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Small Batch Coconut Cake

Small Batch Coconut Cake | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Just the two of us…and we are hungry for a little Coconut Cake (think your favorite Lemon Bread). To the rescue–Small Batch Coconut Cake, this cake is diminutive in size but big on flavor, another Little Jewel from the Bijouxs Kitchen.

BREAD OR CAKE?

OK, what is the difference between a bread and a cake? I have always been confused. Yes, there is a difference, simply put it has to do with the leavening agents used. This post on Food 52 breaks it all down. Confusingly, classic Lemon Bread is really more like a cake baked in a loaf pan. So this recipe can be either cake or bread, which ever you like.

SMALL BATCH BAKING

All that confusion aside, simple sweet loaf cakes are my favorite. Mini loaves are easy to share with friends, take to parties, and of course are just enough for the two of us. Lemon Bread is the classic that bears repeating so, enter Small Batch Coconut Cake, a tropical take on the favorite.

Small Batch Coconut Cake| Bijouxs Little Jewels

COCONUT CAKE

Simple pantry ingredients make this cake. A sweet glaze is poured into the hot cake that creates a tender, flavorful cake. This recipe makes a perfect size cake for small households.

Enjoy another Little Jewel from the Bijouxs Kitchen.

 

 

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Chicken Roasted with Pixie Tangerines, Fennel & Pernod

Chicken Roasted with Pixie Tangerines, Fennel & Pernod | Bijouxs Little Jewels

More Pixie Tangerine love here at Bijouxs. I created a take on a recipe from the amazing Jerusalem Cookbook and cooked up with Chicken Roasted with Pixie Tangerines, Fennel & Pernod. Not your plain-old roast chicken here in the Bijouxs Kitchen.

COOKING FROM JERUSALEM

A wonderful gift of Pixie Tangerines from Melissa’s Produce to cook with inspired me so much here in the kitchen. I previously shared my Ojai Pixie Bars here. In this post, I reworked a favorite recipe from Ottolenghi & Tamimi’s Jerusalem cookbook. This book is a treasure chest of recipes from the diverse cuisines in the city. This recipe is wonderful for this holiday season. (Spiced Lentils & Brown Rice (Mejadra)is one of my favorites from the book).

COOKING FOR ONE OR TWO

As is many times the case, most recipes make enough to serve a big family, however in the real world, most nights many of us are cooking for just one or two people. Many recipes can be adjusted to smaller batch cooking-this chicken recipe reworked simply for 2 servings.

Chicken Roasted with Pixie Tangerines, Fennel & Pernod | Bijouxs Little Jewels

FENNEL & PERNOD

One of the major flavor notes in this dish is anise, from both the fennel seeds and the intense Pernod liquor. Sautéed Artichokes with Pernod from the blog is a nice way to introduce the liquor to your taste buds.

PIXIE TANGERINES

The sweetness of the tangerines, both juice and the fruit, are perfect counter play against to saltiness of the chicken. The fennel takes on a slightly sweet glaze cooking in the pan along with the Pixies and marinade. Just add some steamed Basmati rice to soak up the wonderful marinade-dinner is served.

Sweet holidays from Bijouxs Little Jewels in the Kitchen.

Disclosure: Melissa’s Produce sent the Ojai Pixie tangerines for recipe development.

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Ada Boni’s Chocolate Cupcakes

Ada Boni’s Chocolate Cupcakes | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Happy Sunday! I bring you an incredible chocolate cake recipe that hits all the marks in today’s food scene: no dairy, no butter, a perfectly vegan cake; oh did I mention the recipe is from Italy in 1929? Amazing cooks, making something from nothing in hardship days-Ada Boni’s Talisman Cake, a true little jewel.

ITALIAN REGIONAL COOKING

This cake popped up on my IG feed a while back-it looked like a mistake, another flawed recipe from the internet. After research I found out that this cake, Ada Boni’s Talisman Cake, is from a 1929 cookbook that was touted at the time as a book to give new brides as a wedding gift. This peaked my interest and down the rabbit whole I went to understand the history of this recipe. Not to my knowledge, I had a copy of Italian Regional Cookbook I picked up for couple bucks at a local thrift shop, also by Ada Boni!. My cookbook collection is out of control.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Back to the cupcakes (cake) recipe. This cake recipe does read like mistake. I was skeptical, but after multiple bakings, each time  comes out fantastic, whether made as a cake or cupcakes. So, dense, so much chocolate, hard to believe recipe. The best thing is the simplicity. Dry ingredients in a bowl, add the wet and orange rind and bake, that’s all, really.

Ada Boni’s Chocolate Cupcakes | Bijouxs Little Jewels

A couple of things, do not over bake or add more than called for orange zest or cinnamon, I went a little overboard one time, not good.I frosted the cupcakes with a rich coconut milk vanilla-bean labne (thick yogurt) whip. I love the tang and it keeps things dairy-free.  Frost with your favorite vanilla frosting, or go crazy and do chocolate, you can’t lose either way.

Ada Boni’s Chocolate Cupcakes | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Ada Boni’s Chocolate Cupcakes | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

HISTORIAL RECIPES

I can’t say enough how much cooking knowledge I have gained from reading from cook’s of the past from all over the world. My cookbook collection is a treasure. Food is universal, something that connects us all.

In creating Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen over 10 years ago, my was goal to bring you the” little jewels” a curated collection of recipes from different time periods and cultures. Now with 500 recipes on the website to search, you will find an abundant collection of eclectic recipes, something for everyone and every meal.

Stay tuned for a new chapter and format for the next ten years. Thank you for being a part of Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen.

No. 500Recipe Card Posted on by — 1 Comment

Bijouxs Featured 805 Living Home Issue

Bijouxs Featured 805 Living Home Issue

Bijouxs Featured 805 Living Home Issue

Merci, Merci again to 805 Living Magazine! Grateful to again be featured in The Home Issue. The central coast is now my new home with fresh grown produce right down the street. My Spice Poached Bananas are included in this month’s issue. On newsstands and online.

THE 805 COMMUNITY

Big thanks to the publishing team at 805 Living for including me in this Spring issue. After working as a home design consultant in Santa Barbara for 6 months, I came to know many of the great food options along the Central coast. The food community is growing.

COASTAL LIVING

The beautiful coastline creates so many opportunities for fresh seafood and a wide variety of produce grown in the many agricultural communities. The sea has influenced many of my new recipes, such as the incredible Hope Ranch Mussels with Fresh Ginger & Thai Basil and classic California Fish Tacos using our local California Rockfish.

SPICED POACHED BANANAS

This featured recipe is a take on classic Bananas Foster from New Orleans. The original recipe was inspired by a recipe from the famous chef Lee Bailey, who was way ahead of all things on food & home styling. I had the chance to take a cooking class with him and have one of his cookbooks signed – very nice memory.

ON THE HORIZON

Wow! This post marks No. 500 on the blog. Stay tuned by signing up for the recipe newsletter, there are new things coming to Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen.