Why you need to eat this Tortilla Soup

I think there is a lack of education along with eating meat in our country, I know this because after being a chef for the last 10 years I really didn’t think about the process of eating meat until just recently. It sounds like an extreme conspiracy theory but yet it is true that our […]

Blood Orange Chocolate Mousse Pie-Vegan

Trust me you will love this recipe, melting chocolate in microwave creates the mousse in minutes. This cruelty-free recipe is also plant-based using silken tofu instead of heavy cream letting you enjoy this delicious and healthy dessert.

Corn, Tomato and Avocado Plant-Based “Ceviche”

As the temperatures heat up this plant-based “Ceviche” is perfect to help cool off your evening. Featured at my last Food & Wine Pairing with Monticello Vineyards we paired this with their 2014 Oak Knoll Chardonnay. Serves 4 Ingredients: 1 lb of heirloom tomatoes 3 cobs of summer corn 1 ripe avocado, diced 1 small […]

Napa Valley Trip with Kids on a Budget

Living in Northern California my family and I are within an hours drive to Napa Valley with some of the best wineries in the world. What you don’t often hear about is the amazing Campground right in the middle of Calistoga, Bothe State Park. Read on for recipes, campground tips and activities for traveling […]

Upside-Down Plum Cake

Perfect for brunch or dessert this moist cake is versatile and can be made with whatever fruit you are loving in season. I have a wonderful harvest of plums on my plum tree and absolutely love baking with them in this upside-down cake. Enjoy! Ingredients: Topping- 10 plums, pits removed small dice 3/4 cup of […]

Baked Feta & Roasted Tomato Salad

Ingredients: 8oz of feta block,into large chunks 1 lb of assorted tomatoes, quartered if large , slice into eigths Baguette Torn apart into bite size pieces 1/2 cup of pitted kalamata olives 1/2 cup of Tuscan Olive Oil  Salt & Pepper to taste Sprinach Aged Balsamic for Drizzling Fresh Basil for Garnish Directions: Preheat oven to […]

Strawberry Galette with Olive Oil Pie Crust

Ingredients: Olive Oil Crust 2/3 cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1/3 cup of water 2 cups of All Purpose Flour 1 Teaspoon of salt Filling 1lb of Strawberries, Thinly Sliced 1/4 cup of sugar 2 teaspoons of corn starch Peach White Balsamic Directions: Preheat oven to 350 Whisk 2/3 cup of Olive oil […]

Cioppino

Grab whatever is the fresh catch of the day and make this recipe your own. This dish has an element of WOW and is relatively easy to make and can be prepared in less than 45 minutes. I depend on this heart healthy recipe when entertaining a large crowd because it is a one-pot wonder. […]

Chef Lauren’s Olive Oil Pie Crust

Enjoy this simple and easy recipe for pie crust, no mixing equipment, no slowly working butter into crust and the best part is using healthy and flavorful EVOO instead of butter or shortening. Ingredients: 2/3 cup of We Olive Mission Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1/3 cup of water 2 cups of All Purpose Flour 1 […]

Roasted Mushroom Soup with Apple and Brie Crostini

This lighter take on the classic cream of mushroom soup adds more flavor and is perfect with the sweet and cheesy brie and apple crostini. This recipe uses rice to thicken and add a creamy consistency to soup without adding cream. Use Vegetable stock for a vegan soup. Photography By: Ricardo Torres Ingredients: 2 portobella mushrooms […]