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Baked Fish with Almonds

Baked Fish with Almonds | Bijouxs Little Jewels

An exotic sounding recipe but actually this a simple bake for fresh white fish, baked with a sweet & spiced almond crust and resting on a bed of thinly sliced onions. The flavors are similar to classic Bastilla, via a take on a recipe by Paula Wolfert. Baked Fish with Almonds, the latest Little Jewel recipe in the Membership Collection.

PAULA WOLFERT

Here’s my food story. To begin, the origin of the recipe is from Paula Wolfert in ‘Couscous and Other Good Food from Morocco’. As I mentioned, I was soooo lucky as a young girl to attend a cooking class taught by Paula Wolfert, there I came to love Moroccan cuisine. Cooking from her books is a travel lesson on food.

FIRST WE SURF

Now the next part of my story. After recently moving to the beach town of Ventura, I met Steve Walden the iconic long-board surfer here in town. He connected me to Jim Kempton, a fellow surfer and author of the cookbook First We Surf Then We Eat. I purchased the book and came across the recipe for Baked Fish with Almond Sauce, attributed to Paula Wolfert. Familiar…back my mind went to my long ago cooking class, funny how so many things in life connect.

BAKED FISH WITH ALMONDS

This version of the recipe comes from the fishing village of Safi, the best waves in Morocco. It was adapted and inluded in the First We Surf Cookbook. The recipes, both the orginal and adapted are winners. The almond sauce bakes into a rich crust atop the mild white fish. The fish is baked on a bed of onions along with some water to keep the fish from drying out. The onions and pan sauce are additions to serve with the fish, along with couscous and a simple cabbage salad.

Moroccan cuisine, a Little Jewel from the Kitchen.

 

No. 576Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Spaghetti Forte with Ligurian Olives

Spaghetti Forte with Ligurian Olives | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Spicy food is a culinary tradition in hot, arid countries and LA has been no stranger to the heat. What to do about dinner always remains an ongoing question. Spaghetti Forte with Ligurian Olives, just as the name suggests, is a very strong pasta-just in time.

FOODS OF TUSCANY

There are some very special ingredients at play this version of the recipe. Simple yes, but with very intense flavors that begin with Ligurian Olives from the hills of the Italian Riviera. Both black and green olives are packed in brine along with pure mineral salt. The olives create a rich black color for the sauce, with a taste almost akin to salty caviar.

 

Spaghetti Forte with Ligurian Olives | Bijouxs Little Jewels

The Taggiasca Ligurian olives (to be exact), are mixed with capers, garlic and anchovy to coat strands of another special Tuscan local ingredient addition, Ancient Tuscan Grain Spaghettoni.

ANCIENT TUSCAN GRAINS

Spaghetti Forte with Ligurian Olives | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Spaghetti Forte with Ligurian Olives | Bijouxs Little Jewels

These Tuscan Ancient Organic grains are farmed, milled and bronzed but all within 4 miles, keeping this a very local and closed loop product. I discovered these grains online and it is a more ‘toothsome” pasta, similiar to our whole wheat. A special Bronze Extrusion process is used that gives the pasta a rougher surface texture. This allows the sauce to really attach to the pasta, making every bite a flavorful experience. This pasta stands up to the assertive flavors of olives, garlic and capers of the sauce.
Spaghetti Forte with Ligurian Olives | Bijouxs Little Jewels
Just add little jewels of red pepper flakes – a plate of intense flavor to counter that spicy craving.
Stay Strong!

 

No. 575Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Spiced Winter Oats with Fruits & Nuts

Spiced Winter Oats with Fruits & Nuts | Bijouxs Little Jewels

During the dark days of Winter, which seem to be dragging on endlessly, comes a bowl of Spiced Winter Oats with Fruits & Nuts – the newest Little Jewel Recipe added to the Collection Membership.

