Oro Líquido -- Liquid Gold

For me, butter and olive oil have a strong rivalry and they have always tried to compete for my love with their respective charming qualities.  I have to admit that I have had a love-hate relationships with these two fatty condiments throughout my life.  When I first tried olive oil many years ago I thought it was too oleaceous and bitter.  My relationship with butter started much earlier and I viewed it as banal and overrated.  Years later I got to know olive oil better and stopped spending time with butter.  I fell too much in love with olive oil and refused to give space in my refrigerator shelf to butter.  As I started experimenting more with Mediterranean food I realized I missed butter a tad bit.  So, to solve this problem I saved him some space in the fridge and now use him to make great American desserts such as apple pie. 

I am no nutritionist, but I do know one thing for sure: olive oil is healthier than butter.  As I finish my fourth year here in Spain I see myself adapting to the olive oil culture more and more every day.  I see new ways to use olive oil instead of butter, or better yet, ways many Spanish people have been eating it for years.  The important thing is to find a good tasting extra virgin olive oil to use for cold dishes, and a cheaper olive oil for frying.  I've made a short list of some ideas I've learned from friends and students.  I actually use many of them in my own cooking.  


Propositions

• Toast with olive oil, sugar and cinnamon (one of my American/Spanish fusions)
• Toast with olive oil and jam (photo below)
• Oranges or tangerines mixed with a little olive oil and sugar.
• Top mixed vegetables with a mix of minced garlic fried in olive oil and a bit of sweet paprika.  (Don't fry the garlic for too long.  You're looking for a pale golden color)
• Boil potatoes and cauliflower and then top them with a good fresh extra virgin olive oil and a good vinegar (So simple, but so good!)

Toast with olive oil and sugar.  Toast with olive oil and strawberry jam.