Evilo Blog — Chocolate Dark Balsamic Vinegar

Not Your Grandma's Ice Cream 22

Take homemade ice cream to a whole new level!

Ingredients:

For an Ice Cream Maker:
2 Cups Milk
2 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream
1 Package of The Resident Chef's White Chocolate Snacker Mix

For a Tupperware in the freezer:
2 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream
1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 Package of The Resident Chef's White Chocolate Snacker Mix

Directions:

For an Ice Cream Maker

1. Pour your milk, heavy whipping cream, and Snacker Mix into a bowl.
2. Whisk until well blended.
3. Pour mixture into your Ice Cream Maker. 
4. Let mixture churn for 20 to 25 minutes, or until frozen but still soft. 
5. Spoon Ice Cream into a freezer safe container and allow to freeze for an additional 30 minutes to an hour, or until Ice Cream has completely firmed. 
6. Dish it out, garnish it with your favorite toppings, and ENJOY!

For a Tupperware in the Freezer

Happy Hour 0

Plans are in full swing for New Year's Eve parties, bowl game watch parties, and other celebrations.  And the beginning of the new year is the perfect time to try new things.  You may be surprised to learn that olive oil and vinegars can be used as ingredients to create delicious and refreshing cocktails.  If you are unsure about how to use these unconventional ingredients, keep reading.  We've included suggestions and recipes for outstanding cocktails that your guests will enjoy.

Olive Oil Cocktails

Gin and vodka can be "washed" or infused with olive oil to give an extra richness to your cocktails.  You can use an unflavored olive oil or any of our infused olive oils.

Oil-Washed Vodka or Gin

(from Imbibe)

250 ml. vodka
45 ml. high-quality extra virgin olive oil

Combine vodka and oil in a freezer-safe container and let sit at room temperature for 5 days to infuse. Place the container in the freezer. Once the oil has solidified, scrape it away and discard.

Extra Virgin Martini

(from Chef Todd English)

1 orange segment
3 to 5 fresh basil leaves
3 oz vodka 
½ oz dry vermouth
½ oz Cointreau
¼ oz simple syrup
¼ oz extra virgin olive oil

Muddle the orange segment and basil leaves in a mixing tin. Add the vodka, Cointreau, vermouth, simple syrup, olive oil, and ice, and shake well. Strain into a martini glass and float an additional drop of olive oil over the top.

The Extra Virgin Cocktail
(from The Fig and Olive)

2 ounces cucumber vodka
1 ounce blood orange
3/4 ounce lime juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1/2 ounce Blood Orange EVOO
1/2 celery sprig

1. Chop up celery sprig and muddle inside mixing tin; then add in blood orange olive oil after the celery is muddled
2. Add juice and syrup to mixing tin
3. Add 2 ounces cucumber vodka
4. Add ice
5. Shake and strain over fresh ice
6. Add splash of soda
7. Add celery sprig for garnish

Cocktails with Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic Lemonade and Vodka Cocktail

(from What's Gaby Cooking)

10 lemons, juiced, approx 1 cup of lemon juice
3/4 cup super fine sugar
4 cups water
1 - 2 tsp 25 Star Balsamic Vinegar (start with 1 tsp, test it, and add more if desired)
1 cup vodka 

Combine the lemon juice, sugar and water in a large pitcher and mix to combine. Add the Balsamic Vinegar and taste. Adjust amount of balsamic if needed. Add the vodka and stir.

 

Strawberry Basil Balsamic Shrub with Gin

(from Gizmodo)

A bunch of strawberries, very ripe
Sugar
Strawberry White Balsamic Vinegar
Fresh basil
Gin
Sparkling water or club soda

Cut the strawberries into chunks and toss them with sugar in a bowl until they’re well-coated. Put it in the fridge overnight until the sugar has dissolved.

Strain the syrup out, squeezing out the solids, and mix with an equal part balsamic vinegar. Put it in a jar in the fridge and shake it once or twice a day.

Make a basil simple syrup, by combining one cup of water with one cup of sugar and add a ton of basil to and let sit until it dissolved.

