Hi everyone!
One of the products we created and sell through our company, DTL Herbs LTD is an Herbed Dipping Oil Blend.
The above picture is from a presentation we did last week about how to use and cook with herbs. What’s the point of going without getting to try yummy treats right? 
This product took us awhile to get just right because Troy and I LOVE herbed dipping oil whenever we went to restaurants that served it. We kept the flavors we liked and added the ones we thought would be tasty in it that they didn’t have in theirs.
When we presented this product to our customers last year, it quickly became one of our best sellers! It is always reassuring that our customers like the same things we do! LOL
Besides using it as a dipping oil with yummy chewy bread, we use this product here at home all the time for various things. When I make up the oil, I actually buy a medium bottle of extra virgin olive oil and use a couple of packets of the herbed dipping oil. This bottle stays near the stove all the time.
Instead of using plain olive oil whenever we cook, we use the herbed infused oil instead. It gives eggs, potatoes, pasta and whatever else that extra little herb flavor. Delish!
So, our Herbed Dipping Oil is not just for dipping bread into. Use it in all your cooking that needs some oil. It is also great brushed over homemade bread or rolls! I love to use it when I open a refrigerated package of biscuits or croissants, just brush the oil over before baking.
For those of you that don’t have access to our products (which we are still working on changing that and opening an online store as soon as we can!) you can certainly create your own Herbed Dipping Oil. Just play around and add the savory dried herbs that you like. It’s a trial and error type of thing until you get it the way you want. Believe me, WE know! LOL
You can create a Herbed Dipping Oil with fresh herbs if you like. However, you need to know that if you use fresh herbs you can only keep it for a couple of days in the fridge.
A fresh herb oil blend should be made only when you plan to use it all immediately!
Why you ask?
Fresh herbs contain trace amounts of water or moisture. The oil won’t support bacterial growth but, even the smallest trace of water will. Botulism bacteria flourishes in this environment. Even in a sealed bottle. And please remember garlic is an herb and is one of the most moisture filled of the herbs.
Now I know what you are thinking, “Um, Diann? I see garlic in olive oil all the time at the store.” Yup, you do. However, commercial garlic (and or herb) oil products have been preserved prior to immersing onto the oil.
The way it is done commercially is to first preserve the water-containing garlic, herb, etc. with a strong brine or vinegar solution, then put it in the oil. The vinegar solutions used commercially are up to 4 times stronger than the vinegars you find in the supermarket.
So, have fun and play with herbed oils. They add great flavor to so many dishes!
Whole Food Wednesday
