From our family kitchen to yours—simple recipes made with extra virgin olive oil and a whole lot of love.

extra virgin olive oil bottle and fresh apples next to an homemade apple cake with glaze

elizabeth’s Apple Cake

For the Cake

  • 4 C Apples-peeled, cored, and sliced

  • 2 C sugar

  • 1/2 C Extra Virgin Olive Oil

  • 2 eggs

  • 2 tsp vanilla

  • 2 tsp cinnamon

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • 2 C flour

For the Glaze

  • 3 Tbs melted butter

  • 1 1/2 C powdered sugar

  • 2 Tbs heavy whipping cream

  • 1/4 tsp vanilla

Directions: Mix together sugar, olive oil, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and flour using a wooden spoon. Fold in the apples. Batter will initially be thick, but will thin out as apples are mixed in. Pour into a 9x 13 baking dish that has been oiled and lightly dusted with flour. Bake at 350 degrees F for 40-45 minutes. For the glaze, mix the butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar together. Slowly add the heavy whipping cream until drizzling consistency. Allow the cake to slightly cool before drizzling the glaze.

pan of homemade Italian Meatballs

Olive Oil Meatballs

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef

  • 1 lb ground veal

  • 1 lb ground pork

  • 1 C freshly grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese

  • 1 Tbsp dried Italian Seasoning

  • 2 Tbsp garlic powder

  • 1 tsp salt

  • 3 large eggs

  • 1/4 C Extra Virgin Olive Oil

  • 8-10 slices of bread

Directions: Mix together all ingredients EXCEPT the slices of bread. Now for the secret step…To add the bread, first take 3-4 slices at a time between your hands and wet with a slow stream of water. Gently squeeze the bread between your palms to remove excess water, so that the bread is soft and wet rather than dripping. Using your hands, mix the wet bread with the meat mixture. Form the mixture into 2.5 inch balls and baked on a foil lined cookie sheet for 20-25 minuted at 350 degrees F. You want the meatballs to be cooked, but not crispy- that way they remain soft when added to your sauce. This recipe makes around 5 dozen meatballs. Too many? Allow the extra meatballs to cool and place in a ziplock to freeze.