Category: Side Dish

No. 559Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Slow Roasted Cherry Tomato & Basil Sauce

SLOW ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Life is a bowl full of cherries, cherry tomatoes that is. Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Basil savoring the little jewels of Summer.

THE MENU

Nearing the end of summer the tomato plants give it one last go, producing the last of the tomatoes in the blistering September heat. Even along the coast the sun has been pounding down on the garden and the tomatoes are going crazy. Time to pull out all my tomato recipes.

Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Basil | Bijouxs Little Jewels

SLOW ROASTING

We know what slow roasting can do for vegetables, it works the same magic on cherry tomatoes. The slow temp coaxes out the sugary sweetness of the fruit. It takes a bit of time but worth every minute, producing cherry tomatoes perfect for sauces, pasta dishes and of course this lovely to add to your Charcuterie platter.

Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Basil | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

BASIL SAUCE

Another end of season crop is basil, and fresh basil creates this simple sauce to bathe the tomatoes in, plus it is very easy to make. Serving the tomatoes with sauce creates a perfect vehicle to dip sliced bread in then top with a tomato.

Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Basil | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Basil | Bijouxs Litle Jewels

 

BEAUTIFUL FOOD BY DESIGN

Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Basil | Bijoux Little Jewels

 

My Bijouxs mantra BEAUTIFUL FOOD BY DESIGN. Cooking at home with all the everyday beauty all around us, right in our kitchens. Cheers.

 

 

No. 556Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Gazpacho Millet Bowl

Gazpacho Millet Bowl | Bijouxs Little Jewels

The flavors in the classic Spanish cold soup Gazpacho are inspired in my Gazpacho Millet Bowl-a bowl to love this summer from the Bijouxs Collection Membership Recipe No. 556.

SUMMER SIMPLE

The Summer heat just calls out for the cooling flavors in gazpacho soup an uncooked mixture of tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, water, vinegar, onions, cucumbers, and green peppers. Usually thickened with bread crumbs but this recipe uses the seed  millet to create a summer bowl for your table.

GAZPACHO

Gazpacho is cold soup of the Spanish cuisine, especially that of Andalusia. It is an ancient dish mentioned in Greek and Roman literature however the main ingredients of the modern version, tomatoes and green peppers, were brought to Spain from the New World only in the 16th century. Who knew?

GAZPACHO MILLET BOWL

Since Spanish cookbooks do classify gazpacho as a salad, this bowl is a perfect spot-on recipe. Tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, along with a tomato flavor-infused millet make up the salad. Adding tomato paste to the millet cooking water amps up the flavor. I enjoy using grain-free products such as Millet and cooking the millet in the microwave is inspired from Alton Brown’s recipe.

Gazpacho Millet Bowl | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Gazpacho Millet Bowl No. 556 in the Collection Membership. Join to receive full access to all 556 recipes.

 

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Bijouxs Basics: Asian Style Broccolini

Bijouxs Basics: Asian Style Broccolini | Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen

Gently steamed broccolini is bathed in peppery garlic olive oil and finished with Tamari Sauce–another Bijouxs Basics, Beautiful Food by Design.

BROCCOLINI

A little background. The small florets of this variety were developed in Japan and is a hybrid of broccoli and gai lan. It was created to be mild with a slim edible stem.  Which it does and “she” does take a pretty picture.

Bijouxs Basics: Asian Style Broccolini | Bijouxs Litle Jewels

I love broccolini and it appears in my recipes in a Millet Basil salad and a classic Rotini Bake. This recipe Asian Style Broccolini, is my go-to on many week nights. It makes a great side for a simple grilled fish or along with steamed rice. It also makes a perfectly acceptable take-along side for a picnic. Many renditions of Asian Broccolini recipes abound so feel free to take this Bijouxs Basics recipe and expand; I have enjoyed the additions of fresh ginger and sesame oil.

TAMARI VS SOY SAUCE

When I first began my chef business I needed to learn the difference between tamari vs soy sauce. Here is the short version:  Tamari is made from soy and rice and has a longer fermentation than soy sauce.  It is slightly richer and darker and many times my preferred sauce when soy is required in a recipe. However, I have also been using Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, my everyday lighter substitute for soy sauce, it is non-gmo, gluten-free and vegan, total winner.

Bijouxs Basics: Asian Style Broccolini is always a Little Jewel from the Kitchen.

 

No. 534Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Green Olive, Celery & Parsley Salad

Green Olive, Celery & Parsley Salad |Bijouxs Little Jewels

Today I share a fresh winter salad that brings together bright lemon, crispy celery, buttery olives & fresh Italian parsley all winter produce available–No. 534 Green Olive, Celery & Parsley Salad a recipe for the Membership Cookbook Collection.

WINTER SALADS

We all crave the warm sunny days of Summer, but we have to get through Winter first, then Spring can open the door. Salads are a great way to keep freshness and brightness in the dark days of winter. There are many salads in the Membership Cookbook Collection to choose from with the convenient search “salads”.

PANTRY RECIPES

I love pantry recipes, they make life in the kitchen easier. This salad/condiment makes use of many on-hand ingredients in your pantry. I always keep jars of olives handy and the green Castelvetrano olives from Sicily are a favorite. They have a rich buttery taste, easily available in the supers. Celery is always on hand for snacks. Italian parsley, easy to find and even easier to grow, I have a bumper crop!

I have always loved the books from the Canal House Series, I think I have them all. The food style and photography feels much like my own. Simple beautiful food for the home cook. The Pronto Cooking is a favorite. Simple recipes to love and where I adapted this recipe. The orginal recipe calls for fennel, but my on-hand peeled celery delivered the same crunch.

Green Olive, Celery & Parsley Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

CITRUS SEASON

Late November is the start of citrus season along the Cali coast. Here in California we really do mark our calendars for the citrus to arrive. This salad uses the pulp of the lemon to create the bright fresh dressing for the salad. Seedless lemons, found at Trader Joes, are perfect, they made is so easy supreme the sections used for the dressing. Supreme means removing the bitter peel and pith and removing the membranes around each segment so the juicy flesh is exposed. It’s often seen when citrus is added to fruit salads or used as a garnish.

Green Olive, Celery & Parsley Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

SALAD VERSATILITY

Green Olive, Celery & Parsley Salad of course makes a light side salad along any main course and a great topper for grilled fish. Some other ideas to for the salad include tossing with noodles or pasta for a on-the-go lunch salad or top your avocado toast for a change.
Small plate salads on hand are always a treat served alongside almost any meal. I like to keep a variety of small plate salads on the ready to serve with cocktails, as an appetizer or a meal side option.

 

Green Olive, Celery & Parsley Salad, another little jewel added to the growing Recipe Membership Cookbook.

 

No. 470Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Jamie’s Greenhouse Couscous

Jamie’s Grenhouse Couscous | Bijouxs Little Jewels

I was born craving summer. I know it is winter here in Southern California, but by the shore on many days the sun still burns bright.  Now craving a winter picnic that includes a perfect portable salad. Here is my version of Greenhouse Couscous Salad–a summer jewel in winter. Continue reading Jamie’s Greenhouse Couscous

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