From Athens to Tuscany, from Beirut to Israel, the olive tree is prized for its fruit and its prosperous place in history throughout the centuries. The olive tree is one of the most beloved in recorded history and leaves behind a regal commentary on its life and times.
- Homer called olive oil "liquid gold".
- The branches of the olive tree were found in King Tutankhamen's tomb in Ancient Egypt.
- Olive oil, the sacred "eternal flame" of the original Olympic games, was used to anoint kings and athletes in ancient Greece. Athletes rubbed it on their bodies.
- The olive tree symbolized peace and prosperity in the ancient Hebrew culture.
As far back as 3000 BC olives were grown commercially in Crete. Large pots found at the ruins of Knossos in Crete attest to the importance of olive oil and its long, delicious history. The plant and its oil are frequently referred to in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Qur'an, and by the earliest recorded poets.
From the mellow brown Calabrese to the tiny Nicoise to the pungent purple Kalamata, there are a myriad of choices for the average olive buyer. Eastern grocers, specialty stores and local farmers' markets offer a wide variety of olives and olive oil today.
For the project at hand, corked glass bottles are decorated and filled with a variety of olives and spices. These bottles can be purchased at home goods stores, craft stores, or can be recycled wine bottles from your personal wine cellar.
What You Need
- glass bottle, new or recycled wine bottle (sterilized in hot water 10-15 mins.)
- cork, new or recycled
- herbed olives
- beads and wire for decorating the bottle's neck
- blank stick-on labels
How to Make Herbed Olives
- 2-3 cups assorted, drained olives
- 4 bay leaves
- grated zest of one lemon
- juice of one lemon
- olive oil as needed to cover all
- 2 teasp. each of dried thyme, red pepper flakes, and oregano
- 1/2 teasp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tblsp capers
- blue cheese or almonds for stuffing larger olives
Directions
- In small bowl combine lemon juice, lemon zest, pepper, bay leaves, oregano, red pepper flakes, thyme, and capers.
- Place one layer of assorted olives in bottom of bottle after stuffing larger olives.
- Top with herb mixture (about 1 inch layer).
- Alternate layers of olives and herb mixture, leaving a small, 1-in. space at top of bottle.
- Fill with oil and seal with cork stopper. Allow to marinate in refrigerater for two weeks before gifting.
How to Package
Make sure jar of herbed olives is well sealed. Decorate the neck of bottle with beaded wires or ribbon.
Attach label with names of olives, date of seal, and name of maker. Gift will last indefinitely if unopened, and once opened, use olives within several months.
A homemade gift is filled with good ingredients, quality time, love, and best wishes. On each label, make sure to write a personal note, a fabulous quote, or a beautiful drawing to speak the language of love and gift giving. Salut!
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