Olive Oil Tasting

We have started carrying more and more food items at Bella Vita because you have asked us to and because they really do make great gifts for foodies, hosts/hostesses, and even for yourself when you want to splurge a little.  Our latest intro at Bella Vita is olive oil.  I use olive oil almost on a daily basis because it is such a great, all-around, quite healthy oil to use.  Whether you are sauteing garlic or onions, adding it to pesto, rubbing it on a salmon steak, or tossing it in a salad, it truly is a fabulous oil that I have learned comes in so many different flavors.  And the unique flavors of the oil as well as the differences between virgin, extra virgin, cold-pressed, etc. all make a grand impact on what you are using it in or on.  It's kind of like wine - you experience it more fully when it is properly paired with other ingredients or with the cooking method that you are using.  Crazy, but true!

All that to say.....we have some fabulous olive oils here at Bella Vita, and we would like to share their unique flavors with you.  So, stop by on Saturday, October 15, from 11a-1p and join us for a little sampling.
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Olive Oil Tasting

Saturday, October 15, 11am-1pm

Featuring

 Pasolivo Olive Oils & McEvoy Ranch Olive Oil

Pasolivo Oils are grown sustainably and organically in Paso Robles, CA.  After they hand-pick olives from their orchard, they are crushed within hours in their own olive press.

Pasolivo Extra Virgin Olive Oil

{Award-winning Pasolivo is robust & grassy with a big, peppery finish - perfect for drizzling on rustic bread with sea salt, dressing a salad with balsamic, or roasting potatoes with rosemary}

Pasolivo Lemon Olive Oil

{Made with Pasolivo's award-winning Tuscan blend, their Lemon Olive Oil is a favorite way to dress up roasted asparagus, finish off a seafood pasta, or rub on a chicken before roasting}

Pasolivo Lime Olive Oil

{Made with Pasolivo's award-winning Tuscan blend, their Lime Olive Oil is a fabulous finish for grilled seafood, drizzling on chicken tacos, or tossing with fresh salsa or guacamole} 

McEvoy Ranch Olive Oil is certified organic olive oil that comes from olives that are grown, harvested, milled, blended, and bottled on McEvoy Ranch in Petaluma, CA.

McEvoy Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil

{a complex blend of Tuscan varietals, harvested early & by hand, full-bodied & peppery with hints of artichoke & greens, it's a vibrant finishing oil that inspires moments of pure taste pleasure!}

Join us for a Jam Tasting this Weekend

This summer we introduced a new line of hand made jams that we thought our customers would absolutely love.  We had never tried these jams, but had only read about them and became instantly impressed by what they represented - hand made, fresh organic ingredients, seasonal, and unusual but divine flavor combinations.  LemonBird Jams are all hand crafted by Jam Artisan Amy Deaver.  Amy has an amazing ability to think outside the typical jar of grape jam and to experiment with flavor combinations that really bring the seasonal fruits to life.  These jams are not only absolutely delicious on your morning toast, scones, or waffles, but they also pair nicely with cheeses & nuts , make a wonderful glaze for meats or poultry, and are of course, a fabulous host or hostess gift.  We just received our fall jams so we thought it would be a perfect time to host a "Jam Tasting"! 
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Join us for a "Jam Tasting" this weekend

Friday, Sept. 23 from 1-3pm

Saturday, Sept. 24 from 1-3pm

Drop by and sample all the wonderful

new fall jams from LemonBird Jams

{Receive 10% off all LemonBird Jams during the tasting event}

Flavors included in the sampling:

Fig with Honey & Cinnamon

Tomato with Vanilla Beans

Grilled Nectarines, Balsamic Vinegar, Long Pepper & Sea Salt

Grilled Peach with Coriander & Lemon Thyme

Apricot with Sage Honey & Pistachio

Golden Raspberry

The Barr-Co Collection

I can not tell you how incredibly excited I am about the new Barr-Co Collection that we recently brought in to the shop!  Made in small batches right here in the U.S., this new bath & body line from K. Hall is just simply beautiful.  And, the focus of the Barr-Co Collection is just that - simple ingredients in beautiful vintage apothecary bottles, parfait glassware, muslin bags, and tinware.  The entire collection contains natural ingredients including the main ingredient, colloidal oatmeal (which is specifically amazing for super-dry, itchy skin) and the scent is a soft, easy fragrance of milk (think K.Hall Milk scented soap), oatmeal, vanilla, and vetiver. 

