Olive Oil "Olio"

Hi Puzzlers,

In keeping with the “pairing” theme from last week’s wine post I thought it would be fun to explore the topic of olive oil. Olive oil served with parmesan cheese and bread for dipping, is a wonderful appetizer by itself or served with a glass of wine. I love olive oil and use it on everything. But to be frank, I know nothing about it. Is there really a difference, between extra virgin oil olive and regular olive oil? Does cold pressed mean they squash olives in a freezer to make the oil? Why, are some olive oils golden in color and others are green? Below is a quick synopsis of my findings.

The term cold pressed refers to the temperature at which the olive oil paste (ground olives and seeds) is heated to during the malaxation process. Malaxation is the process of adding water to the olive paste. Adding water to the paste forces the oil drops to stick together and consolidate; heating of the mixture accelerates this process. As long as the mixture remains 82 degrees or lower it is considered "cold pressed." That doesn’t sound cold to me! I’m a New England girl and I’d be heading for the nearest beach or lake with a temperature like that!

Now let’s look at oil types. There really is a difference between extra virgin oil (EVOO- thanks Rachael) and regular oil. Both oils are made from the same olives; the difference lies in how the oil is processed. All extra virgin olive oils and virgin oils come from the first press of the olives. That is it! Nothing else is done to the oil. But that doesn’t mean all EVOO’s will taste the same, other factors such as olive type, acidity and peroxide levels will affect the taste. Oil tasters look for those levels as well as the positive attributes of fruitiness, bitterness and pungency, when grading the oils. Those with the best flavors are awarded the Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil label, but, like the Rudd wine from our last post, are much more expensive.

Basic olive oil is made with the oil that did not meet EVOO and virgin oil standards. This oil may have had an unpalatable flavor, high acidity level or undesirable aroma; therefore it must be refined. Several different methods can be used in the refinement process including chemicals, heat and filtration. This process renders the oil odorless, flavorless and clear; perfect for foods packed in oil such as tuna. These oils can also be blended with other virgin oils which are great for cooking because they can tolerate heat well.

Next, what the color of the oil can tell you. Green colored oils come from unripe olives and have a sharp, pungent flavor. Those oils with an emerald tone boast fruity, peppery flavors and will steal the show, so pair these oils with neutral foods to showcase their grassy flavor. Golden colored olive oils are made from ripe olives which produce oils that are not bitter; they are smooth, mild and buttery. Their subtle flavors accentuate delicately flavored foods.

And, my final suggestion is to pair the Wine Country puzzle with our Olio puzzle to make the most of your puzzling experience.

Happy Puzzling!

The Taste For Wine

Hi Puzzlers,

Do you remember your first glass or taste of wine? Ah, what memories. The encouragement you got from your friends to just “TRY IT.” The thinking to yourself it looks good, and lots of people like it, why not give it a try. You gaze at the glass and the beautiful dark red liquid being poured into it by your server. With eager anticipation you bring the glass to your lips and let the liquid flow into your mouth. The flavor of tannins hits you first followed by the alcohol, then if you are like most young people you think, “This tastes AWFUL!” Oh God! What have I done, I’ve just wasted $3.75 and I have to swallow this stuff. You vow, “NEVER AGAIN!” But somehow ten years later your ordering it and you like it! What happened? Did growing older sever my taste buds? Was it osmosis from being married to a red wine loving Italian? How did I get here? I had to find out.

It turns out that most Americans go through what is called wine taste progression. Many believe this is due to our cultures natural inclination to serve our youngsters soda and juice and never exposing them to alcohol in their youth. Europeans on the other hand, serve small amounts of wine, sometime mixed with water, to their children. So, as adults most Americans who like wine, have gone through this wine taste progression to develop the taste for wine.

The progression starts with the sweet and chilled stuff. You remember that type of wine that was sweet, light and served cold. Often it came in beer sized bottles you could buy in a four pack. The really good stuff had a little spritz or carbonation in them. Some Blush and most Fruit wines fall into this category as well. But, soon these little buggers begin to taste too sweet and you are moving on to the next step; the semi-dry and chilled.

