No. 600Recipe Card Posted on Leave a comment

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Spring in the garden heralded by my first artichokes. Inspired, a new recipe for the Collection Membership a crispy Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette. Join and as a member access all 600 recipes.

SPRING IN THE GARDEN

As we all know this Spring weather has been a bit wonky everywhere, hard to plan a garden this year. I have held off on planting my lettuce and herbs, the fog has made it dismal here on the CA Coast. However, my tried & true artichokes mananged to squeek out a few artichokes.

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

ARTICHOKE PANINI

The dreary weather has kept me indoors but I happened on a delighful recipe from Joy’s Once Upon a Thyme featured in Diner’s Driveins and Dives. Joy created a crispy artichoke panini served with the best dressing. They are located in beautiful lush Chehalis Washington.

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

BASIL VINAIGRETTE

Her salad dressing is so much in demand that they sell bottles of it at the restaurant, really. While I do not have her exact recipe, I have come pretty closed by tinkering with the ingredients. The episode on DDD does tell more about the basil dressing, which she says people want to drink, it’s that good. Photo from website.

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Enjoy this crispy Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette. Cheers.

No. 599Recipe Card Posted on Leave a comment

About Bijouxs

About Bijouxs | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

ABOUT BIJOUXS

Welcome to Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen. With many new readers, here’s a little bit about myself and the website. First about the name n.; pl. Bijoux. [F.; of uncertain origin.]  translates  to a  trinket; a jewel; — a word applied to anything small and of elegant workmanship.I try hard to keep Bijouxs elegant and fine workmanship.

I started Bijouxs as a natural evolution of my backgrounds in food and design.  While working as a commercial designer for many years, I always continued my love of cooking and food. It all began when I worked coordinating food and wine aboard a private jet – it has been a non-stop journey with food – you never arrive. Later, I used those years with food as a private chef and also catered parties for my clients. I also  filmed a series of Internet cooking videos for Eat Drink or Die for the show “What’s for Dinner Tonight?”   The videos can be located here to view:

Bijouxs is a culmination of my training and talents from my kitchen to yours. Inspired by classic culinary arts, I strive to keep Bijouxs simple and honest, yet surprising. I know there are many websites devoted to food. My goal is to bring to you one Bijoux at a time which is simple and easy to access. 

LITTLE JEWELS FROM THE KITCHEN

Bijouxs blog is a personal expression of recipes, photographs, and stories from my kitchen. I don’t review or advertise products; I share things I love and am never paid.  I share links to other blogs, websites, etc. but do not exchange links.  I style and photograph all of the Bijouxs blog images and create all of my own cookbooks.  All of the content is subject to copyright, unless otherwise specified. 

THE COLLECTION MEMBERSHIP

I created the Collection Membership  to provide all Members with access to now 600+ curated recipes plus access to all new recipes added monthly. Ad-free and Pop-up free with Print-Friendly recipes. I like to think of it as a portable digital cookbook, no heavy cookbook to lug around and all the recipes are available digitally for you to access while you market or even lay by the pool. The price of $35 yearly is a great value, less than 3 a month for the year and all the recipes. Your membership supports me to keep this a beautiful and distraction free website to browse for recipes. Non of the pesky pop-up ads and tracking tricks.

The recipes have been collected from my travels all over the world with cuisines from Italy, France and of course, Classic Home Style Cooking. There are recipes  for everyone from gluten-free to grain-free to recipes from many different countries so world so you can cook the world.

THE CREATIVE HABIT

My creative routine begins early each morning with a dose of everyday beauty in the form of a visual image that fills my eyes with beauty to carry me through my day – my ‘belle du jour.’ It may be an image from my archive of reference files I have collected over the years working as a designer, an image I have captured myself, or just a beautiful image that catches my eye. Everything is relevant and everything is usable– and it’s also a nice way to start the day. One of my favorite books is The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp. I mentioned it here, back when I first started Bijouxs. Twyla mentions the importance of establishing some rituals–automatic but decisive patterns of behavior at the beginning of a project “when you are most at peril of turning back, chickening out, giving up or going the wrong way.” Oh yea!

Thank you for stopping by and check out all 600+ recipes with new recipes on the way. Cheers!

 

 

No. 598Recipe Card Posted on Leave a comment

Mixed Berry Flaugnarde

Mixed Berry Flaurarde | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Gorgeous fruits are making their appearance everywhere you look, yes, summer is almost here. Mixed Berry Flaugnarde, with a puffy light outer crust with creamy custard filling, could not be simpler – Bijouxs Summer Recipe Collection is here.

SUMMER BERRIES

When summer fruit become the cuisine de rigueur, it’s time for recipes that honor the fruit and are summer easy. These lovely fruits came from the Santa Barbara Farmers Market.

Mixed Berry Flaugnarde | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

RUSTIC FRENCH DESSERT

A tried and true Bijouxs summer recipe is Mixed Berry Flaugnarde, and the best thing it is easier than pie. Many of you may already be familiar with classic clafouti, the delicate French baked custard dessert traditionally made with cherries, but a clafouti is a very flexible dessert. The simple custard mixture also very lovingly envelops other fruits but then it is referred to as a flaugnarde.

Mixed Berry Flaugnarde | Bijouxs Little Jewels
Simple on-hand batter ingredients such as eggs, sugar, milk and flour make a summer fruit find at the farmers market a great dessert in quick time. An easy traveler, the rustic flaugnarde can make its way with you to an event.

MIXED BERRY FLAUGNARDE

Mixed Berry Flaugnarde | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Mixed Berry Flaugnarde | Bijouxs Little Jewels
Bake in traditional round tart/pie pan, a small ovenproof skillet or in square/rectangular tart pans. Served carved into little bites or thin slices, then accompany with or without a scoop of vanilla ice cream or fruit sorbet.

Mixed Berry Flaugnarde – a simple summer dessert for summer’s bounty of fruits a new recipe in the Membership Collection. Join for access to all 598 recipes. Cheers.

 

 

No. 597Recipe Card Posted on Leave a comment

Bijouxs Featured 805 Living May 2025

 

 

805 Living May Issue | Bijouxs Little Jewels
Merci! Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen again featured in 805 Living Magazine. Tis the season of strawberries along the coast. Time for Strawberry everything.

805 LIVING MAGAZINE

805 Living Magazine | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

805 Living Magazine | Bijouxs Little Jewels

A very special thank you to everyone at 805 Living Magazine for featuring Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen. Recipes included are my Everyday Strawberry Jam and  Simple Strawberry Tiramisu. 

Strawberry season is beginning here along the coast and these two recipes are my go to seasonal favorites. What’s better than a peanut butter and jam sandwich made with your own Everyday Strawberry Jam. Tiramisu gets a lighter look using fresh strawberries instead of coffee.

Savor the strawberry flavors of the season and make sure to check out the new digital issue of 805 Living. 

No. 597Recipe Card Posted on Leave a comment

Polenta with Gruyère & Herbs

Polenta with Gruyere & Herbs | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Classic Italian polenta goodness with a French twist on flavor-Polenta with Gruyère & Herbs the newest recipe in my Membership Collection.

LATE SPRING

Polenta is one of most comforting dishes I know. Fine grain cormeal cooked with cheese, butter and herbs, perfect side dish for the late spring chilly weather. Along the coast we only get to see small glimmers of spring. The late rain is bringing fresh green shoots in the garden.

ITALIAN COMFORT FOOD

Polenta is one of the favorite Italian comfort foods. My Mushroom Ragu, the rich no-meat version is delish served a top of creamy polenta. But a pure and simple bowl of polenta makes a wonderful side dish or served with a fresh green vinaigrette salad.

FRENCH HERBS

A little change up to the classic herbs added to the polenta by way of France. Thyme, rosemary and tarragon are personal herb favorites, although feel free to include your own favorites.

Polenta with Gruyere & Herbs | Bijouxs Little Jewels

GRUYÈRE CHEESE

The creamy textures you see in the photos are creamy strands of melting Gruyère cheese, adding a richness to the polenta. Gruyere is my cheese of choice for Instant Pot Canyon Bistro French Onion Soup, a classic recipe. This creamy polenta makes a great side for grilled meats or fish or as a base for your favorite pasta sauce.

Feel a little French today with Polenta with Gruyère & Herbs No. 597 from the Membership Collection. Thank you to all my new and loyal members!