The Barr-Co Collection includes:

Bath Salts & Soak

 {a quart milk bottle of soothing mineral salts combined with colloidal oatmeal to relieve dry, itchy skin, & milk powder to help retain moisture and keep the skin silky smooth}

Bubble Elixir

{a pint milk bottle of natural plant extracts, soothing botanicals, and beneficial oatmeal extract that results in wonderful bubbles and a heavenly scent}

Fine Shea Butter & Oatmeal Lotion

{a 16oz. glass apothecary bottle of moisturizing ingredients including shea butter, aloe, cucumber, colloidal oatmeal that offers welcome relief to dry skin}

Pure Vegetable Hand Soap

{a 16oz. glass apothecary bottle of natural liquid soap made from natural plant extracts, soothing botanicals, and oatmeal extract that can be used in the bath or kitchen}

Oatmeal Saddle Soap

{Laden with colloidal oatmeal which is finely ground to act as a light, gentle exfoliator while also relieving dry skin, this soap is an over-sized bar that comes in it's own muslin bag}

Hand Salve

{a 2oz tin of jojoba oil, beeswax, and oat extract that is the perfect treatment for dry, cracked hands - great for gardeners}

Natural Wax Candle

{a 10oz parfait glass filled with a hand poured mixture of natural soy & vegetable wax}

Herbal Inspiration

So, this summer I did not have much luck unfortunately with my Chocolate Cherry Tomato Plant that I was so excited to try this year.  As an amateur gardener, I have to remind myself that part of "succeeding" as a gardener is to try different things knowing that some work and some don't.  I was pretty bummed about this one though since I was so excited to try something I hadn't even heard of before.  But something much greater than all of my effort took over this unique tomato plant and took a hold of it in a way that was not recoverable.  Oh well - I will just give it another try next year!

On the up side of my gardening ventures this summer, my herbs have done very well!  Which is a wonderful thing because I absolutely LOVE herbs.  I love the way they smell, I love the way they taste, and, I love, LOVE, being able to walk onto my back deck & snip a few herbs for whatever meal I am preparing.  

This year I went a little light on my herb garden and just focused on some basics - Basil, Thyme, Sage, & Rosemary.  These are such amazing ingredients for summer cooking & eating, but they are also great for heading into the fall and winter seasons too.  I grow my herbs in containers so that I can move them in & out if needed, which makes them super easy to move inside when the temps start to dip.  If you are not someone who keeps containers all year round, then drying the herbs that you have from your summer harvest is a perfect way to take those delicious little plants into the upcoming season.  Just make sure you give them a good bath and then dry them on either a drying rack (I have even used window screens before!) or bundle several stems together and hang in bunches.  Once dry, then you can either keep them in bunches for their fragrant beauty or run all of the dry leaves off their branches with your hand into airtight containers (I use little spice jars for mine).  They are wonderful (& handy!) all year round. 

A few of my very favorite uses of my herbs include of course basil pesto (when I have enough leaves), rosemary parmesan crackers, toppings on homemade pizzas, and of course soups!  I am thinking about trying to actually infuse some of my herbs this year in a little olive oil to make my own "flavored" oil.  I'll let you know if I try it & how it turns out!  So enjoy those herbs for the remainder of this summer - clip, eat, dry, experiment, create, and infuse them however you find inspiration to do so! 

 

If Walls Could Talk

If walls could talk, I am confident that our walls at Bella Vita would say "Ahhhhhh".  Why, you ask?  Well, a couple of them just went through a "mini spa treatment" of sorts.  We partnered with Natural Interiors & Articulate Finish to "treat" a few of our walls and display an environmentally friendly, sustainable, yet beautiful wall treatment using American Clay (kind of like a mud facial treatment!).  It is quite the technique with a beautiful, warm, rustic finish that surpasses (in my opinion) any other decorative finish a wall could have.  This clay that is applied to the wall is actually natural clay found right here in the good ole USA and is then tinted with natural pigments to create a dynamic, yet very clean, decorative technique for the walls of your home, office, or business.  The process is amazing as it is applied with trowels and artistic strokes of the hand to create the texture.  There are multiple colors you can choose from so it is easy to find colors that fit into any interior color scheme.  It is 100% natural, VOC-free, easy to use, durable, & absolutely beautiful.  We will be hosting a class this fall so that you can learn more about this gorgeous application & how to apply it in your home.  If you are interested in participating in the class, let us know and we will sign you up!   

We are delighted and so grateful to Natural Interiors (a wonderful shop in Wheat Ridge full of natural products, like American Clay, that are for the interior of your home) & to John Wood from Articulate Finish (he is the artist & mastermind behind this amazing application & so many others too!) for this partnership.  Please come by and see our newly "spa-treated"/transformed walls.  I am confident you will love the look of this natural clay and perhaps you will even hear our walls say "Ahhhh"! 

{John Wood from Articulate Finish "in process" of the application}

{The walls post treatment...}

Inspiration by Farmer's Market

We are in the depths of Farmer's Market season here in Colorado and it is always amazing to me to see the markets packed with shoppers week after week!  And, I do have to say that it is very encouraging to see our communities supporting the local farmers, crafters, and artisans at these markets.  For me personally, one of the main reasons that I enjoy a local farmer's market is because I just love to pick up all the fabulous fresh produce that is available and occasionally find a sauce, jam, or bread that is irresistible too!  And for whatever reason, the produce that I get at these markets just tastes better than what you can grab at the grocery store.  Maybe that's because the markets are bringing the produce to us at the peak of their season when they are intended to be enjoyed the most.

