Congratulations to our Amazing Crew at Carter & Cavero!!

I have to congratulate our entire crew at Carter & Cavero for the incredible effort put forth in our three stores this holiday season!! I just spent the last three weeks helping out at our Holiday store in Bryant Park in New Your City. It was incredibly exhausting, but, we're happy to say, we've had a very positive and successful experience in New York! We're looking forward to making big strides in the coming new year.

Happy Holidays to All!

Mercedes Wall (Cavero)

You can visit Carter & Cavero at their store in Red Bank and in Long Branch Jersey or shop online at www.carterandcavero.com.

Latest and Greatest Last Minute Creation

I have to say, I was out of ideas last night. I didn't have the energy to come up with anything new and I couldn't remember any of our customers' suggestions for our oils and vinegars. That would require too much effort - especially if I had to run to the store for one ingredient. When this happens I tend to revert back to my old, simple favorites: Mac and cheese for the kids (5 minutes in the microwave) and take-out sushi for us. Fortunately or unfortunately, I remembered Chris had purchased three thousand pounds of potatoes from Costco. He told me to get creative, but I simply was not getting inspired. I hopelessly searched through the freezer looking for something to complement my husband's potato fetish. Finally, I found half a bag of Jumbo Shrimp. Yes! There is a god! I quickly defrosted the shrimp in water and cut up the potatoes without even peeling them. Sorry , I refuse to peel potatoes.

So, here is my lasted creation using Carter & Cavero's Chipotle Olive Oil and Sicilian Lemon White Balsamic.

Roasted Potatoes with Chipotle Olive Oil.

2.5 lbs of potatoes cut into thick slices or chunks;
3 tbs Chipotle Olive oil;
1 tbs of chopped garlic or 2 tbs of C&C's Roasted Garlic Olive Oil;
1 tsp rosemary (Fresh or dried);
Salt and Pepper to Taste.

Marinade potatoes with all of the ingredients for a few minutes. Bake covered at 375 degrees for 35 minutes. Remove cover and continue baking until potatoes are done and slightly brown on top.

Sicilian Lemon Scampi (No Butter)

14 Jumbo Shrimp with or without tails on;

1 tbs chopped garlic;
1 tbs chopped parsley;
1 tbs Chipotle Oilve oil;
2 to 3 tbs olive oil ( milder one will do: Arbequina, Tunisian Organic);
3 tbs Sicilian Lemon White Balsamic;
Salt and Pepper to taste.

Brown the garlic with the olive oil in a pan. Add the Jumbo Shrimp. Sautee until slightly cooked. Add the Chipotle Olive Oil and parsley while continuing to cook. At the end splash on Carter & Cavero's Sicilian Lemon White Balsamic. Sprinkle with sea salt and fresh ground pepper before serving. Voila!

Assessment:
Chris and I loved the combination of the two. The potatoes came out perfectly browned and slightly spicy and the shrimp was incredibly tasty with the perfect hint of sweetness and tartness. My four and five year olds, on the other hand, had mac and cheese (My mother would NOT be proud of this. The only "instant" thing that came out of a box in my house growing up was oatmeal). I did sprinkle a little balsamic on their steamed broccoli. That was a hit all around! THIS my mother would be proud of.

Buen provecho!
Cavero

You can visit Carter & Cavero at their store in Red Bank and in Long Branch New Jersey or shop online at www.carterandcavero.com.

Pomegranates for the Holidays!

I grew up eating pomegranates from my backyard. They don't scare me! Pomegranates can be one of the messiest fruits - my husband stays far away from them for that reason. The tiny pods are filled with an intense fruit juice quite different from any other fruit. This intense flavor is why pomegranates are so popular in cooking to achieve robust and intense flavors.

My favorite with Carter & Cavero's Pomegranate Balsamic? Carter & Cavero's Chipotle Olive Oil. It is an absolutely amazing combination!!!!!!!!

You can visit Carter & Cavero at their store in Red Bank and in Long Branch, New Jersey or shop online at www.carterandcavero.com.

Roasted Asparagus

Here's a quick and delicious recipe for the holidays! Roast your asparagus with a robust olive oil for a fantastic nutty flavor that will leave your guest wanting more. It's incredible how much flavor a really good olive oil adds to a very simple dish. Get ready to become an Asparagus Lover if you aren't already one!!

1. Clean and break off tough ends of asparagus.
2. Coat asparagus in our Hojiblanca Extra Virgin Olive Oil (use a zip lock bag)
3. Place asparagus on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil
4. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender and crisp
5. Remove from oven and sprinkle with course sea salt and freshly ground pepper
6. Get adventurous and drizzle on some of our Red Apple Balsamic Vinegar before serving!


Happy Holidays!

Cavero


You can visit Carter & Cavero at their store in Red Bank and in Long Branch, New Jersey or shop online at www.carterandcavero.com.