Crows dot the mulberry tree. I watch from my dining room as they shift and flutter from branch to branch to eat the tree’s burgundy berries. A hand-loomed cotton napkin on my lap reminds me of the more vibrantly coloured ones wrapped around cutlery in the dining rooms at Rancho La Puerta. The fabric’s simple […]
Corina Rose is a singer/songwriter that spreads love and light all over the world with her groovy guitar playing and happy melodies. Her unique blend of soul, jazz, reggae, and pop will make you feel relaxed and joyful, singing along, swaying your hips, and feeling the positive vibes. Her music has a message of love, […]
The Power of Place. Discussions and exercises in the value of the places we know and the places we are drawn to know as sources of power and inspiration for our writing, with references to sources as diverse as Jung, Eastwood, Raymond Carver, and the Brothers Grimm. Les Standiford reads from and talks about his […]
Every time I visit the Ranch, I am struck by the varieties of human energy that surround me and the openness of the guests to experiencing their lives anew. As a result, those who attend my journal writing workshops invariably surprise themselves with what they express on the page and what they find out about […]
The first truth about seafood paella is that it starts with the pan. This entrée is named after the pan itself. Instantly recognizable, a paella pan is shallow and wide, allowing the rice to rest in a thin layer across the bottom. The second truth about seafood paella is that it tastes better when leisurely […]
Sugar is quite possibly the most inflammatory food molecule we consume today. Sugar has been linked to premature aging, inflammatory molecules that fuel cancer cells, and obesity. If you’ve been to The Ranch, you’ve learned to last a week with very little sugar. If not, here’s how you can learn to live without it, or […]
Three-time James Beard award-winner Raghavan Iyer is always a welcome chef an teacher at our cooking school, La Cocina Que Canta. “A good recipe,” he says, “should teach you what to do in steps. Focus on what each step is telling you, what’s the end result. This is more important than the time that’s suggested.” […]
Longer days are almost here and our Lobster and Shrimp Paella recipe is the perfect choice to ring in warmer evening dinners outside. This beautiful and delicious recipe is taken from our cookbook, Ranch cookbook, Cooking with the Seasons at Rancho Puerta by Deborah Szekely, Deborah Schneider and Robert Holmes. Enjoy! Deborah remembers…”Seafood paella is the perfect dish for entertaining. I did a lot […]
Is it possible to rediscover who you are? Or who you are meant to be? What are the various stages of self discovery? At different times in our lives we may seem to be different people. Who we were ten years ago may have been completely different than who we are today. That’s what I’m […]
Daniel Fenyvesi has quite the background in nutrition having worked in weight loss programs across Latin America, Oakland and San Diego. He has also developed here at The Ranch additional creative breakfast and lunch options that are gluten, soy and dairy free. He was kind enough to grant us an interview about the new changes at […]
I feel so honored to have been able to meet Joëlle Delbourgo at the Ranch this past year during my favorite week so far, Rancho Reads and Writes. The classes that week were such an enlightening experience. And not just for learning to write better, but also the business that goes along with writing; what […]
