Olive oil (or EVOO if you are a Food Network Junkie) has gained in popularity over the past couple of years as the health craze gains a better grip on the ever fattening American. My mother used to have vegetable oil, corn oil, canola oil, Crisco (tm?), and lard in the kitchen for a variety of uses. I only use olive oil. All of the aformentioned oils are still widely available but olive oil has become the golden child of oils. The good press on olive oil probably has the most to do with this paradigm change which is leading everyone who cooks to use this ancient oil rather than the cheaper modern substitutes.

In the Kitchen

Recipies are a-dime-dozen online just do a search on any popular search engine and you wil find 100's of articles, recipies, and praises on olive oil. I like it for pan frying, swapping in baking recipies, and making my own dressings. This HUB is supposed to be about alternative uses though. Check out some of the alternative uses that I found below...

Olive Oil - More Than Just Cooking and Lube

• Parents have used it successfully as Lice control.
• A variety of hair care methods
• Reflexologists have used it to rub feet as it does not dissappear like lotions
• Mixed with lemon juice, vinegar, or just straight-up for furniture and brass polish
• Seasoning pans
• As a home remedy for ear aches
• Take a 1/2 shot to prevent snoring
• As shaving lubricant
• Hairball prevention for cats (add it to their food)
• Make up remover
• Shoe shine
• Leather conditioner
• A suppliment for Palm Trees
• To prevent wax from sticking to candle holders

There are a miriad of different uses which are inhibited only by your imagination. Which one's work the best...I am not completly sure. What I do know is that I will not be rubbing Crisco in my hair as the ancient Romans did with olive oil. The long staying power of olive oil as the king of oils is not through with scientific rigor but the tests of time have proven the worth of the "Liquid Gold"(Homer).