Fried Olive Bites

"Olives always come out at the holidays. Sure, you’ll find them on our shelves year ‘round, but we always add some extra-special olives this time of year. One of our new favorites, however, won’t be found on our shelves. Trader Joe’s Fried Olive Bites are available only in our freezers! Two olive varieties renowned for their flavor—green Castelvetrano olives from Italy and dark purple Kalamatas from Greece—are both pitted and finely chopped, then mixed and bound together, creating a kind of olive “dough,” if you will. Through the miracle of modern machinery, a velvety mixture of mascarpone, Roquefort, and cream cheeses is enveloped by this olive mix. Finally, these ‘cheese-stuffed olives’ are lightly battered, rolled in panko breadcrumbs, and fried to a crispness that retains its texture when you reheat these Bites for about 10 minutes in your own 400°F oven. Served when still warm, you’ll experience that crisp exterior, followed by the taste of tender, meaty olives, followed by smooth, creamy cheese... followed by true (albeit momentary), food-induced bliss."