Chicken sausage, fiber rich cannellini beans & vitamin packed fresh kale make this a deliciously, hearty, cold weather dish. We tweaked the amateur gourmet recipe adding Villa Gabriella Organic 8 year aged Balsamic Vinegar for a flavorful finish. 

Serves 4-6

Simple Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds organic chicken sausage about 8 links
• 1 ½ pounds fresh kale
• 1 15 ounce can of cannellini beans drained
• ¼ cup Villa Gabriella Organic Extra Virgin Olio Nuovo olive oil, plus extra to flavor
• 3 tablespoons Villa Gabriella Organic 8 year aged Balsamic Vinegar, plus extra to flavor
• 1 ½ cups chopped onion
• 1 ½ cups chopped celery
• 1 ½ cups chopped or shredded carrots
• ½ cup water or chicken stock
• 3 garlic gloves peeled & chopped removing the green inner center
• Sea salt & cracked pepper 

Easy Directions

1. Remove the thick stems from kale, chop coarsely, wash, dry & set aside.
2. Cut sausage links into thick rings, cook in olive oil in a large pan or skillet. Brown on both sides for about 8-10 minutes.  
3. Remove sausages from pan & set aside. 
4. Add onions, carrots & celery to pan, lower heat & cook through until onion is golden brown. 
5. Add garlic to pan & cook for about 2 minutes over low heat.
6. Add drained cannellini beans & kale with ½ cup of water to pan, season with salt & pepper.
7. Cover pan, cook over medium heat until kale is wilted & beans are tender about 10 minutes.
8. Add sausage back to pan sprinkle with vinegar & cook uncovered, tossing gently about 3-4 minutes. 
9. Season with salt & pepper to taste
10. Serve & enjoy with Villa Graziella artisan crafted wine made with organic grapes.

www.amateurgourmet.com

Tried, Tasted & True!

At Villa Gabriella Organic our team tries & tastes every recipe we feature.  While we love to share our family recipes & those of talented home cooks & chefs, sometimes we adapt them so they are even easier to make. As with our products, our goal is for you to have a healthy & delicious experience using Villa Gabriella recipes. So try them out in your kitchen, feel free to tweak them & please tell us what you think. We welcome your comments & feedback!

Grazie da Team VILLA GABRIELLA

clientservice@villagabriellallc.com

Did you know spicy Thai chiles actually came from Central America, tomatoes from the Andes Mountains in Peru (not Italy) and sunflowers from North America instead of South Africa? Scientists published a recent study titled The Origins of Food Crops Connect Countries Worldwide. The fascinating report reveals the origins of our earth’s crops and the adverse effects of increased mono-crop farming.  To learn more visit https://www.organicconsumers.org/news/where-did-your-favorite-food-come

December is National Comfort Food month! As winter weather sets in we like enjoy a heart-warming soup. Our version comes from the north-eastern Italian regions of Friuli-Venezia Giulia & nearby Trentino Alto Adige. Fall vegetables, pearl barley, farro (spelt), red lentils & our Thanksgiving turkey make for a flavorful, fortified, nutrient rich meal. Drizzled Villa Gabriella organic extra virgin olive oil is the perfect finish for a healthy & delicious soup.

Serves 4

Easy Ingredients: 

• 1/2 cup Villa Gabriella Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil +  2 tablespoons
• 1 ½ cups of dried pearl barley or other legumes such as spelt, red lentils or split peas
• 1 cup cooked chicken, turkey, pancetta, country or boiled ham cut into cubes
• 1 cup unsalted chicken broth
• 1 medium potato peeled & diced
• 2 carrots peeled & diced
• 1 full rib of celery diced
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 parsnip chopped (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon each dried rosemary, sage & thyme
• Sea salt
• Cracked ground black or white pepper
• Optional 2-3 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

Simple Directions:

1. Place the legumes in a soup pot, add water to cover ingredients by approx. 3 inches.
2. Cover & bring water to a slow, steady simmer & cook approx. 1 hour or until legumes are tender but not too soft.
3. As legumes cook, heat oil in a medium pan or skillet, add celery, onion & sauté until both are soft & golden, not brown & set aside.
4. When legumes are done, add onion, celery, potato, carrot, broth, cooked meat, rosemary, sage, thyme, salt & pepper.
5. If mixture is too dense, add more broth or water.
6. Simmer, uncovered over a low flame, approx.  30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Season to taste with salt & pepper
8. Drizzle 2 table spoons of olive oil or to taste
9. Add grated cheese right before serving
10. Serve & enjoy!

