment
Strawberries & Balsamic

Looking for a special Valentine's Day dessert? Healthy & delicious, our 8-year aged organic balsamic vinegar di Modena with fresh strawberries are guaranteed to delight your loved one.

VideosMorgan ShepardComment
Sriracha-Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Are you getting ready for the big game and looking for a healthier alternative to some game day bites? These Sriracha-Buffalo Cauliflower Bites are a delicious meat alternative that is sure to make a touchdown this Sunday! High in Vitamin C, these cauliflower bites are a great healthy alternative to Buffalo wings. Serve as an appetizer with carrot sticks and your favorite ranch dressing. 

What to enjoy with your sriracha cauliflower bites? Villa Graziella Toscano IGT Trebbiano white wine fruit flavors pair with spicy sriracha heat for a perfect combination. 

Ingredients

  • 8 cups 1 1/2-inch cauliflower florets
  • 2 tablespoons Villa Gabriella Organic extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons hot sauce, such as Frank's RedHot
  • 1-2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce
  • 1 tablespoon butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice 

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Coat a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper 
  2. Toss cauliflower, olive oil and salt in a large boil. Spread on the prepared baking sheet; reserve the boil. Roast the cauliflower until it's starting to soften and brown on the bottom, about 15 minutes. 
  3. Meanwhile, combine hot sauce, Sriracha to taste, butter and lemon juice in a large bowl. Add the roasted cauliflower and toss to coat. Return the cauliflower to the baking sheet and continue roasting until hot, about 5 minutes or more. 

*Recipe adapted from eatingwell.com

Tried, Tasted & True!

At Villa Gabriella Organic our team tries & tastes every recipe we feature.  While we love to share our family recipes & those of talented home cooks & chefs, sometimes we adapt them so they are even easier to make. As with our products, our goal is for you to have a healthy & delicious experience using Villa Gabriella recipes. So try them out in your kitchen, feel free to tweak them & please tell us what you think. We welcome your comments & feedback!

Grazie da Team VILLA GABRIELLA

clientservice@villagabriellallc.com

RecipesMorgan Shepardgame day, healthy alternative, recipe, organicComment