Don't forget to add love, it makes all the difference!
Have you tried the new Cosmic Crisp Apple yet? I found these beauties in December and can’t stop eating them. I enjoyed them so much, I gave them as gifts during the holidays. They are sweet, tart and very juicy. Apparently, this apple variety has been in development for twenty years and is a combination of Honeycrisp and Enterprise. Look for them in your local market!
Living with food intolerances can be difficult. I am always on the lookout for helpful tips, especially when visiting the happiest place on earth!
Did you know that Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta offers a vegan pizza with gluten free crust? The crust is thin and the size of a Disney paper plate. At this time, this individual pizza is not on the menu and by special request only. There are plenty of veggie toppings to consider. I chose red peppers, mushrooms and a vegan cheese. It was delicious!
What I love about Disney is their willingness to help you have a magical day no matter your food intolerance. The staff were incredibly kind during the ordering process. The chef asked specific questions about my food intolerances to ensure a great experience. There was around a fifteen minute wait time, but certainly worthwhile. Whether you’re lactose intolerant, vegan or gluten free, I hope this pizza elevates your Disney day!
If you have questions about eating vegan at Disneyland or California Adventure, drop me a note on instagram. @livelovesaute
Photo by @wallisbh
Love Actually The Musical! I watch this movie every year in December and have heard great things about the show! It plays until December 29th at The Wallis. I will now be singing “Christmas is all around me” for the rest of the night!
For tickets:
The Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts
Disney’s Frozen is now playing at the Pantages Theatre until February 2nd, 2020. The best news is that this show has a digital lottery for each performance! The lottery opens at 11am, two days prior to the performance. It closes at 10am, one day prior to the performance. If you are selected as a lottery winner, you will receive an email. Winners have 60 minutes to pay for the lottery tickets via an online link. The tickets are $25 each, with a 2 ticket max. Lottery tickets are available at the Pantages Will Call one hour prior to curtain time. Best of luck and drop me a note if you win! @livelovesaute
For tickets:
I’m in a soup dumpling state of mind! Din Tai Fung is the perfect spot to warm up during the chilly December nights. This Taiwanese restaurant, founded in 1927, is famous for their Kurobuta Pork Xiao Long Boa. Their soup dumpling is filled with a mixture of marinated pork, ginger, green onion and broth and crafted by hand on location.
Jidori Chicken Wontons with Spicy Sauce – Filled with jidori chicken, served in spicy sauce, and topped with garlic and green onion.
There are several vegan options on the menu. My server reccomended dipping these vegan dumplings in the spicy sauce.
Vegetable & Mushroom Dumplings – Filled with a mixture of glass noodles, bok choy, dried bean curd, and shiitake mushrooms.
Sautéed String Beans with Garlic
I had a wonderful experience at Din Tai Fung. The service was lovely. Everything I ordered was perfectly flavored and it warmed me right up on a cold night. I will definitely visit again!
For locations and menu:
I’m getting cozy with this Gingerbread Maple Latte! It’s the perfect blend of Fall and Winter! Communal Coffee has several milk alternative options, including oat milk. I usually order their Lavender Latte but I was looking for a seasonal flavor to love. This one hit the spot! It tastes just like a sweet cookie, warm out of the oven. I must admit, the latte art at this cafe really elevates the experience for me. It’s so beautiful and each barista does an incredible job. If you’re dining in, you can request a mug. Communal Coffee also has small gifts, cards, and flower bouquets available in their shop. It’s a must stop if you’re in the North Park area of San Diego.
I might have gotten a little carried away with the leaves, but I just love them! Seriously, how adorable is this pumpkin tart? I’ve owned these leaf punches for a few years. Initially, I created a tiny heart design. I’ve always wanted to cover an entire pie with them though. It is time consuming but well worth it!
Ingredients:
1 15oz can Libby’s Pure Pumpkin Puree
1 cup Oatly Oat Milk
2 Egg Whites
1/4 cup Turbinado Sugar
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
3 Pillsbury Pie Crust (2 crusts for leaves, 1 for tart bottom)
1 Egg White + Splash of Water, for Egg Wash
Pam Baking Spray made with Flour
Flour
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place pie crust onto floured cutting board. Using the leaf pie punches, cut out 55 leafs. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Turn tart pan upside down on parchment paper and trace outside edge with a marker. Place second sheet of parchment on top, you should be able to visualize the circle through this piece of parchment. Lay leaf cut outs, overlapping, around the edge of the circle. Next, lay leaf cut outs in heart shape in center of the circle. Add additional leaf cut outs underneath heart shape to fill in any unused space. Make sure all leaves are overlapping. Gently paint leaves with egg wash. Carefully remove parchment paper with marking. Bake this leaf topper separately for 45 minutes or until leaf cutouts are slightly browned. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
While the leaf topper is baking, prepare tart pan and pumpkin mix. Spray 9 1/2 inch tart pan with removable bottom evenly with cooking spray. Place dough over tart pan & press into bottom & sides. Using a knife, cut the excess dough away from the top of the tart pan. Place in refrigerator.
