A Simple, Last-Minute Homemade Food Gift
Rosemary-Infused Olive Oil
This is a great last-minute gift: Not only does it require ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen, but it also takes very little tending to (in other words, you can easily multitask). It might seem odd to heat up the oil, cool it down, and then steep the rosemary, but that’s a classic trick for adding a touch of flavor without overdoing it. The only other trick: finding pretty bottles in which to present the finished product.
2 cups extra virgin olive oil
5 sprigs rosemary, washed and thoroughly dried
½ teaspoon whole black peppercorns
Warm the olive oil in a saucepan over low heat for about 2 minutes. Turn off heat and let the oil cool for 5 minutes. Add the rosemary and peppercorns and steep until the oil has cooled completely.
Remove the rosemary sprigs and place them in a decorative bottle. Gently pour oil into the bottle with a funnel to prevent spillage. Seal and store in a cool, dry place with no direct sunlight.
Gift or use yourself! Good for 1 week; after that it starts to lose the rosemary flavor.
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