Semi-dry wines are served chilled and pair well with some food. These wines have a slight sweet taste, but are not as sweet as the first group, and are balanced by a higher acidity. Most German and several Blush wines come from this group. After enjoying wines from this group for awhile the palette shifts again and no longer prefers sweetness in wine and you are off to the next group: Dry white wine served chilled.

This group of wine includes Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and the most popular of the bunch, Chardonnay. These wines pair well with chicken and seafood. The palette can take several years to develop in this stage before it is ready to move to the next group, light reds.

This group includes wines such as Beaujolais and inexpensive Pinots Noirs. These wines have a stronger flavor than their white counterparts, and are served lightly chilled. Because of their higher acidity level, they are an excellent choice to serve with fish and chicken. Once the taste for tannins develops it is on to the next group; dry rich reds.

Dry, rich reds have higher levels of tannins and should be served at a cellar temperature of approximately 65 degree Fahrenheit. Allow this wine to warm in the glass. The most popular grapes in this group are the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

The final group is the dry complex wines. They come from the same group as above but are at the peak of perfection, requiring decanting before being served and a bigger wallet for buying. I have a hard time spending that much money on wine, so we share a bottle and the cost, once a year, with our wine buddies. This habit led us to a wonderful bottle of 2005 Rudd. It was truly worth every penny, and because you only get one glass you are forced to savor it.

Caution, puzzling and wine consumption can result in missing pieces!

Happy Puzzling!

St. Patrick's Day...Another Story of the Irish

Hi Puzzlers,

My husband came home last week and asked me this question. “What country, after Ireland, celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day the most?” Ohm, I thought to myself, tough question. After a few seconds I said, Scotland! “Wrong” he says with a smirk, “guess again.” With furrowed eyebrows, I considered all the possible answers and decide that the United States, with our melting pot of people, had to be the correct choice. With a wide-mouth, ear-to-ear grin, my husband shakes his head no, and then taunts me; “You’ll never guess.” Alright fine I say, then, enlighten me with the answer. With both arms swinging in an upward motion befitting a vaudeville star, he says… MEXICO!

Yup, he was right. I would have never guessed Mexico. Bewildered, I asked him how he had learned about this little known factoid. He said he learned it from Dave, one of his co-workers, who had read a book on the subject. WOW! How intriguing, I thought to myself. I just have to share this story with my puzzlers.

Our true story begins in Texas in 1845. At this time the United States was forcibly expanding the Texas territory into Mexico. This annexation is believed to be a primary cause for the Mexican American War (1849-1848). Meanwhile in Ireland, wide spread famine, intolerance and religious prejudices by the ruling British, forced the Irish, in record numbers, to immigrate to America. Once in the United States immigrants were recruited into the Army, with the promise of land, money and citizenship. With tensions increasing in the west, the newly recruited Irish soldiers were sent to Texas to protect and defend the annexed land acquired by the US.
Unfortunately the Irish soldiers would have to endure the same Catholic prejudices by their Protestant officers, and their commanding officer General Taylor, as they did in Ireland under British rule. Some accounts state the Irish would fight the Mexicans through the week, but, on Sundays a truce was called and the soldiers would leave their weapons and cross the border to attend church services and play soccer.

It is estimated that approximately 800 soldiers, led by Captain John Riley, left the US Army to join the Mexican fight against the United States. Many have speculated that the Irish soldiers left because they had made friends with the Mexicans and felt they shared a common religious bond, and understood the struggle of those oppressed by the English and their American descendants. Other speculation states it was due to the Irish soldier witnessing countless crimes against humanity including, murder, rape, robbery and the desecration of many Catholic churches. (These crimes were committed by Texas Rangers and other volunteers that General Taylor, by his own admission, could not control). Still others speculate that the Mexicans offered the soldiers more money, land and privileges.

The United States considered a soldier who left before the war a deserter, any soldier who left his post after the war had begun was considered a defector. Conversely, the Mexicans thought these men to be heroes and called them “Los San Patricios” the Saint Patrick’s Battalion or “Los Colorados” because of their red hair. Armed with the knowledge that if captured they would be put to death; the San Patricios fought fiercely and refused to surrender. Many battles were won by this brigade but ultimately the Mexican war would be won by America and Mexico would be forced to cede half of its land.

