Category: Basics

No. 533Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Montcomb’s Spicy Lentil Soup

Montcomb’s Spicy Lentil Soup | Bijouxs Little Jewels

This soup is thick enough to almost be a stew, a completely satisfying bowl on a chilly rainy night No. 533 in the Collection–Montcomb’s Spicy Lentil Soup– the newest Little Jewel Recipe.

SPICY LENTIL SOUP

I first brought you this recipe many years ago on the blog. It was complete with not so great food photos, early in my food photography days. Since then I have made it for years and just cooked up a pot of soup the other day and I wanted to share the evolution of the recipe.

As I recounted in my first post, the visit to Montcomb’s in Belgravia was magical. “As we descended down the dark, narrow stairs directly off a street in the shiny Belgravia district of London; this was not looking promising. We were there on a quest for a proper meal in London, intrigued, but not hopeful, we reached the bottom of the stairs facing a dark wooden door; down here we were instructed from the pub above, we would find the restaurant. We had come this far, so we guardedly opened the door.”  What commenced is shown here in my original post. Entering this beautiful restaurant, what a surprise. A true story!

Montcomb’s Spicy Lentil Soup | Bijouxs Little Jewels

As far as food memories, this was really a great one. The soup has evolved over the years, with a few changes. I checked and it is no longer on Montcomb’s menu although the restaurant still is going strong. The soup has evolved in my kitchen over the years. The basic ingredients stay the same but I have made the soup a bit chunkier than the original, almost a stew.  I have also a few options noted regarding the sausage and seasonings, see COOK’S NOTES in the recipe.

Cozy up with a bowl of Montcomb’s Spicy Lentil Soup – another Little Jewel from the Collection.

 

 

No. 520Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Crispy Baked Shrimp

Crispy Baked Shrimp | Bijouxs Little Jewels

A take on the retro friend ‘Shake’n Bake’ seasoning goes grain-free and gets amped up with spices–bake up some Crispy Baked Shrimp more Little Jewels from the Kitchen.

CRISPY SHRIMP

Bake don’t fry, let’s keep this recipe easy and healthy. No need to fry these shrimp, they are perfectly crispy baked in the oven with a savory crunchy coating. You could fry these shrimp, but why?

As you can see, a sheet pan works perfect to bake the shrimp to a crispy golden brown.

Crispy Baked Shrimp | Bijouxs Little Jewels

JUMBO TAIL ON SHRIMP

Don’t skimp on the shrimp. Jumbo or Large shrimp tail on are optimal for this recipe. Source your shrimp from your local fish monger where you can ensure the shrimp is fresh and from a sustainable source. 

It’s nice to keep the tail on to hold while you dip the shrimp in your favorite seafood sauce. 

Crispy Baked Shrimp | Bijouxs Little Jewels

SPICY COCKTAIL SAUCE

No need to make your own cocktail sauce. I use a good organic brand and doctor it up with a little Old Bay Seasoning, just the kick a bottled sauce will need.

No. 520 Baked Crispy Shrimp recipes from the Collection Membership. Join for all-access to my 520 recipes. Thank you for your support!

No. 518Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Anyday Buckwheat Scones

Anyday Buckwheat Scones-Bijouxs Little Jewels

It’s simple…bake a batch of Anyday Buckwheat Scones for tea or coffee time. Relaxing is a real Little Jewel, along with recipe No. 518 added to the Membership Collection.

BUCKWHEAT SCONES

I have my classic scone recipe on the website, but I take the path less traveled by including buckwheat flour. Buckwheat, in addition to creating a rustic brown scone, has a nutty-like flavor. The cream in the recipe keeps the scones moist.

Anyday Buckwheat Scones | Anyway Buckwheat Scones

Anyday Buckwheat Scones -Bijouxs Little Jewels

If you have not tried Buckwheat flour do. Despite the name, it not a wheat grain so it is naturally gluten free. I love these Buckwheat Pancakes and Chocolate Chunk Buckwheat Cookies, again a way to cook grain and gluten free.

Scones are often shunned for being of being ‘too dry”. True, many of the scones served out are really dry. These classic scones are adapted from the Art of Simple Food by my food hero Alice Waters. It’s the addition of cream to the batter that helps to create a tender scone.

The real key is to enjoy them warm out of the oven. Serve with Devonshire Cream or Raspberry Preserves, or both.

Anyday baking is a Little Jewel.

 

No. 515Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Small Batch Sheet Pan Eggs

Sheet Pan Eggs | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Morning ready is simple with Small Batch Sheet Pan Eggs, the newest little jewel.

SHEET PAN EGGS

A quick bake the night before assures you of weekday of 4 servings of Small Bath Sheet Pan Eggs, ready to go. I took a full-sheet pan eggs recipe, and reduced the size to serve 4-perfect small family weekday or workweek breakfasts.

Customize the add ins to suite your own tastes. I like using leftover salad, greens, chives, and chunks of Parmesan cheese.

These eggs are easy to prepare the night before. Bake the eggs in the 1/8 sheet pan for about 15 minutes for 4 perfect servings, cover and store in the regrigerator. In the morning remove slices and warm gently in the microwave or low oven.

Sheet Pan Eggs | Bijouxs Little Jewels

GRAB & GO BREAKFAST

The Sheet Pan Egg squares are a great grab and go breakfast. A nice alternative to a slice of toast. They boast a serving of protein and greens all in one convenient square.

Sheet Pan Eggs | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

Small Batch Sheet Pan Eggs another Little Jewel from Bijouxs Membership Collection.

No. 514Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Welcome Bijouxs Collection Membership

Bijouxs Collection Membership

Welcome to change. Since 2009 Bijouxs Little Jewels has been bringing you hundreds of my favorite recipes from my personal collection for free along with ad-free experience. I will continue to provide beautiful & simple recipes for the home cook.

THE COLLECTION MEMBERSHIP

New to the Bijouxs Little Jewels blog is the Membership Collection. The quickly changing world of social media created great changes within the blogging and all content websites. You may have noticed that almost all major websites require a subscription to view their content. This in part is due to the costs to run a blog/website, including fees for servers, and all technical peripherals and needed tech to support a blog/website platform. All of this has made it cost prohibitive to provide you with free recipe content. 

TEN YEARS OF RECIPES

Change is the only thing that is consistent. I have been proud to provide you for over 10 years free content and an ad-free experience. The Bijouxs Membership Collection will continue to bring you access to all 500+ recipes for a small membership fee. It’s $35, the price of a cookbook, for a 1-year subscription.* You also won’t have to go searching for or lug a heavy cookbook in the kitchen. Less clutter and we can save some trees.

BEAUTIFUL FOOD BY DESIGN

To my many loyal readers over the past 10 years, I thank you for your support! I also now thank all of you who subscribe to my independent project. Memberships will ensure the continuation of the Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen as you know it and love it. I will be updating things in the coming weeks.

For now, I thank you all!

*Non-refundable

Still Hungry?