But one of the other reasons I enjoy the local farmer's markets is that I get SO inspired!  I don't know what it is exactly that bubbles up this inspiration, but I always walk away with energy to do something - whether it is to cook yummy meals with all the fresh goodies I find, to decorate or refresh my surroundings with fresh flowers or herbs, to work on my garden (which right now consists only of a tomato plant, a couple of herbs, and a few geraniums), to throw an outside dinner party, or just simply be outside enjoying my surroundings - I just LOVE it!  However, with the typical hours of our local farmers markets falling during our own shop hours I am greatly limited in my attendance of the markets.  So instead I have decided to bring the farmer's market "feeling" and inspiration to Bella Vita this summer...

{These Farmer Market Bags are perfect for carrying all those goodies you find}

{And these porcelain Berry Baskets are fabulous for holding your fresh berries, soaps, or whatever!}

{I LOVE these handmade seasonal jams that we have - absolutely DEELISH!!}



{Handmade Marshmallows - perfect for S'mores whether camping or just needing a dessert for dinner}

We actually have several Farmer's Markets going on through the summer right here in Evergreen - the Bergen Village Farmer's Market (every Tuesday from 10-2 at Bergen Village), the Downtown Farmer's Market (every Thursday from 2-6 right on Main Street), and the Evergreen Farmer's Market (every Wednesday from 11-5 in the Mountain Home parking lot). 

And, this year, I have discovered the BEST kept secret in town...the produce stand at Aspen Specialty Catering's Store Front in Conifer.  This local catering business opens it's doors every Thursday from 11-2 and sells delicious produce (with amazing prices too!).  The selection is different each week, and you have to get there early because they run out fast.  Oh, and while you are there, you can grab lunch too.  They usually have a couple of sandwich selections, salads, and soups - all handmade with fresh ingredients by Mary & Craig.  It's the best little inspirational treat in town!

Life is a...Chocolate Cherry Tomato Plant

Summer is finally on our doorstep here in Colorado and since it is such a short season in Evergreen for gardeners, I get particularly anxious when we have agreeable weather so early in the season.  At the first nod of sun and warmth, I get overwhelmed with a desire to plant red geraniums, herbs, and even a few veggies.  This year I found myself in one of those gardening dilemmas - I was ready to plant but knew it was much too early. 

It was the end of April and we were having an unusually warm and dry spring week.  Mother's Day was coming and we desperately needed some flowers (and some color!) in the front of our shop.  Knowing that our selection of flowers was going to be limited because of the earliness of the foothill season, I set out to look for something that could handle cold evenings and perhaps deter the hungry wildlife while still producing a nice 'pop' of color.  And, of course there is really no place to land with all of that criteria other than Pansies.  {Always fascinating to me that such a hardy flower has a name that doesn't even come close to describing it's true character!}  As I was perusing the lovely selection of pansies at our local garden center, I came across a small little tray of plants that looked like cherry tomatoes.  I have no idea why this tray of plants caught my eye since cherry tomato plants are a dime a dozen, but today they captured my attention in an unexpected way.  I went over to look at them, pulled the tag, and was surprised when I read the description....Chocolate Cherry Tomato.  Now, all of you gardeners out there may think this was not a unique find.  But to me this was hugely fascinating!  I had never seen or even heard of one of these plants and was therefore instantly intrigued.  I began to ask the very helpful garden center ladies if they knew much about them.  They told me that they were cherry tomatoes but with a "chocolate" colored skin.  I was still considering whether or not to buy this little plant, when one of the ladies told me that what she had in that tray was all that she was going to be able to get this year.  I snapped one up as quickly as I would consume a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup if it had been in my hand! 

I took my little Chocolate Cherry Tomato plant home and have been nursing it in my kitchen since then.  It actually did very well over the last few weeks and has grown quite a bit with little 'blooms' beginning to sprout.  This week was the first week though that I finally felt confident enough to leave it outside, but it was still in the little plastic pot that I had purchased it in which had become much too small for it's size and it's sprawling roots.  My schedule wasn't allowing me the time to transplant it into a bigger pot, and I was becoming frantic with worry by the second (just ask my husband!) that I was slowly killing it.  So, finally this morning I had the opportunity and the time to finally put this intriguing little plant into a proper home.  As I was planting it, I was so quickly reminded of the joy that gardening brings to me.  I walked away from my one planting this morning and was overwhelmed with not just the feeling of joy but also with the most strong feeling of LIFE.  There is truly so much life to live and planting a Chocolate Cherry Tomato plant is just one little tiny aspect of that for me.  I think Summer is an interesting season of living in so many ways.  People are outdoors more, there are baby elk & deer springing up everywhere, and we see what we planted in the Spring come fully to life, to grow, and then to produce ingredients for a delicious meal or just to grace us with it's sheer beauty.  Ahhh....perhaps life after all is not just a bowl of cherries, but a Chocolate Cherry Tomato Plant too!  Happy Gardening & Happy Living this Summer!

P.S.  I will definitely keep you posted on the progress of my plant, but in the meantime, according to the Park Seed Co., this is what the Chocolate Cherry Tomatoes will look like....