Here’s what I was thinking recently as I visited the Seka Hills Olive Oil tasting room—
Olives. Perfect!
As I watched the just-harvested fruit being fed into a hopper, onto a conveyor belt, and into a series of machines that would wash it, mash it in to a paste, and centrifuge it into delicious, fruity, golden oil—they were right in the middle of harvest, and even though I intellectually knew the process, it was quite another thing to see it with my own eyes!—I thought, marinated olives are an ideal app for the holidays! Mix up a batch once or twice between now and the end of the year, and a festive, nummy nibble for any occasion is handled.
Tra la!
(Apologies to Seka Hills. The fact that I left thinking about olives is no reflection on the deliciousness of their olive oils.)
(I should also add, I recommend a visit there. The Seka Hills Olive Oil tasting room is a lovely spot nestled amidst the charming Capay Valley. You can taste oils, wines, and honey, stroll their gift shop, and purchase Italian-esque deli salads and sandwiches to enjoy on the patio. It was nice there.)
Sure, you can buy olives and arrange them in a pretty bowl, and they’d be more than fine for guests to munch on while you’re putting the finishing touches on the turkey. But Marinated Olives with Citrus and Garlic take only a few minutes more, you can make them days in advance, and you’ll end up with something prettier, tastier, and with a homemade spin your guests will appreciate.
Then do it again for Christmas. And New Year’s.
I’ve yet to figure out a magic formula that’ll make the holidays 100% simple and satisfying. But I know one thing that’ll help.
Olives.
