Saturday, April 9, 2011

Olive Oil Desserts - Delicious and Healthy Heart Smart Baking

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"There is no love sincerer than the love of food." 
-George Bernard Shaw (quoted on page 120 of Olive Oil Desserts)

Good food is an obsession of mine. What makes eating good food even more enjoyable is when I get to eat food that is healthier AND tastes good. This is why I'm loving Micki Sannar's new cookbook, Olive Oil Desserts.  Oh to eat my dessert and not feel overly guilty! Olive oil has a great reputation in the food world. Research has shown that olive oil intake may provide some of the following benefits: reducing blood pressure, lowering LDL and raising HDL or "good" cholesterol, reducing inflammatory activity for patients with  Rheumatoid Arthritis and protecting against certain cancers. (References to these health benefits are listed in Olive Oil Desserts pages 18-19.) 

Photobucket The inside cover of the book has the following words: 
"...With a traditional taste and texture you have loved your whole life, now you can enjoy cookies, cakes, pies, crisps, sweet-breads, and muffins without giving up anything except additional calories and unhealthy trans fat."
I decided to put this statement to the test by trying a classic brownie recipe. The verdict: fudge heaven! The brownies were dense and still moist days after baking.

The second recipe I tried was twisted cinnamon rolls or "Cinnamon Twists". Actually, I was eyeing this recipe for a few days and one morning my husband beat me to the kitchen by surprising me and making the twists for my birthday breakfast. My husband woke early not just to make a nice breakfast but to bake a yeast bread? What a good man! My family loved eating these moist breakfast treats. One thing I especially like about these olive oil desserts is that many are dairy free. Micki includes a substitution chart in the back of her cookbook with olive oil substitution amounts for butter, margarine or shortening so that you can make substitutions in your own family favorite recipes.

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I loved the two recipes I tried and I can't wait to get back in the kitchen and make even more. I found myself flipping through this book yesterday making up reasons to bake and deliver treats to friends just so I could try a new recipe. 

BUY: This book is an excellent resource for dessert recipes made with heart healthy olive oil.  You can purchase your own copy at Amazon or QVC.

WIN: Micki has offered to give away one copy of her fabulous new cookbook to a Moana Saves reader. To enter tell me if you've ever baked with olive oil. 
To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
2. Become a Google Friends Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
3. Like Moana Saves on Facebook.
4. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.
5. Like the Olive Oil Desserts Facebook site.
6. Follow Olive Oil Desserts on Twitter.
7. Tweet about this giveaway with the following (once a day max): #Win Olive Oil Desserts by @oliveoilchic from @moanasaves ends 4/23 http://bit.ly/f5CLdt
 
Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway.  He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S.  This giveaway ends Saturday 4/23 HST (Hawaii Standard Time).  One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org.  I will notify the winners via email and they must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

I was not compensated for this post although I did receive a product sample to facilitate my review.  Any and all opinions here are my own.

105 comments:

  1. I love baking bread with olive oil, especially sour dough bread. I'm really interested to try it in sweet desserts.
    bleufeet at hotmail dot com

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  2. I am a google friend connect follower!
    Julie
    bleufeet at hotmail dot com

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  3. I have never baked anything with olive oil, but I would love to check it out. I do cook with it all the time

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  4. I follow you via networked blogs: wendi b.

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  5. I follow you GFC

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  6. I Like Moana Saves on Facebook

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  7. I Follow Moana Saves on Twitter. sasiegirl

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  8. I Like the Olive Oil Desserts Facebook site.

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  9. I Follow Olive Oil Desserts on Twitter sasiegirl

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  10. tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/sasiegirl/status/56892425410580480

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  11. I have never baked with olive oil
    Kims2312@verizon.net

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  12. I like Moana Saves on FB
    Kims2312@verizon.net

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  13. tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/sasiegirl/status/57487591175503873

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  14. tweet

    http://twitter.com/#!/sasiegirl/status/57936352662130688

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  15. I cook with olive oil a lot but I don't think I've ever baked with it!

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  16. I follow olive oil desserts on twitter @bkxanon

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  17. I tweeted https://twitter.com/bkxanon/status/57986264271564802

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  18. I like you on facebook (becky straub)

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  19. tweet

    https://twitter.com/#!/sasiegirl/status/58344393287008256

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  20. tweet

    https://twitter.com/#!/sasiegirl/status/58586750871805953

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  21. i use olive oil all the time!

    freebiegoddess03@aol.com

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  22. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  23. tweet

    https://twitter.com/#!/sasiegirl/status/59011341792452609

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  24. I think I have substituted olive oil for canola oil or vegetable oil. But it is not my usual thing.
    ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com

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  25. networked blogs follower
    ruthhill74

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  26. gfc follower
    ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com

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  27. follow you on twitter
    ruthhill74

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  28. like olive oil desserts on facebook
    ruthhill74

    ReplyDelete
  29. follow olive oil desserts on twitter
    ruthhill74

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  30. http://twitter.com/#!/ruthhill74/status/59118572504498176

    tweeted

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  31. I have baked with oil, but not with olive oil before

    Thank you for hosting this giveaway

    Louis
    schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Google Friends Connect - following your blog publicly as Louis

    schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I like your blog on facebook (Louis Here)

    schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I like Olive Oil Desserts on facebook (Louis Here)

    schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com

    ReplyDelete
  35. following you on twitter @left_the_stars

    schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com

    ReplyDelete
  36. following @oliveoilchic on twitter @left_the_stars

    schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I have used Olive Oil in my breads - the honey french is hubby's favorite.
    1prizewinner at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. Following you on Twitter
    Twitter name: 1prizewinner
    1prizewinner(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  39. Liked Olive Oil Desserts on Facebook
    Facebook name: Johannah Brookwell
    1prizewinner(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Following Olive Oil Desserts on Twitter
    Twitter name: 1prizewinner
    1prizewinner(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  41. tweet

    http://twitter.com/#!/sasiegirl/status/59389926785024001

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  42. tweet

    https://twitter.com/#!/sasiegirl/status/59736964252971008

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  43. tweet

    https://twitter.com/#!/sasiegirl/status/60046512318709760

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  44. Always cooking with olive oil!!! Twitter name:@mommy_tweets4u

