You know that panicked feeling that you get about 15 days into December? When you realize that Christmas is just around the corner and you still have tons of gifts to figure out? Wouldn’t it be nice if you could come up with something that everyone would love while staying within your budget? Something that wouldn’t take way too much time to prepare but is still original? We figured out how to do just that this year and wanted to share our solution with everyone!
After lots of brainstorming and little input from our Italian appetites, we decided to make bread-dipping herb infused olive oil for our family and friends. If you’ve never tried it before, give it a shot… because you’re in for a treat! The final product is delicious and our wallets couldn’t be happier. We made 10 gifts for less than $40!
Our recipe is based on the dipping oil served at Carrabba’s Italian Grill. It yields about ½ cup of dipping oil and serves 1 to 4 people. First things first, here’s a list of the ingredients that you’ll need:
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 tablespoon dried minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt
1⁄2 teaspoon dried chopped rosemary
1⁄4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1⁄4 cup olive oil
You’ll notice that we opted to use all dried herbs and spices. While nothing can replace the aroma of fresh ones, the water content in those fresh herbs can cause bacteria to grow and therefore limit the shelf life of your dipping oil.
First, combine all of the ingredients, EXCEPT oil, in a mixing bowl and mix well. *When we made ours, we had to multiply the recipe by 10 because we needed to make enough to give as gifts for 10 people.
Next, pour your herb and spice mixture into whatever container you’ll be storing your infused oil in. * We used glass bottles we already had but you can use whatever containers you have around the house. Mason jars work great!
Add the olive oil and you’re all set! *Let the mixture sit for at least 1 week before eating.
Dress it up with a bow and personalized label. You’re friends and family will surely be impressed!
TO SERVE: Shake well, then pour 3 to 4 tablespoons of the herb infused olive oil on a small dish. Dip bread in the mixture (bread rolls or french bread will work) and enjoy!
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