Making this herby olive oil is a fun activity to do with kids because it’s simple to do but makes a delicious, sophisticated oil for dipping, drizzling, and gifting! It’s so pretty that it can even serve as a decoration for your countertop. Kids will learn about herbs and how they add flavor to food.
Time: 20 minutes active time, plus overnight.
Rosemary infused olive oil: yummy AND beautiful! (ecurry.com)
Materials:
- About 1 cup of olive oil
- ¼ cup loosely packed fresh herbs, like oregano, lemon balm, rosemary, thyme, sage, or chives (or mix and match for extra flavor!)
- Funnel
- A long-necked glass jar that can be closed tightly
- 1 wooden chopstick
Adult Prep: Just monitor use of the stove and pour hot oil into the jar.
Kids’ Activity:
- Clean the herbs well under running water, and then dry them thoroughly. You don’t want any moisture in your olive oil, so let them air dry until very dry.
- Sterilize the jar by rinsing it with boiling water and allowing it to also dry thoroughly.
- Measure the right amount of olive oil for your jar by pouring in enough oil to almost fill the jar. A funnel is helpful here! (We like to use tall, long-necked decorative ones that hold about 8 oz, but anything that can be sealed tightly will work.)
- Pour the olive oil into a wide stainless steel saucepan and heat over medium heat until hot. You’ll know the oil is hot enough when you stick a chopstick into the pan and the oil bubbles around it. Turn off the heat and allow it to cool just a bit.
- Put the clean dried herbs into the jar and then pour the hot oil over the herbs, using the funnel if needed. The herbs will infuse the olive oil with their flavor.
- Allow the mixture to sit overnight, covered tightly, and then use within 1-2 weeks. Serve with bread or mixed into whole wheat pasta dishes.
Do you like herb-infused oils? Which herbs do you like the most?
– Stacey Antine, MS, RD, author, Appetite for Life, founder, HealthBarn USA, co-host, Family Food Expert Internet Radio Show, and recognized as top 10 dietitians nationally by Today’s Dietitian magazine for her work with HealthBarn USA
A healthy lifestyle isn’t all about food: keeping kids active and fostering their creativity is essential for healthy development, too! In this blog, I’ll be sharing weekly activity ideas for families to do together.
