I got to do a LA foodie face shoot in my dream kitchen! 

You can totally have your cake..err.. pie and eat it too.

Just hanging out with my friends milk and cookie.

The Not So Cobb Salad

A new simple take on the classic Cobb salad. The crunch from the freshly toasted sunflower seeds and the tangy-ness of the dressing only add to this salad I now call 'my usual'.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Ingredients:

Dressing:

 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/4 tsp salt

Salad: 

1 Hard boiled egg

1/2 portobello mushroom cap

2 tbsp raw sunflower seeds

3-4 cups chopped romaine or baby spinach

1/4 cup feta cheese

1 tbsp olive oil

Steps: 

1. Dice portobello mushroom cap and saute until softened

2. set on plate to cool and using same pan add sunflower seeds and toast until golden brown. 

3. Add the lettuce to a large bowl and mix with dressing

4. slice hard boiled egg and place on top.

5. Place mushrooms, feta cheese, and sunflower seeds on top.

6. Enjoy :)

Apple Galette

Pie dough. Known as the impossible to make.  As I stepped up to my counter, ready for my first pie crust, I'll be honest. I was nervous. I've always thought pie crusts were so difficult to make and that's why everyone store bought them! Little did I know, they are actually super easy, and taste so so much better. This recipe even uses coconut oil to get in the good fats, and to take away the bad a.k.a butter ( I still love you butter). So don't let the numerous steps fool you. It really is a piece of...pie. ;-)

Apple Galette

Fun Fact: A Galette is a known in the french cuisine as a flat, round and free form crusty cakes. Like an apple pie, but without the pan! 

Serving: Two small apple galettes or one medium.

Ingredients:

Pie Crust:

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup cold coconut oil

1/4 cup ice cold water

2 tbsp sugar for outer crust for later

Filling:

1 apple

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup sugar 

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp vanilla extract

Steps for Filling:

1. Mix all ingredients together! 

Steps for Pie Crust:

1. In a medium sized bowl mix sugar flour salt.

2. Add ice cold water slowly and continue whisking.

3. Once the flour is crumbling add cold solid coconut oil (I put mine in the freezer)

4. Whisk until the coconut oil has turned into tiny pieces

5. Use hands to knead dough until it turns into a nice round moistened ball.

6. If making two small galettes cut dough in half and roll out until about a 1/8 inch thickness

7. Put filling in center of rolled out dough and slowly fold in. 

8. lightly dab water on the folds of the crust and sprinkle with sugar.

9. Place on a non stick pan and bake for 45-55 minutes on 375F

10. Let cool for 10 minutes and serve with ice cream!

Note: If you don't have a roller pin, use a wine bottle to roll out the dough! 

Comfort Garden Delight.

Where did I come up with the name of this recipe you ask? Why, make it and you'll see. The savory flavor of the stew and the sweetness of the sweet potato... straight up comfort food.  Its vegan friendly and you'll even get your vegetables in for the day.

Ingredients:
(Serves 2)
2 medium sized sweet potatoes
1 can garbanzo beans
1 cup diced tomatoes
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 minced shallot
1/2 cup water
1 cup coconut cream
1/2 lemon
1 12oz bag spinach
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tbsp lemon zest to garnish
1 pinch sea salt

Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Place potatoes in oven for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on size.
3. In a large sized pan add coconut oil and towel dried garbanzo beans on medium high heat
3. Move constantly until beans are turning golden brown then add shallots, tomatoes and spinach
4. Squeeze the lemon over the stew and turn on low heat.
5. Add the coconut cream, water, cinnamon, ginger, salt.
6. Stir on low heat for 10-15 minutes.
7. Take sweet potatoes out of oven and cut half way down.
8. Place on plate and serve the stew on top.
9. Add lemon zest and enjoy!

Roast Potatoes with Rosemary and Garlic

Over this past weekend, I went down to my Aunt Kathy's. Every time I go down there, I make something called the 'Marisa Potatoes'. It consists of some of my favorite things that were originally just thrown together, and now perfected. Sweet potatoes. Yukon Potatoes. Garrrrlicccc. Rosemary. MMmm.. If you need a visual, just look below. I guarantee you'll love these.

Ingredients:
( Serves 4)

2 Medium sweet potatoes
2-medium Yukon gold potatoes
3-4 Tbsp olive oil
6 cloves garlic
1/2 red onion
2 Tbsp dried rosemary

Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 375F
2. Cut potatoes into bite sized pieces
3. Dice onion. ( I like to meet garlic whole but you may cut the garlic as well)
4. Place the potatoes onion and garlic into a deep pan, preferably a 13x9.
5. sprinkle rosemary and drizzle the olive oil. Just enough to coat everything.
6. Place in oven for 25-35 minutes or until golden brown and crispy :)
7. Sprinkle with sea salt and enjoy!


Note: Perfect dish for thanksgiving!!


xo

Marisa