Feliz Cumpleaños Mamacita!

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[typography font="Calligraffitti" size="27" size_format="px"]Today is the birthday of my beautiful mom, Amelia Ceja![/typography]

This past Sunday we hosted a big Gemini fiesta for my mom and for all of the other June birthdays. The weather cooperated with a warm and breezy day, making it a memorable birthday celebration. We feasted on Paella, vino and a delicious Tres Leches cake {my favorite!}. It was wonderful to see so many good friends and family come out to celebrate my mom, who is such a special woman. 

She might only be 5 feet tall but she has a personality as big as a giant! She has a heart of gold and nonstop energy that fills a room with contagious excitement and warmth. I would call her a woman of movement, a woman of passion and a woman with BIG dreams. Over the past few years it’s been quite evident that she has been a mover and shaker in our family and in our family business. I’m so inspired by her everyday and am grateful to have such a wonderful mentor in my life.

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{I love this black & white portrait of my mom}

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A few years ago Luis Miguel visited our tasting room {for those of you who don’t know him, he’s like the Elvis of Mexico}. Women swoon over him and men are envious of his singing talent. In Mexico, it’s customary to be woken up in the early morning hours serenaded by family and friends to Las Mañanitas {the Mexican morning birthday song}. Mom, if I could, I would have Luis Miguel serenade you to the Las Mañanitas song! Here’s to wishing you the happiest of birthdays!!!

Te quiero muchisimo. Besos y abrazos.

Ole!

Berrylicious Pie

[quote]Blackberries, raspberries & blueberries, oh my! Keep your fork, there’s pie![/quote] When I was a little girl, my brothers and I would take advantage of our summer break and find any excuse to wander the endless Carneros area {where we grew up}. Minutes away from our parent's house was a creek that happened to host hundreds of plentiful wild blackberry bushes.

I remember digging my way into the thorny bushes eager to pick the sweetest and juiciest blackberries. Our teeth and clothes would be stained purple as we ate to our heart's content {oh, to be a kid again.. it brings back such nostalgic feelings}. We could never bring back enough berries for my mom to make a pie, and I’ve always longed to make my very own, from scratch. So here it goes… my mouth is watering already!

The result was exactly what I hoped for in a summer pie.  The oozing berries, bursting with flavor, had just the right mix of tart and sweet. The crust was flaky, crisp and buttery. I'm already looking forward to eating it for breakfast the rest of the week, with a big, steaming cup of Earl Grey tea. Here’s to enjoying a delicious piece of berry pie and reliving your own childhood memories.

Berrylicious Pie

Ingredients: Serves 8 people

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups fresh blackberries
• 2 cups fresh raspberries
• 2 cups fresh blueberries
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• Pastry dough {click here for a simple & easy recipe}

*Special equipment: a 9-inch metal/glass pie plate & a pastry cutter

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Whisk together granulated sugar, cornstarch, tapioca, and salt, then toss with berries. Roll out 1 piece of dough {keep remaining piece chilled} on a lightly floured surface and fit into pie plate. Trim edge, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Chill shell while rolling out dough for top crust, then use pastry cutter to make semi-thin strips of dough.

Spoon filling into shell, then layer dough strips to make a beautiful lattice pie crust. Trim crust with kitchen shears, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Press edges together, then crimp edge decoratively. Lastly, brush top of pie with beaten egg {to give it a glossy look}.

Place pie in the middle rack of the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Then reduce oven temperature to 375°F and continue to bake until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbling, about 40 more minutes.

Cool pie for at least 2 hours before serving to allow juices to thicken slightly (filling will still be juicy). Enjoy eating a slice of this delicious pie with a spoonful of vanilla bean ice cream and you’ll be in dessert heaven! Ole!

Paso Robles in a Nutshell

I hope everyone had a happy and productive weekend!