The Irish soldiers who were caught and considered deserters received 50 lashes to the bare back and were branded in the face with the letter “D”. Those captured (50) as traitors were hung. These hangings remain the largest lynching in US military history and serve to remind us all of the cost of intolerances against a race, religion or culture.

In honor of the San Patricios, Mexico celebrates both September 12, the anniversary of the lynching and March 17th, Saint Patrick’s Day. In addition, a plaque listing the names of the San Patricios who died while fighting can be found in San Angel, a suburb of Mexico City.

Happy Puzzling!

Vincent van Gogh

Hi Puzzlers,

Look what the warehouse just got in…don't worry your vision is not failing...it’s a Vincent van Gogh puzzle! I am so excited I feel like I won the lottery! Vincent van Gogh is one of my favorite artists. Whenever I look at one of his pieces I feel like the painting is alive with energy. Take for example his most famous piece, Starry Night, look at the sun, clouds and the night air; they all seem to be moving and vibrating. I never tire of looking at it. His art work is as inspiring and captivating as the story of his life.

Vincent was born on March 30, 1853 in Groot-Zundert, Holland to Anna Cornelia Carbentus and protestant Reverend Theodorus Van Gogh. The name Vincent was a family named handed down generation to generation. It was also the name of his still born brother who had had been born the year before. The reusing of a name was common practice at this time!!! The Van Gogh’s also continuously gravitated towards the occupations of art and religion. Vincent’s grandfather had a degree in theology and three of his uncles were art dealers. Vincent would soon follow both of these callings.

By the age of 20 Vincent had become a successful art dealer for Goupil & Cie located in London. According to his sister-in-law’s account this was the happiest of times for Vincent. He was earning more money than his father and had fallen in love with Eugénie Loyer, daughter of his landlord. But Eugénie was secretly engaged to a former renter and rejected Vincent. Soon afterwards Vincent started isolating himself and became devoutly religious. In 1876 Goupil & Cie terminates Vincent.

After a quick stint as an unpaid supply teacher for a boarding school and bookstore worker Van Gogh decides to devote his life, as his father did, to religion. Vincent believes this is his calling. With the support of his parents Vincent is sent to Amsterdam to study theology but fails the entrance exam. He then enrolls in a three-month course at a Protestant missionary school in Laeken, where he also fails. Not one to give up, Van Gogh moves onto Christianity and takes a missionary post in the village of Petit Wasmes. Vincent enjoyed preaching and chose to live like the villagers. Church authorities did not approve of his squalid living conditions and dismissed him from his post.

Finally after years of encouragement from his brother Theo, Vincent decides to take up art and enrolls in the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. He would remain in Brussels for nine months studying anatomy, perspective and standard rules of modeling, then return home to Etten to perfect his craft. Vincent would go onto study with many other famous artist of the time and create the masterpieces we have today. Vincent’s mental illness began to show at the end of 1888. He suffered from epilepsy, psychotic attacks, and delusions. After mutilating his ear in a psychotic attack Vincent commits himself to an asylum. It is here that he creates The Starry Night.

“On July 27, 1890 Van Gogh attempted suicide by shooting himself in the chest. He survived, but died two days later from the wound. Theo, who had collected the majority of Vincent's work from Paris, died only six months later. His widow took the collection to Holland and dedicated herself to getting the now deceased Vincent the recognition he deserved. She published his work and Vincent became famous nearly instantly.”

His troubled life and artistic talent has been featured on Dr. Who, a British sci-fi series. Vincent played by actor Anthony "Tony" Curran captures what I have imagined Van Gogh to be like. He gave a truly inspirational performance and the story line incorporated some of Van Gogh’s greatest works of art into the plot. Not to mention Tony looked strikingly similar to Vincent.

Vincent worked and strived his entire life to make a difference and to leave a mark in the world, he said, “...to try to understand the real significance of what the great artists, the serious masters, tell us in their masterpieces, that leads to God; one man wrote or told it in a book; another in a picture.”

Happy Puzzling!