Olio Nuovo Arbosana Olive Oil Brownies with Dark Chocolate-Tangerine Balsamic Ganache

Brownie Ingredients
1/2 cup Olio Nuovo 2011 California Arbosana Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened high quality cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x9 inch baking pan. In a medium bowl, mix together the olive oil, sugar, and vanilla. Beat in eggs. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt; gradually stir into the egg mixture until well blended. Stir in walnuts, if desired. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the brownie begins to pull away from edges of pan. Let cool on a wire rack before cutting into squares.
 
Ganache Ingredients
 9 ounces best quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons Tangerine Balsamic Condimento
3" long strip of tangerine zest
a pinch of kosher salt - optional

Directions
Place the chocolate into a medium bowl. Heat the cream, salt, and tangerine zest in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a bare simmer, watching very carefully because if it boils for a few seconds, it will boil out of the pot and scorch. When the cream has come to a simmer, remove the zest, pour over the chopped chocolate, and whisk until smooth. Stir in the Tangerine balsamic. Allow the ganache to cool, looking for a spreadable consistency before frosting the brownies. Start at the center of the brownies and work outward.

Maple-Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops with Thyme Poached Quince

Pork Chops

8 boneless pork chops, 1/2-inch thick, trimmed
1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1 tablespoon Nuovo Olio California Robust Frantoio
3 tablespoons fine chopped shallots
1/3 cup Aged Pure Maple Balsamic


Thyme Poached Quince
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup Pumpkin Pie Spiced White Balsamic
1 - 3" sprig fresh thyme
1 ripe quince (about 10 oz), peeled, quartered, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (apples can be substituted by reducing the poaching time to 20 minutes)

Instructions:

Thyme Poached Quince

Bring water, balsamic to a simmer in a 2- to 2 1/2-quart saucepan. Add the quince and sprig of thyme.  Simmer, gently stirring once or twice, until quince is tender, about 35 minutes. Discard the thyme sprig, drain quince in a sieve set over a bowl and reserve for pan sauce.

Pork Chops

Pat pork chops dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. In nonstick 12 inch skillet, heat the Frantoio over med-high heat. Cook chops 4 minutes one side, turn over and cook 3 minutes the other side. Transfer to platter and keep warm. Increase heat to high. Stir shallot into pan juices; cook 2 minutes. Stir in the balsamic and cook down for an additional 2 minutes. Add the strained poached quince to the pan and stir to combine. Adjust seasoning with sea salt and fresh ground pepper.
To serve, ladle the pan sauce and quinces over the pork chops.
Serves 4