*N.B. Soup can be made 1 or 2 days in advance, store in a covered container up to 1 week in the refrigerator

Tried, Tasted & True!

At Villa Gabriella Organic our team tries & tastes every recipe we feature.  While we love to share our family recipes & those of talented home cooks & chefs, sometimes we adapt them so they are even easier to make. As with our products, our goal is for you to have a healthy & delicious experience using Villa Gabriella recipes. So try them out in your kitchen, feel free to tweak them & please tell us what you think. We welcome your comments & feedback!

Grazie da Team VILLA GABRIELLA

clientservice@villagabriellallc.com

Did you know sustainably farmed olive oil helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions & reduces climate change?? Good for our health & our environment, scientists at the recent International Olive Olive Council (IOC) meeting, reported the sustainable production of as little as 1 liter of olive oil removes up to 10 kg (22 pounds) of damaging CO2 from the atmosphere.  Visit https://www.oliveoiltimes.com/olive-oil-business/world-olive-oil-business/sustainable-olive-oil-production-can-help-mitigate-climate-change/53615 to learn more!

Salmon is a great way to get your omega-3 fatty acids, and can be cooked so many ways! We cooked it in the oven with cracked pepper, sea salt, and drizzled it with our Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Finish it off with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice!

Ingredients 

• Wild salmon
• Cracked pepper
• Sea salt 
• 1 tablespoon of Villa Gabriella Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. 
2. Line baking sheet with parchment paper 
3. Place salmon on parchment paper & sprinkle cracked pepper and sea salt
4. Drizzle Villa Gabriella Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 
5. Place on second rack of oven and cook for 20 minutes 
6. Squeeze fresh lemon & enjoy! 

Tried, Tasted & True!

At Villa Gabriella Organic our team tries & tastes every recipe we feature.  While we love to share our family recipes & those of talented home cooks & chefs, sometimes we adapt them so they are even easier to make. As with our products, our goal is for you to have a healthy & delicious experience using Villa Gabriella recipes. So try them out in your kitchen, feel free to tweak them & please tell us what you think. We welcome your comments & feedback!

Grazie da Team VILLA GABRIELLA

clientservice@villagabriellallc.com

Prepping for the big Thanksgiving dinner and looking for that last side dish?? Fear no more, we have you covered with this easy and delicious grilled asparagus. With less than 5 ingredients, it only takes 10 minutes from start to finish!  

Ingredients  

• 1 lb asparagus  
• 2 tbsp Villa Gabriella Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil  
• Kosher salt  
• Fresh cracked pepper  
• Lemon slices (if desired)  

Directions 

1. While your grill is preheating, drizzle olive oil, salt, and pepper over asparagus  
2. Lay asparagus horizontally on grill  
3. Cook for 5-8 minutes, turning occasionally  
4. Squeeze fresh lemon & serve immediately

Happy Thanksgiving, from our family to yours! 

Tried, Tasted & True!

At Villa Gabriella Organic our team tries & tastes every recipe we feature.  While we love to share our family recipes & those of talented home cooks & chefs, sometimes we adapt them so they are even easier to make. As with our products, our goal is for you to have a healthy & delicious experience using Villa Gabriella recipes. So try them out in your kitchen, feel free to tweak them & please tell us what you think. We welcome your comments & feedback!

Grazie da Team VILLA GABRIELLA

clientservice@villagabriellallc.com

Cauliflower is a great substitution for a starch, and a great way to get an extra serving of vegetables! It is such a versatile vegetable, and can be fun to experiment with. This easy cauliflower rice recipe will be go-to recipe in your kitchen! 

