Devo Olive Oil sampler review/giveaway! ***CLOSED!!***

***CLOSED!!!***

Devo Olive Oil makes the most unique oils and balsamics you can get! The combinations and pairings are endless and flavorful and tempting. I can tell you with 100% honesty that I made a dressing, and I had to stop myself from drinking it!



Branson, MO  has some Olive Oil Lovers! Devo Olive Oil originates and has a store in this town! I'm super jealous! I wonder if they know what they are sitting on over there? Also, envious by me is Myrtle Beach, SC, as they have their own Devo store too! They definitely need a store in Jacksonville, FL.. because it's super close to me, and St Augustine would also be another great place for a store. Perhaps close to the Avenues Mall? Me thinks so.. I am ahead of myself.

I loved this stuff. It is so exciting! I wish I had the money to buy the full size bottles, or had the thought to ask for one. But possibly sometime in the future as there are others I would love to try!

I had Devo send me out a  Violet (dark) balsamic and Roasted French Walnut Oil.
The smallest bottle of Violet Balsamic Vinegar sells for 17.95 375ml - 29.95 750ml
The smallest bottle of Roasted French Walnut Oil  (375ml) sells for 20.95 (+shipping) and the largest bottle (750ml) sells for 39.95. It is one of their specialty gourmet oils. I almost picked the Black Truffle Oil. Walnuts are fattening, sure- as with any oil, but also just as healthy arguably healthier than EVO. Olive Oil comes in all different flavors/strengths though, kind of like balsamics. Some of the darker balsamics are very stout and white balsamics are lighter flavors. I suggest someone new to balsamics to start with the lighter ones, and work their way up to the darker more robust flavors. Violet, you may be thinking, sounds like an odd choice for a balsamic. Such is me. I love odd things, they call to me. I wasn't sure what it was going to taste like but I was ready for a new flavor! I was not let down! Although I find it hard to describe the flavors/notes because it's hard to explain how a Violet Balsamic tastes. I have been staring at the screen dumbfounded for about 15 minutes now. Basically it's strong flavor and slightly sweet. It tastes herb-y to me. Very good! I think I might also really enjoy the Dark Chocolate Balsamic as well!

The Devo Roasted French Walnut Oil has a light taste to it. Why don't I  just tell you the recipe I made with the 1/4 cup mini bottles they sent out to me. If you are interested in entering the giveaway to win your very own 9 mini-bottle sampler arv 39.95! of Devo Olive Oil & Balsamics, then follow the instructions at the bottom of the post.  While these are mini bottles they contain a 1/4 cup of product and are ample to give you an idea for taste and if you like it. They can help give you a clear decision of if you like it or if you don't, so you will know what you would want to purchase! 

• Winner will chosen via random.org on Sept 6th!

First- my cooking background and history! No, not the time when I set my mothers kitchen on fire practically. I actually love to cook, and started when I was very young. I remember pulling a chair up the counter and "helping" my mother stir things, and watching intently- absorbing her ways. My mother, is an excellent cook, and I learned from the best! Ohhh wee, her Thanksgiving Dressing - it can't be repeated. Although, a few times she goofed it, sadly. Of course, I never forget anything and will never let her live that down! She keeps up with my blog (naturally) and is probably getting ill at me about this mention. Haha! I loved to be in the kitchen and I didn't even mind helping do dishes. Back then- anyway! I distinctly remember fighting with my step-brother and sister though about who washed the iron skillet. LOL! Noone ever wanted to, and we all always thought that only when it was our turn was the skillet used. Our parents would whine mimicking us: "Why do I always get the iron skillet?" So that's funny now- but it sure wasn't then. (Hey! It was hard to clean and super heavy!)
 Anyways, I'm rambling. I love to cook, and being from & growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, I love southern food. When people think Alabama + Food, they might not come up with the recipe I made, or even think its a good fit. But it is for sure.

We don't live on deep-fat fried butter sticks.

Sure, we eat country stuff! Grits, biscuits and gravy, fried chicken, okra, fried green tomatoes, ohh.. what are some other sterotypes? Turnip Greens, gumbo, sweet-potato pie, sweet tea, macaroni and cheese... Now hang on! I never said they weren't true. I am saying other areas eat these foods too. My point is- southern people also eat refined foods as well. Such as; prime rib,  lobster, caviar, veal, truffles and smoked salmon. I get a lot of  flack about being from Alabama. Apparently people think we are as country as they come. Maybe some of us, but some areas are just like everywhere else in America! We just sound different!   :)
 My recipe is actually a Bacon Wrapped Salmon Salad. I am not sure of it's originality. But I didn't find it online. I just made it up in my head! That's not to say someone somewhere could not have already paired these ingredients. They didn't pair them with Devo Olive Oil I bet!  But who cares?

So, without further ado here it is:

 Bacon Wrapped Salmon Salad

This salad will feed 4.

Ingredients- (c=cup -  tsp=teaspoon - tbs=tablespoon)

1 piece of salmon, your choice cut and size.
4 strips of bacon - or enough to cover the fish.

