Close to home. The first thing you notice walking up the familiar drive is that the apple tree is beginning to lose its leaves, a dog runs up to greet you and as you make the climb up the stairs to the front porch the sound of voices drifts out of the open kitchen door, you enter, the screen door squeaks as it lazily closes behind you, then the smell of freshly baked biscuits hits your senses, Southern biscuits, a Bijouxs that brings you close to home. Continue reading Big Sur Biscuits
Pizza is in the house! Post holiday delights created this creamy flavor-packed Pizza with Truffle Burrata & Pesto, another little jewel from the kitchen. Continue reading Pizza with Truffle Burrata & Pesto
Everybody’s favorite Italian bread focaccia, gets a makeover–spiced with Za’atar, sesame seeds and olive oil. Simple bread baking is a little jewel. Continue reading Za’atar Focaccia
A grilled cheese sandwich remains a classic little jewel in the kitchen, but a thick slice of brioche toast with melting cheddar cheese, topped with a sweet-savory apple mostarda is a new little jewel to savor.
There are many ‘toast’ recipes out there, you know the avocado kind. This toast version takes the favorite grilled cheese in a new direction. The inspiration for the flavors of this sandwich comes from apple pie topped with cheddar cheese, a classic. Here a buttery slice of brioche bread is topped with a tart goat cheddar, put under the broiler, then topped with sweet-savory apple mostarda, think chutney. A buttery-rich sandwich to love.
Mostarda is a typical condiment of Northern Italy, usually made by caramelizing fruit with sugar and mustard. These condiments are great accompanying roasts and on the cheese plate. The most famous mostarda recipe is the one from Cremona, made with figs and pears known as Mostarda di Mele, which is widely available online, and also combined with many types of fruits. I discovered a mostarda recipe in one of my favorite cookbooks and restaurants in L.A. Apples and rosemary lead the flavor profile, since I was gifted a bounty of apples a mostarda made sense. This condiment is delicious, versatile and simple to prepare.
After discovering I could make a wonderful tea sandwich loaf via the pro Nancy Silverton, I though I’d try her brioche, also in a favorite cookbook. I baked the brioche in my pullman pan that I used to bake her Tea Sandwich Loaf. The bread was lovely, although my oven has hot spots and uneven heating which makes it a challenge not to over-bake.
Whether you bake your own bread or pick up a wonderful loaf from the bakery, this sandwich topped with the Apple Mostarda is a little jewel. Stay well.
Back to the basics here in the Bijouxs Kitchen. What is a nicer morning start or tea time treat during this gloomy winter than toast and butter? Let’s try Olive Oil Butter on freshly baked Tea Sandwich Loaf. Basics are Little Jewels in the Kitchen. Continue reading Bijouxs Basics: Olive Oil Butter & Toast
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