In a tall glass, add equal parts gin and strawberry balsamic shrub and about half the amount of the basil syrup. Top with sparkling water for a little fizz and add a festive straw.

 

Dark Chocolate Balsamic Martini

(from Scout Mob)

Vodka
Dark Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar
Lavender sugar

•Rim two chilled martini glasses with lavender sugar
• Chill approximately 3 ounces of vodka in the cocktail shaker
• Add 1 tablespoon of dark chocolate balsamic vinegar
• Shake all ingredients and strain into glasses

For the Glass

We also have the perfect garnishes for your cocktail glasses.  From hot and spicy to smokey to savory, you're sure to like one of these:

-- Ghost Pepper salt

-- Chili Lime Margarita salt

-- Bloody Mary salt

-- Vintage Merlot salt

Friday Favorites 0

At the top of our list this week, we highlight 2 new products that we are so excited about.

1.  Bravado Spice Company Hot Sauces:  Your wish is our command!  Many of you asked for hot sauces, and we've found the perfect sauces to complement our oils and vinegars.  We're happy to offer Bravado Spice Company's complete line of hot sauces.  Crafted in Houston, TX, these sauces have more than just heat.  They are bursting with fresh, bold flavors that you are going to love.  Choose from the following options:  

      -- Crimson:  This red sauce features red jalapeño and arbol peppers.

      -- Pineapple and Habanero:  A sweet and spicy combination of habanero peppers and pineapple and a dash of yellow bell peppers and garlic.

      -- Jalapeno and Green Apple:  Green apple elevates jalapeño and poblano peppers in this flavorful green sauce.

      -- Ghost Pepper and Blueberry:  For the truly adventurous, this sauce is spicy, unusual, and completely delicious.  It combines blueberries, raspberries, ghost peppers, and black pepper.  

2.  What's Cookin' Cobblers:  These decadent cobblers are made right here in Hot Springs, and they are flying off the shelves.  We love them so much, and evidently you do too.  We sold out last weekend, but not to worry, we are restocked for this weekend and Black Friday.  Choose from these 3 heavenly flavors:

      -- Chocolate Cobbler:  This is so decadent and tastes great with vanilla ice cream.  Drizzle one of our vinegars over the top, such as:  Mocha Almond Fudge, Chocolate, Espresso, Maple, Pecan Praline, Vanilla, or Bordeaux Cherry Dark Balsamic Vinegar.  Also, a little sprinkle of Vintage Merlot Finishing Salt tastes great, too.

      -- Easy Peach Cobbler:  Tastes better than mom's, but it's twice as easy to prepare.  Top it off with some ice cream and then a drizzle of one of our vinegars, such as:  Peach or Coconut White Balsamic or Pecan Praline, Vanilla, or Maple Dark Balsamic Vinegars.

      -- Strawberry White Chocolate Cobbler:  This winning combination will taste great with a drizzle of our Chocolate or Vanilla Dark Balsamic Vinegar or Strawberry White Balsamic Vinegar.

3.  Holiday Lights at Garvan Woodland Gardens:  It's that time!!  Holiday Lights kicks off on Saturday at Garvan Woodland Gardens.  This event continues until December 31.  

Make it a great weekend!

Friday Favorites 9/9/16 0

The calendar may say September, but the temperatures are still in the 90s. Whether you are spending your weekend on the lake or binging on college and NFL football, we hope you have a great time. Here’s what is on our radar this weekend:

11th Annual Hot Springs Bike Rally: Welcome bikers to the largest bike rally in Central Arkansas. Events include a vendor mall, poker run, parade, and performances by Mustang Sally and Joe Nichols.

The Spice Lab’s Himalayan Salt Cooking Plate and Serving Tray: These are perfect for your game day snacks and appetizers. Heat or cool them, they hold the temperature for quite awhile and keep your snacks at the appropriate temperature and give them the perfect amount of flavor. Come on down to the store and check them out! We’ll talk more about them in an upcoming post.