1 head of lettuce, again- your choice type. I prefer Romaine, as it is the only "Healthy" lettuce, but you could also choose baby spinach leaves, I just didn't have any on hand!

1 Tomato, cubed, your choice size & cut to your desired size.

1/4 c Shredded cheese

1/4 c Pecan pieces

1 tsp Organic Unsalted butter

1 Avocado sliced (do this last)

1 tbs Lemon juice

1/4 c shredded or matchstick fresh carrots

1/4 c of canned organic black beans, drained

Dash of fresh Cilantro

1/4 c Organic canned corn, drained

A pinch of any Southwest seasonings (optional)
1/4 c of Devo Violet Balsamic Vinegar
1/4 c of Devo Roasted French Walnut Oil

I'm no chef so this is not an exact science. I really more combine things and eye them. You are more than welcome to adjust ingredients to your liking. 

First, cook the salmon (thawed, if previously frozen) halfway. Use that spoon of butter, and let it simmer in a skillet of ample size. Salmon when cooked this way needs to be flipped three times. Pateince grasshopper. Let it cook for 3 or 5 minutes on medium heat before attempting to flip it. Then, use a large spatula and be careful as it gets more cooked it will break.
 Then, wrap the raw bacon, around the half cooked fish. If the salmon has skin on it, you will need to remove that before wrapping the bacon. If your careful and wrap it well the bacon also helps aide in holding the cooked fish together.
The last minute of cooking: sprinkle or brush the lemon juice on the top side of the salmon.
Cook meats until done or at least 135 F. I wouldn't cook it too much longer. If you don't have a meat thermometer you will know the fish is done when it is all the same color throughout and flakes with a fork.
Next - prepare your salad ingredients. Get a big salad serving bowl and chop your lettuce. Make a bed of it in the bowl.
Lastly, make pretty rows of the ingredients on the top of the lettuce.
Make a small row on one end of pecan pieces, another row next to it of the corn, then a row of black beans, next- a row of the tomatoes, then carrots, lastly; avocado. Or in any order you so choose.
Sprinkle on the cilantro and if you have any- southwest seasoning. (These 2 ingredients are optional)
Take the bacon wrapped salmon, and cut into however many servings you need for guests and place on a different serving plate.
Now, you will get a cruet and mix together the Devo Violet Balsamic and French Walnut Oil.
Lets dinner companions serve themselves and place the salmon on top of their salads. All that's left to do now is top it with the vinaigrette you made and enjoy! 

Win a sampler of Devo products!
The Flavors include: Tuscan Herb EVOO, Roasted Garlic EVOO, Chipotle EVOO, Blood Orange EVOO, 18 year Traditional BAlsamic, Strawberry Balsamic, Black Cherry Balsamic, Peach White Balsamic, and Honey Ginger White Balsamic.


Open to US + CAN

How to win?

Super easy! You must be public GFC follower of Locomotion of Expressions to win my giveaways! Don't know how to do that? It's easy, I'll show you!   


 You should probably know that if your email is not on your public profile, you'll need to leave it in your first comment. If you don't know what I am talking about, then you most definitely need to click above where it says "I'll show you."

Mandatory Entry! 

"Like" Devo's Facebook page and wrote on their wall "Locomotion of Expressions sent you!' (Thanks for the giveaway would also be nice!)

Then- come back here and tell me your Facebook user names in comments on this post!

• 11 EXTRA ENTRIES! 
• You must complete the mandatory entry first!

1. Tell me what you think your favorite vinegar would be that Devo sells.
2. Tell me what you think your favorite oil would be that Devo sells.
3. Grab a button (3 extra entries!) Tell me the URL of the location of it.
4. Blog about this giveaway (5 extra entries!) Share the URL of the post.                                                         Must be at least 5 sentences + include ending date. 
5. Follow me on twitter @1caseycolette. Share with me your @username
6. Like my Facebook page, comment on one of my posts something relevant to the post.                              Share with me your Facebook display name.
7. Enter any of my other active giveaways, you can find them by clicking the tag/labels at the bottom of this post that say giveaways! Tell me which ones you entered.
8. Comment on any of my other posts that are not giveaways. Comment must show thought, and be relevant to the topic of the post.
9. Share this giveaway anywhere you like (1x per day!) Share the url of the location.
10. Share this giveaway to a linky! (3 extra entries!) Share with me who's linky its on, and preferably as link to said linky.
11. Follow @DevoOliveOil on Twitter - leave your @username in a comment below.

That's it you guys! Good luck!

This giveaway will end on 9/6 at noon eastern.

Winner will have 48 hours to confirm address and receipt of winning email or another winner will be chosen.

Please check your spam if you enter my giveaways!

Thanks to Devo for this opportunity, i'd love to work with you gain one day! 

Especially want to express thanks to you, my reader!

*Disclaimer*  I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” The opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Your experience with the product may differ from mine.