Memorial Day weekend has come and gone but I wanted to share some highlights of our adventures! Together with a group of friends we decided to take a road trip down south on a mission to explore the breathtaking landscape of Paso Robles wine country. We spent 2 ½ days there and successfully managed to visit over eight wineries and one brewery. We also spent some much needed time relaxing, eating, drinking and vegging out in a cozy cottage set in the gently rolling hills of Peachy Canyon {thanks Drew!}. Considering we had a full house {and only one bathroom to share}, our daily routine was quite simple - get up early, make a huge breakfast and then hit the road for a day of wine tasting.

Some of my favorite wineries included Tablas Creek, Halter Ranch and Chronic Cellars. Each winery had its own allure, unique ambiance and stunning portfolio of wines. Our first stop set the benchmark for the rest of the trip. Halter Ranch Winery has so much history and charm, I felt like I was stepping back in time walking through the historic barns and stunning Victorian-era farmhouse. This was my type of experience, plus their wines were all surprisingly good {especially their Côtes de Paso- Grenache based blend).

Tablas Creek Winery was a priority on our list and we had the opportunity to check out their newly remodeled tasting room. Their wines stole the show and two of my favorites were the Côtes de Tablas red and white Rhone blends. Chronic Cellars was another favorite, with its funky bright and colorful décor and easy drinking, approachable wines. I’m a sucker for anything inspired by Dia de Los Muertos images {that’s on their label) and loved that their tasting room was hip and interactive with a pool table and horseshoe field outside.

For those of you who have never visited Paso Robles, I highly recommend a visit. It's rustic, quaint and just driving through the back roads exploring the scenic beauty is worth the trip! Ole!

{Historic barn at Halter Ranch Winery}

{So many wineries to choose from!}

{Halter Ranch tasting room}

{Justin Vineyards reception area & adorable vineyard dog, Buddy}

{Keeping it classy with my favorite pair of Aviator shades from Theory}

{Fun in the sun with my BF Adam at L'Aventure Winery}

{Beer tasting at Firestone Walker Brewery}

{Breakfast of champions: eggs with chorizo, bacon & watermelon slices}

{Chronic Cellars tasting room. Pool table + wine tasting = fun!}

Grecian Green Dress

Over Memorial Day weekend we took the opportunity to explore the gorgeous wine country of Paso Robles. As I predicted, the weather was undeniably warm and breezy, making this the perfect day to sport this Grecian green dress. I stumbled on this dress at a vintage trunk show, and I've been wearing it since my college days. I love the subtle details with the high empire waist, the seamless flowing fabric and the golden rope that borders the neckline. Together with my gladiator lace up sandals and a simple yellow shawl, this outfit reminds me of what a fashion forward Greek goddess would wear. Ole!

Chefs Market Cooking Demo

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Cooking has always been a passion in my life {eating too!}. Ever since I was a little girl I've been in the kitchen, cooking alongside my mom, Amelia Ceja. I remember standing on a stool next to the stove, using both hands to stir the pot of Mexican hot chocolate, while sweet aromas of chocolate and cinnamon filled the kitchen. From that moment on I knew that food would always play an integral role in my life and now, more than twenty years later, I’m still cooking and learning from my mom.

Last week my mom and I had a wonderful opportunity to host the Chefs cooking demonstration at the Napa Downtown Chefs Market. This weekly event is what I consider to be the ultimate street party, with food trucks, wine/beer booths, crafts & cool art.

We decided to prepare one of my favorite dishes, “Camarones con Cebollitas Rojas y Ajo” {shrimp with shallots, garlic, lime juice & a dash of spice}. This recipe is simple to make and is a delicious appetizer to share at a fiesta! This particular day also marked the 2nd annual Chardonnay Day so we paired our Ceja Vineyards “Vino de Casa” Chardonnay blend with the dish. This flavorful and semi-spicy dish paired beautifully with the Chardonnay blend because the wine cut through the spice component of the shrimp leaving your taste buds begging for more!

Click here for the recipe and short cooking video. Ole!

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{My adorable niece Isa scoping out the scene}

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