There are a few ways to make cauliflower rice. You can either use a box cheese grater, with medium sized holes, a food processor with an "S" shaped blade to blitz into small pieces, or buy Trader Joe's pre-shaved cauliflower "rice." To prevent your dish from becoming soggy, I like to press the rice in a large paper towel prior to cooking, to remove any excess moisture. 

Once you have your cauliflower rice ready, it is easy to cook! Simply sauté in a large skillet over medium heat in 1 Tbsp of Villa Gabriella Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Cover so the cauliflower steams and becomes tender. Cook for a total of 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then season as desired (salt, pepper, garlic powder, soy sauce, etc.) 

Tried, Tasted & True!

At Villa Gabriella Organic our team tries & tastes every recipe we feature.  While we love to share our family recipes & those of talented home cooks & chefs, sometimes we adapt them so they are even easier to make. As with our products, our goal is for you to have a healthy & delicious experience using Villa Gabriella recipes. So try them out in your kitchen, feel free to tweak them & please tell us what you think. We welcome your comments & feedback!

Grazie da Team VILLA GABRIELLA

clientservice@villagabriellallc.com

Did you know? Olive oil is good for us in more ways than one! We all know how delicious olive oil is; did you know all the health benefits the green liquid gold offers? Researchers find a diet with regular use of olive oil helps reduce high blood pressure, fight Diabetes, Osteoporosis & much more!  So don’t just drizzle olive oil on a salad or save it for those “special” recipes, use olive oil to bake, cook, roast even fry & sauté your fall favorites. YOU’RE WORTH IT!!  Want to learn more? Visit http//www.oliveoiltimes.com/olive-oil-health-benefits

We are a little late celebrating National Pumpkin Day, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy these healthy pumpkin muffins. Did you know pumpkin has been found to lower blood pressure, protect your heart, boost vision, make you feel fuller, and help your sleep?? These pumpkin and olive oil muffins are delicious, and healthy (always a bonus)! These little muffins are made with whole wheat flour too, which makes them light and fluffy. They are delicious with almond butter spread on top to add a little protein. 

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup Villa Gabriella Organic extra-virgin olive oil
• ½ cup honey
• 2 eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup pumpkin purée
• ¼ cup milk of choice (I used almond milk)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling on top
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, allspice, or cloves 
• 1¾ cups whole wheat pastry flour or regular whole wheat flour
• ⅓ cup old-fashioned oats, plus more for sprinkling on top

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit & fill muffin-tin with muffin cups.
2. In a large bowl, beat the oil and honey together with a whisk. Add eggs, and beat well. Mix in the pumpkin purée and milk, followed by the baking soda, vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice or cloves.
3. Add the flour and oats to the bowl and mix with a large spoon, just until combined. If you’d like to add any additional mix-ins, like nuts, chocolate or dried fruit, fold them in now.
4. Divide the batter evenly between the twelve muffin cups. For these muffins, it’s ok to fill the cups a little higher than you normally would. Sprinkle the tops of the muffins with a small amount of oats, followed by a sprinkle of cinnamon. Bake muffins for 23 to 26 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean.
5. Place the muffin tin on a cooling rack. Enjoy muffins as is or with a spread of nut butter or regular butter

Tried, Tasted & True!

At Villa Gabriella Organic our team tries & tastes every recipe we feature.  While we love to share our family recipes & those of talented home cooks & chefs, sometimes we adapt them so they are even easier to make. As with our products, our goal is for you to have a healthy & delicious experience using Villa Gabriella recipes. So try them out in your kitchen, feel free to tweak them & please tell us what you think. We welcome your comments & feedback!

Grazie da Team VILLA GABRIELLA

clientservice@villagabriellallc.com

Recipe source: http://cookieandkate.com/2014/healthy-maple-pumpkin-muffins/

Did You Know? Organic farming supports the well-being of pollinators, better known as bees?

Researchers from the U.S. Organic Center found without the use of toxic chemical fertilizers or artificial pesticides, organic farming methods foster & nurture valuable honey bees. This practice promotes biodiversity (more than 1 crop) while regenerating our environment’s valuable natural resources. Want to learn more? Visit https://www.organic-center.org/hot-science/organic-center-report-the-role-of-organic-in-supporting-pollinator-health