Category: Vegetarian

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Creamy Asparagus Avocado Soup

 

Creamy Asparagus Avocado Soup | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Simple soups–comfort in a bowl at lunch or dinner, always a little jewel.

SIMPLE SOUPS

The beauty of this soup are the fresh green vegetables blended with avocado into a nourishing bowl of rich, green soup. I have been making simple puréed soups for years. The basic technique is to short cook the vegetables, along with some herbs, add a generous amount of stock and simmer. Once the vegetables are tender allow the soup to cool and puree in the blender. Voila, soup is served.

Creamy Asparagus Avocado Soup |Bijouxs Little Jewels

RECIPE COLLECTION

Here are 5 simple soup recipes from my Recipe Collection Membership, they include Celery & Almond Soup, Spinach & Basil Soup, Spicy Thai Carrot, Potato Leek, and Balthazar Creamy Mushroom Soup. With over 500+ recipes to choose from by joining the Collection Membership it’s a great value to add your everyday cooking. Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen thanks you.

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Raw Asparagus, Walnut, Lemon & Romano Cheese Salad

Raw Asparagus, Walnut, Lemon & Romano Cheese Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Raw salads are high on my list of favorite salads. Here’s my take on a raw asparagus salad that makes the most of Spring.

CHOPPED SALADS

Chopped salads are a classic in the culinary world. Think of the all-time classic the La Scala Chopped Salad. I used to swing by the La Scala Boutique, and grab the famous chopped salad after visiting the design center. Almost any salad can become a chopped salad. I frequently chop my salads for ease of eating. I loved the Raw Asparagus Salad with Breadcrumbs, Walnuts, and Mint from Joseph McFadden, A New Way with Vegetables. Beautiful. Every chef sees different things in every recipe. I saw a chance to turn this into a chopped salad, call me crazy. This salad is anchored by the very small and thin slices of raw asparagus. Toasted walnuts and bread crumbs add some crunch along with fresh mint leaves.

Raw Asparagus, Walnut, Lemon & Romano Cheese Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

PRESERVED LEMON PASTE

Lemon is the key addition to the salad, as both fresh juice and preserved lemon paste. When combined in the salad along with the olive oil, a bright somewhat acidic dressing is created. It adds the punch to the salad to counter the bread crumbs and walnuts. Start small when adding the lemon paste, it can be quite strong for some. I like to make my own Preserved Lemon Spread using some of my on hand preserved lemons always in the fridge. (see recipe)

Raw Asparagus, Walnut, Lemon & Romano Cheese Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

SPRING SALADS

Every chance I get I add another Spring salad to the Collection. Current favorites are Farmer’s Market Sunny Salad, Victory Garden Salad, Yoga Pants Salad, On-Hand Panzanella and my Market Basket Summer Salad for just a few. Please enjoy these and of course the Raw Asparagus, Walnut, Lemon & Romano Cheese Salad  No. 544 from the Membership Collection.

 

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Bijouxs Niçoise Sandwich

Niçoise Sandwich | Bijouxs Little Jewels

The classic French Niçoise salad is reimagined as a sandwich- Bijouxs Niçoise Sandwich, another little jewel from the Recipe Collection.

CLASSIC FRENCH LUNCH

A Niçoise salad usually includes tuna, eggs, potatoes, green beans, which are all perfect for a salad. Reinventing the classic salad into a sandwich included some changes. I wanted the sandwich a lighter version, yet packed with Provençal flavors.

Niçoise Sandwich | Bijouxs Little Jewels

BIJOUXS NIÇOISE SANDWICH

I captured the my favorite elements of the salad and created the sandwich of my dreams. Ripe tomatoes, rich olive tapenade, capers, the ‘of course’ anchovy fillet, and fresh basil all topped with balsamic vinegar & olive oil – très bien.

I like to marinate the tomatoes first using the anchovy fillets and onion in the balsamic vinegar for a few minutes to impart flavor into the tomatoes, and create a lovely sauce to add to the sandwich.

Placing the ingredients on the baguette and rolling up tight in parchment paper. Place a weight on top to press the sandwich so the flavors can absorb for about 30 minutes.

Niçoise Sandwich | Bijouxs Little Jewels

A French lunch is served. Pack along with picnics and beach days. Bijouxs Niçoise Sandwich another Little Jewel from the Recipe Membership Collection.

 

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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.

 

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Stir-Fry Mushroom Larb

Stir-Fry Mushroom Larb | Bijouxs Little Jewels

You will love this plant-based take on Larb, the classic Thai spicy salad. Traditional with ground meat but here the mushrooms are the stars in Stir-Fry Mushroom Larb, another Little Jewel from the Kitchen.

THAI LARB GAI

Thai Larb Gai Salad is a tangy and spicy salad with ground meat, cucumber, radishes and herbs. Often Served with lettuce wraps for a refreshing meal.

THAI FOOD

I came to love this dish at a local Thai restaurant near my home, where the fish cakes were stellar! I share them here on my blog. The chef and his wife cooked and ran the tiny eatery, I was so sad when they shuttered. Many times the chef allowed me into the kitchen to see how they prepared the dishes. When I entered the restaurant they began making my favorite dishes. Such beautiful people.

SHITAKI MUSHROOMS

The real “meat” in this recipe are the dense Shitaki mushrooms. When they are crisp and brown they take on a substational part of the recipe. Traditional Larb ingredients such as mint, peanuts, ginger, garlic and fish sauce complete the dish. Stir-fry is a quick way to develop intense flavors in a recipe.

Stir-Fry Mushroom Larb | Bijouxs Little Jewels

BON APPETIT

Stir-Fry Mushroom Larb | Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen

This stellar recipe was adapted from Bon Appetit Chef Andy Baraghani. His flavors are beautifully balanced and perfect for today’s appetites. His cookbook looks like one to add to my library. Ha, just what I need another cookbook! I was happy to see some of his recipes are available on his website, check it out.

Stir-Fry Mushroom Larb join here to access all 538 Recipes in the Collection.

 

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