Avocado Zest Oil + Fresh From the Farm Lettuce

Did you ever get the desire to play match maker? To pair the perfect duo for what you are sure will exemplify the definition of a marriage made in Heaven? Personally, I don't do a great job of that with people, but...how about the perfect salad with fresh from the farm lettuce tossed with an awesome vinaigrette. And... yes... sometimes it's as simple as that.

This particular salad still has me thinking about it days later. So I thought I'd share how all the wonderful ingredients met.

While I was in Toronto a couple of weeks ago, I received an early holiday gift from the people at Olivado Natural Nutrition. Four beautiful bottles of oils... Organic Avocado Oil, Avocado Zest, Omega Plus (blend of olive, avocado & flaxseed oils)and Macadamia Nut Oil.

I think I should let them speak for themselves:

"Olivado oils represent the healthiest, most delicious and versatile oils on the market today. We pioneered the process of extracting oil from the avocado, which are cold pressed at our own purpose-built plants, utilizing a stabilization system unique to Olivado that delivers a premium, high quality oil with a very long shelf life.

With a 500 degree F./ 255 C smoke point, (the highest of any extra virgin oil) our ultra healthy Olivado oils make a superb cooking oil, as well as a delicious salad dressing. It is also excellent for bread dipping and drizzling over vegetables. "

... not to mention the fact that they are all natural, high in mono-unsaturates and antioxidants. They are kosher and great for high heat cooking, salads-drizzlings & dressings. For this salad I used the Avocado Zest oil with just a hint of lemony tang to it.
Boates Farm Balsamic Apple Cider Vinegar from the Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia, has been my BFF since 2007. It always makes me look good, never disappoints... unless I run out and can't find any at the markets.

Add a touch of Dijon mustard and a hint of local honey and ... voila! vinaigrette perfection.

As for what to put it on... well, this time around it was mache lettuce (also called Lamb's lettuce) and is usually found in the Spring in Europe & North America. So I was really pleased when one of my favorite Nova Scotian growers - Ted Hutten of Hutten Family Farm happened to have a few bags left this past Saturday at the Old Historic Properties Farmers Market. It's from his greenhouse operation, which means we get lovely exotic greens all year long.

Now I have to find the perfect mate for the Macadamia Nut Oil, which is subtle but still nutty. I'm thinking replacing vegetable or canola oil in a healthy muffin...

perhaps these Blueberry Corn Muffins. I do have some lovely blueberries in the freezer that we picked back in August. That would definitely be a marriage made in Heaven.