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  45. tweet

    http://twitter.com/#!/sasiegirl/status/60419057706479616

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  46. tweet

    http://twitter.com/#!/sasiegirl/status/60892302452850688

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  47. tweet

    http://twitter.com/#!/sasiegirl/status/61191152136753152

    sasie9@gmail.com

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  48. No, I haven't ever baked with it. I've never even heard of doing that. Lol. How interesting. I'm not a big baker though. I would love to win this for my mother in law though and maybe she would bake me something. Lol.

    lewalk(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  49. I just started cooking with olive oil and would love some more suggestions :)
    kristisummit(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  50. I Like Moana Saves on Facebook as Kristi Summit
    kristisummit(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  51. I Follow Moana Saves on Twitter as @eksummits
    kristisummit(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  52. I am a Google Friends Connect follower of Moana Saves as Kristi s
    kristisummit(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  53. I tweeted!

    http://twitter.com/#!/EKSummits/status/61254201111613440

    kristisummit(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  54. Follow on Twitter.

    lewalk76

    lewalk(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  55. I follow Olive Oil Desserts on Twitter as @eksummits
    kristisummit(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  56. GFC follower.

    lewalk

    lewalk(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  57. Like Olive Oil Desserts on FB.

    Leah W.

    lewalk(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  58. I Like the Olive Oil Desserts Facebook site as Kristi Summit
    Kristisummit(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  59. Tweeted.

    https://twitter.com/#!/lewalk76/status/61252791301185536

    lewalk(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  60. Tweeted today.

    http://twitter.com/#!/lewalk76/status/61456346180108288

    lewalk(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  61. I have never baked with olive oil! My friend did and it turned out AWFUL I am SOO interested in trying this!! lieverd98@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  62. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  63. I am following you on network blog! lieverd98@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  64. Following you on GFC lieverd98@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  65. following you on twitter @lieverd98 lieverd98@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  66. liking you on FB lieverd98@yahoo.com

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  67. tweeted the giveaway @lieverd98 lieverd98@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  68. Following Olive oil desserts on FB lieverd98@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  69. following olive oil desserts on twitter @lieverd98 lieverd98@yahoo.com

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  70. I've never used olive oil for baking.
    poniabaum at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  71. I didn't even know you could bake with olive oil!
    hrddiana556@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  72. I follow on gFC
    hrddiana556@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  73. I like you on FB
    hrddiana556@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  74. I friended Micki on FB
    hrddiana556@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  75. I follow Micki on Twitter
    hrddiana556@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  76. I follow you via networked blogs
    poniabaum at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  77. tweet

    http://twitter.com/#!/sasiegirl/status/61543641138741249

    sasie9@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  78. I have not ever baked with Olive Oil

    melissac304@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  79. I follow you via Networked Blogs

    melissac304@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  80. I follow you via GFC
    melissac304@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  81. I follow you via Twitter @cmcgce

    melissac304@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  82. I follow Olive Oil desserts on Fb (melissa curran simpson)

    melissac304@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  83. I follow Olive Oil desserts on Twitter @cmcgce

    melissac304@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  84. I have, but not in desserts
    cluelessme8{at}hotmail{dot}com

    ReplyDelete
  85. I follow on networked blogs
    cluelessme8{at}hotmail{dot}com

    ReplyDelete
  86. I follow her on twitter
    cluelessme8{at}hotmail{dot}com

    ReplyDelete
  87. I like her on FB
    cluelessme8{at}hotmail{dot}com

    ReplyDelete
  88. I follow you on twitter
    cluelessme8{at}hotmail{dot}com

    ReplyDelete
  89. I like you on FB
    cluelessme8{at}hotmail{dot}com

    ReplyDelete
  90. i have baked all sorts of things with olive oil. if the recipe calls for oil i usually use olive because that's what i have handy. i think it's great!

    ReplyDelete
  91. I always use olive oil in my homemade breads and have used it "in a pinch" when making a dessert and realizing i had no butter at the last minute. This book really interests me because I always buy a gallon of olive oil since I use it for all of my oil needs outside of baking, so I would love to check out what this book has to say! Thanks for the chance!

    trixie420247 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  92. network blog follower(tina wofford page)

    trixie420247 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  93. gfc follower(cpage2323)

    trixie420247 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  94. I put olive oil in my breads
    sarahlovesvegas@hotmail

    ReplyDelete
  95. I like you on fb
    sarah hinhart
    sarahlovesvegas@hotmail

    ReplyDelete
  96. tweet
    https://twitter.com/trixie420247/status/61909552295182336

    trixie420247 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  97. twitter follower(@trixie420247)
    trixie420247 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  98. twitter follower of olive oil desserts(@trixie420247)
    trixie420247 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  99. fb follower(tina wofford page)
    trixie420247 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  100. fb follower of olive oil desserts(tina wofford page)
    trixie420247 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  101. tweet

    http://twitter.com/#!/sasiegirl/status/61927724033392640

    sasie9@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  102. I like to bake but have always used canola or vegetable oil for desserts. I would be happy to try the recipes in this book though!

    ReplyDelete

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