In a large bowl, combine sugar, salt and cinnamon. Stir in pumpkin, oat milk, and egg whites until combined well. Pour into tart shell. Place on a baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 20 minutes.
Refrigerate entire pan, outer ring and bottom, and until ready to serve. When ready to serve, remove pans outer ring and place on serving tray. Gently lay leaf topper onto tart. Prepare yourself for oohs and ahhs. This one is a beauty!
Please note, this content uses referral links for products I have used and loved. Recommended products:
Round Tart Pan with Removable Bottom
Don’t forget to add love, it makes all the difference!
Walking into Friendsgiving!
This is my go to Fall uniform. I’m always happy when the temperature drops a bit and I can wear my tissue turtleneck, a jacket and boots! The tissue turtleneck is very light. I usually feel more comfortable with an added layer, especially after sunset. I live in my Paige jeans year round. The jeans are stretchy, soft and high waisted. They are my absolute favorite brand for denim, local to Los Angeles and female founded. The boots are flats, so you’ll be able to take a long stroll without feeling a strain. Isn’t it the best time of the year? What’s your go to Fall outfit?
Please note, this content uses referral links for products I have used and loved.
It was raining cats and dogs last night, so I decided to try out this new recipe. I’m attempting to make my favorite holiday recipes vegan. I love oat milk, and that’s what I used to create this sauce. If you prefer a different milk alternative, definitely use what you like. I was pleasantly surprised with this mushroom cream sauce! It’s incredibly delicious on it’s own, but also perfect over green beans. Next time I make this I’ll add in some onions. I hope if you’re lactose intolerant or vegan this recipe helps you have a happy holiday!
Ingredients:
16 oz Earth Exotics French Green Beans
2 8oz container Baby Bella Mushrooms, cleaned and halved or quartered
5 cups Oatly Oat Milk
McCormick Sea Salt & Black Peppercorn
Add mushrooms to non stick pan, cook over medium heat until slightly browned. Continue over medium heat and add oat milk. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Constantly stir until sauce starts to thicken. You will know your sauce is thickened and ready when you can slightly see the bottom of the pan as you stir. Turn stove top off. Add in green beans. Mix together well. Serve immediately.
Please note, this content uses referral links for products I have used and loved. Recommended products:
Don’t forget to add love, it makes all the difference!
I have never, ever cooked a Thanksgiving turkey. Honestly, I’ve always just been a side dish lover when it comes to this holiday. This year though, I wanted to create a vegan main dish. In my opinion, this stuffed portobello cap beats any turkey!
Ingredients:
1 Sweet Onion, diced
1 cup Celery (Approximately 3 stalks), diced
1 sprig Rosemary, leaves rinsed, removed from stem and diced
6 Large Portobello Mushroom Caps, cleaned with stems and gills removed
3 cups Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Stuffing
2 cups Low Sodium Vegetable Broth
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Add mushroom caps, stem side facing up, to a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.
While the mushrooms are in oven, prepare stuffing mixture. Saute onion, celery and rosemary over medium heat until tender. Once tender, pour in vegetable broth and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in stuffing mix.
Remove mushrooms from oven, add stuffing mixture to each cap. Return to oven for 25 minutes or until stuffing is slightly browned. Serve immediately.
Please note, this content uses referral links for products I have used and loved. Recommended products:
Non Stick Ceramic Cookware Set, Copper
Don’t forget to add love, it makes all the difference!
I absolutely can’t believe it’s November! I feel like I blinked and it’s the holiday season again. I watched the Rockefeller Plaza Tree being delivered today (online unfortunately…sigh) and it reminded me that Tree Lightings will be coming up soon! The Rockefeller Tree Lighting will be broadcast on December 4th 8-10pm. I love watching that every year. Someday, I’d like to go see that gorgeous tree. There are plenty of festivities in Southern California though. Here’s a list of tree lightings in Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Diego!
Disneyland & California Adventure
Each park has a daily tree lighting event at 4:55pm November 8-January 6.
November 14th 7:30-9:30pm
November 17th 7:30-9:30pm
November 22nd 6:30pm
November 29th 4-9pm
December 7th 4-8pm