| Olives have been eaten and the oil used since biblical | | | | must pick the right olive to compliment the main food. |
| times but it wasn't until recently that they have enjoyed | | | | Some olives can be salty, some sweet and others |
| so much press due to their cardioprotective properties. | | | | earthy and rustic. Here's a guide to the different types |
| About 1/3 of the olive is monounsaturated fatty acid, | | | | of olives and the foods they go best with. |
| commonly refereed to as "the good fat" which is | | | | Sweet Flavored Olives |
| thought to lower cholesterol levels and help prohibit the | | | | Green olives with herbs de Provence have a vibrant |
| buildup of plaque in the arteries. | | | | citrus flavored and is a delightful blend of herbs de |
| Olives are grown mostly in the Mediterranean | | | | Provence spices and large green olives. It is an |
| countries where they are a large part of the diet. | | | | excellent choice to use in surf dishes and with sweet |
| Studies have shown that people in the Mediterranean | | | | spices. |
| regions who eat a lot of olives tend to have less heart | | | | Earthy Flavored Olives |
| disease as well as less incidence of certain types of | | | | Nicoises is a earthy rich olive commonly used in salad. |
| cancer. | | | | The curing of this olive in red-wine vinegar gives it a |
| The olives that we are used to seeing in the stores | | | | distinctive taste. Mount Athos green olives with |
| and eating are not fresh olives from the trees. In their | | | | sun-dried tomatoes are olives combined with sun dried |
| raw state, olives are quite bitter and they must be | | | | tomatoes. The heavy flavor of this olive make it a |
| "cured" in order to be palatable. Different methods of | | | | great snack all by itself! Sun-dried olives have a rich |
| curing produce different flavors in the olives and today, | | | | flavor that blends wonderfully in sauces for serving |
| there are dozens of gourmet olives widely available. | | | | over pasta. |
| Olives can be used to add zest to any dish - but you | | | | |