It’s summer, the season to jet off to tour a charming estate in Tuscany, join me, lunch will be served on the terrace, a Perfect Pairing. Continue reading Perfect Pairing | Tuscany
Category: Categories
Blackberries in Liqueur
Mid-July – the quintessential Dog Days of Summer. Time to simply savor the little jewels of summer with Blackberries in Liqueur.
Summer in the desert Southwest – here, summer is my new winter. Hunkering down inside whenever possible. Waiting out fast moving summer storms of pouring rain with the most spectacular lighting I have ever seen. Overall, a time spent inward.
I have long referred to this hot period of summer, where ever I resided, as the Dog Days of Summer. However, I did not know the Dog Days range from about July 3 to August 11 and were named in early times by observers in countries bordering the Mediterranean, the period was extended from 20 days before to 20 days after the conjunction of Sirius (the dog star) and the sun. Brilliant.
So perfectly beautiful are the berries of summer. This recipe is as easy as it gets for a grown-up treat. Marinating ripe summer fruits in liqueurs is a classic method (think peaches or cherries in brandy) and this recipe yields both a dessert or an apéritif, or both.
These blackberries have long been a go-to when baskets of ripe berries abound, lovely for an entertaining no-work dessert with ice cream or simple sponge cake. The berries can also work their magic as an apéritif, making a great base for a refreshing summer cocktail – either way, savor the jewels of summer.
Happy July from the Bijouxs kitchen.
Chicken alla Cacciatora
Big Night cooking…it’s all about the sauce. Chicken alla Cacciatora, yes, an old school classic, a simple, family-style way with a chicken. Bijouxs la dolce vita!
One of my favorite food movies is “Big Night” and I can’t help but think of it whenever I cook a family favorite, Chicken alla Cacciatora (chicken in honor of the hunter’s wife). Leave it to the Italians to create the most fabulously simple food and this recipe is no exception. What you will need is a chicken, an onion, garlic, a can of tomatoes and oh, yes of course a bit of white wine. Result? A tender stew with fall-off-the-bone chicken, plus a healthy serving of sauce to embellish rice or pasta. Simple right?
Cooking from the heart and memory is a joy. You might have grown up with a version of the dish too. This is a flexible recipe, that is, I adjust the oil needed based on the size of onion, adjust garlic to taste, etc. The technique works with other meats as well to create a substantial sauce for Sunday night. With only a 45-minute stovetop stew, a budget chicken becomes a memorable, family-style meal, sending off an aroma throughout the house that just begs the pot to be opened and tasted.
I serve Chicken alla Cacciatora family style on a large platter, extra sauce on the side, and a bowl of fluffy white rice with fresh parsley. Of course, this dish is even better reheated the next day, if you can wait.
Wishing you a big night from the Bijouxs.
LA-Style Granola
LA style – beautifully bronzed, bursting with health, and full of vital crunch, that is how I describe my favorite granola, one that captures for me an essence of iconic LA food. A simple little jewel for breakfast from the Bijouxs kitchen. Continue reading LA-Style Granola
Pork Chops alla Milanese
Oh, fickle February – yesterday you were sunny and warm, and today you are blustery with rain – a perfect day to tuck in with a warm, comforting meal. In the new kitchen I am relying on simple little jewels from the collection – supermarket friendly, quick and easy on the budget. Pork Chops alla Milanese – rustic simplicity, always a little jewel. Continue reading Pork Chops alla Milanese
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