Sales!!: Who doesn’t love a sale? At EvilO we just reduced the price on a few items, while supplies last.
— 500 ml Bottles of oils and vinegars: Get 20% off on 500 ml bottles of Australian Barnea and Cinnamon EVOO and Pistachio, Lavender, Mocha Almond Fudge, Espresso, Vanilla, Maple and Lemongrass Mint Dark Balsamic Vinegars.
— Discontinued flavors of oils and vinegars in 200 ml bottles: Get 10% off on Australian Barnea and Cinnamon EVOO; Orange and Pumpkin Pie Spice White Balsamic Vinegars; and Chocolate Dark Balsamic Vinegar.


Have a great weekend!!

EvilO Recipe: Orange Spiked Double Chocolate Muffins 0

One of our favorite pairings is Blood Orange EVOO with Chocolate Dark Balsamic Vinegar. As our manager Derek says, it tastes just like a chocolate/orange Tootsie Roll. Blood Orange EVOO pairs well with all things chocolate. Use it in brownies, chocolate cake, or chocolate cupcakes. Here is a recipe for delicious chocolate muffins featuring our Blood Orange EVOO. Let us know how you like them!


Orange Spiked Double Chocolate Muffins
(adapted from Isa Chandra Moskowitz’s Mocha Chip Muffin recipe)
Makes 12 muffins

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup Dutch-process cocoa
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup Blood Orange EVOO
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Spray muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, sift together dry ingredients (flour through salt).

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together wet ingredients (milk through yogurt).

4. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and combine until dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in chocolate chips. Fill muffin tins almost to the top.

5. Bake 18 – 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

​

Get Your Grill On 0

Labor Day weekend is upon us, and EvilO has the ingredients you need for the best BBQ on the lake. Here are some suggestions for appetizers, grilling, salads, and even dessert.

Grilling

Try these unique and delicious combinations for both marinades and drizzling on your grilled dishes.
— Garlic EVOO with Hickory Dark Balsamic Vinegar
— Jalapeno EVOO and Pineapple White Balsamic Vinegar
— Smoked Hickory EVOO with Pear White Balsamic Vinegar
— Chipotle EVOO with Garlic Dark Balsamic Vinegar
— Tuscan Herb EVOO with Italian Lambrusco Red Wine Vinegar
— Rosemary EVOO, Meyer Lemon EVOO with Garlic Dark Balsamic Vinegar
— Garlic EVOO with Honey Ginger White Balsamic Vinegar

In addition, our 25 Star Dark Balsamic Vinegar tastes fantastic drizzled over grilled steaks.

Salad Dressings

It may be the beginning of September, but temperatures are still hot. If you plan on serving a salad at your holiday gathering, check out these tasty salad dressing ideas.

— Garlic EVOO with Italian Lambrusco Red Wine Vinegar
— Tuscan Herb EVOO with Garlic Dark Balsamic Vinegar
— Basil EVOO with Strawberry White Balsamic Vinegar

Our Salad Sprayer makes dressing salads (and veggies) easy and convenient. They feature 2 chambers to keep your oil and vinegar separate. You control the percentage of oil to vinegar to spray on your salad. Choose from 100% oil or vinegar and anything in between.

Dessert

Yes!! Oil and vinegar compliment your desserts, too. From simple garnishes to baked goods, there is a decadent dessert idea for you.

— Blood Orange EVOO compliments chocolate very well. In fact, it’s addictive. Use it in place of other oils or fats in your recipes for brownies, chocolate cake, or chocolate cupcakes. You’ll be hooked.
— Blood Orange EVOO and Chocolate Dark Balsamic Vinegar drizzled over ice cream or cheesecake. Or, use it as a dipping sauce for angel food cake.
— Coconut White Balsamic Vinegar and Pineapple White Balsamic Vinegar drizzled over ice cream, fruit, or cheesecake.

Snacks

— Jalapeno EVOO or White Balsamic Vinegar, Garlic Cilantro EVOO or Dark Balsamic Vinegar taste great added to salsa, guacamole, or black beans.
— Chipotle EVOO goes great with our Sassy Italian bread dipper.
— Pair Basil EVOO with Sassy Italian bread dipper and Fleur de Sel finishing salt.

​We’d love to help create the perfect combination for your Labor Day celebrations. Come down to the shop and sample all our oils and vinegars.