For Your Guests: An Herb-Infused Olive Oil

As much fun as it can be shopping for the perfect present for a loved-one, what I love even more is creating homemade gifts. Whether it’s for a birthday, holiday or favor, one of my go-to DIYs is herb-infused olive oil. It tastes wonderful and can be really beautiful, too, if you find a special or unique bottle. My talented friend, chef Annie Campbell, first gave me the idea a couple years ago, and these lovely bottles have been a staple in my kitchen ever since. 

Recently, when shooting our summer catalogue in Ojai, I felt inspired by the bounty of fresh herbs growing on the property. I hosted a dinner party for friends, and decided to make herbal olive oil to gift everyone. The process is incredibly simple: Fill each bottle with oil and a specific herb or several. Tie a stem of that herb on the outside of the bottle as decoration and to identify the flavor. My kids loved helping, too. The possibilities are truly endless with the types of infusions you can create. For this occasion I opted for a few classic herbs: rosemary, sage and thyme. Happy infusing! XXJKE 

Photos: Lauren Ross