WINTER SPICE MIX

I have been circling around the house avoiding the foggy days here on the Central Coast. My comforts included the bowl of Spiced Winter Oats with Fruits & Nuts, enjoyed anytime of day. Begin by make the Warming Winter Spice mix. You will use this for more than these oats, sprinkle on buttered toast, or add to your yogurt bowls. The Spice Mix is inspired from one I purchased long ago in San Francisco from March SF. The store is lovely, do check it out. I set out to recreate this spice and I think I got very close. A blend of cinnamon, allspice, anise and black pepper combine for peppery-warm mix.
Spiced Winter Oats with Fruits & Nuts | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

STEEL CUT OATS

I decided on Steel Cut Oats which are simmered with a touch of tahini and the spice blend. These two ingredients are what make this oatmeal special.  Water is added and the oats are cook to the desired level of creaminess. The oats are spooned into bowls, adding dried fruit such as raisins, and sweet papaya (my personal favorite, feel free to used dried) along with nuts such as pistachios and hazelnuts.
Spiced Winter Oats with Fruits & Nuts | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Spiced Winter Oats with Fruits & Nuts | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Spiced Winter Oats with Fruits & Nuts | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

WARMING BOWL OF OATS

To finish top add a few spoonfuls of warm vanilla almond ‘malk’ and a drizzle of Maple syrup.  The recipe is adaptable, use your favorite nuts and dried fruits. Savor Spiced Winter Oats with Fruits & Nuts, a new winter little Jewel from Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen.

 

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Green Goddess Salad with Crunchy Granola

Green Goddess Salad with Crunchy Granola | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Green Goddess Salad with Crunchy Granola is a light and lovely salad with the surprise crunch from seeded granola. Salads are always a little jewel from the Bijouxs Recipe Membership.

GREEN GODDESS

Salads are at the top of my list for meal-makers and starters. I am always keeping my eyes out for new ways with the salad bowl.

This salad is a fresh take on the Green Goddess salad, with a much lighter than usual green dressing. I enjoy the fresh herbs, avocado oil and Dijon mustard that join for the dressing. I used Little Gem lettuce a favorite, along with leaves of red radicchio for color & flavor.

Green Goddess Salad with Crunchy Granola | Bijouxs Little Jewels

CRUNCHY SEEDED GRANOLA

The surprise here is a crunchy granola topping in lieu of the usual croutons. A simple seeded granola is baked with seeds; pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds and rolled oats. Spiced with red chili flakes and honey for a sweet-spicy kick.

Green Goddess Salad with Crunchy Granola |Bijouxs Little Jewels

Simply Beautiful Food for the home cook by Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen.

 

 

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Superfood Bircher Muesli

Superfood Bircher Muesli | Bijouxs Little Jewels

A beautiful bowl awaits you for breakfast with Superfood Bircher Muesli. Join me for a healthy start to New Year 2025 Year with Superfood Bircher Muesli from Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen.

OVERNIGHT BREAKFAST

This simple prep overnight muesli just needs a few more ingredients than my original Overnight Muesli. The good news is that you prepare a dry mix bulk jar, which makes serving it any day of the week a breeze.

This is a super-seed recipe that includes flax, sesame, sunflower, chia, pumpkin and hemp seeds balanced with cacao nibs, raisins and mango-a Superfood Bircher Muesli. I like to add frozen wild blueberries to mine, but any fresh fruit will be great.

Superfood Bircher Muesli | Bijouxs Little Jewels

BIRCHER MUESLI HISTORY

Some of you may know Bircher Muesli recipe is actually over 100 years old developed by a Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner for his patients. It actually goes by many names and is the foundation of the overnight oats craze. Although it is traditionally made with oats, which are grains, this recipe uses a mixture of seeds to create a perfectly satisfying alternative to grains like my LA-Style Granola Take 2.

Superfood Bircher Muesli | Bijouxs Little Jewels

I stumbled on this recipe because who would not want to try Flat Tummy Burcha? The seeds aid in digestion and it is a very satisfying breakfast bowl. If you notice there are no grains or dairy making it lectin and dairy-free. The seeds act as the base of the cereal soaking overnight in almond milk and flavored with a bit of coconut milk yogurt-this breakfast is a win. Get 2025 healthy with Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen.

 

 

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