Category: Cheese

No. 616Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Pesto Stuffed Shells with Truffle Marinara Sauce

Pesto Stuffed Shells with Truffle Marinara Sauce | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Large pasta shells stuffed with basil pesto and baked in a Truffle Marinara sauce, easy dinner Italian elegance-Pesto Stuffed Shells with Truffle Marinara Sauce from the Membership Collection.

SHELL PASTA

The large shell pasta is perfect for stuffing. I like the simplicity of stuffing the shells with pesto, it makes the recipe easy to prepare. I also like the lighter take on this pasta dish, not loading up on a heavy cheese stuffing.

STORE BROUGHT INGREDIENTS

The key to the simplicity of the recipe is that you are using store-bought pantry items for the bulk of the recipe. Jarred marinara sauce, ready made pesto, and grated cheeses are easily pick up on the way home.

STAUB GRATIN

Consider this an investment piece in the kitchen you will use over and over again. You have seen it many of my recipe photographs, it really is a little jewel. Mine was a limited color Jenni Kayne color, but the new Grenadine color is lovely.

Pesto Stuffed Shells with Truffle Marinara Sauce | Bijouxs Little Jewels

DINNER IS SERVED

This simple pasta dish makes a dinner alongside a green salad and toasty garlic bread if desired.

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Kale, Feta and Dill Salad

Kale, Feta and Dill Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Simple, fresh ingredients are what make this salad a bright addition to your table, No.614 Kale, Feta and Dill Salad from the Membership Collection.I know a kale salad, bla-bla, but not this one is anything but boring with its super-fresh lemony kick with salty-creamy feta and bright fresh herbs.

LOVE LEMON & OLIVE OIL

As if I needed another cookbook, this image is just a small representation of my vast cookbook collection. This recipe is from Lemon Love and Olive Oil from Mina Stone. I love the Greek influence in the recipes. The ingredients meld perfect with my SoCal roots. A beautiful book to add to your library.

Kale, Feta and Dill Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

LACINATO KALE

The kale of choice for this recipe is Italian Lacinato Kale, the chlorophyl-dense dark green leaves are a perfect foil for the fresh lemon, creamy feta cheese and crunch from toasted pumpkin seeds. It also goes by the name Dinosaur Kale due the rough texture of the leaves.

KALE SALAD

Yes, we do need another kale salad, so do not pass on this one. I have adapted this salad from the new Mina Stone cookbook. As you can see this simple salad is bursting with fresh flavor, the perfect weekday lunch or dinner side salad. No boring salads here.

Kale, Feta and Dill Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

THE MEMBERSHIP COLLECTION

Kale, Feta and Dill Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Be sure to check out my Collection Membership-less than $3 a month for over 614 recipes, with beautiful photography, full recipes and NO ADS or POPUPS! I think it’s pretty groovy. Distraction free cooking, plus access all the recipes right from your phone when you are shopping, perfect. I designed the collection for all of us who cook at home.

Please enjoy!

 

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Polenta with Gruyère & Herbs

Polenta with Gruyere & Herbs | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Classic Italian polenta goodness with a French twist on flavor-Polenta with Gruyère & Herbs the newest recipe in my Membership Collection.

LATE SPRING

Polenta is one of most comforting dishes I know. Fine grain cormeal cooked with cheese, butter and herbs, perfect side dish for the late spring chilly weather. Along the coast we only get to see small glimmers of spring. The late rain is bringing fresh green shoots in the garden.

ITALIAN COMFORT FOOD

Polenta is one of the favorite Italian comfort foods. My Mushroom Ragu, the rich no-meat version is delish served a top of creamy polenta. But a pure and simple bowl of polenta makes a wonderful side dish or served with a fresh green vinaigrette salad.

FRENCH HERBS

A little change up to the classic herbs added to the polenta by way of France. Thyme, rosemary and tarragon are personal herb favorites, although feel free to include your own favorites.

Polenta with Gruyere & Herbs | Bijouxs Little Jewels

GRUYÈRE CHEESE

The creamy textures you see in the photos are creamy strands of melting Gruyère cheese, adding a richness to the polenta. Gruyere is my cheese of choice for Instant Pot Canyon Bistro French Onion Soup, a classic recipe. This creamy polenta makes a great side for grilled meats or fish or as a base for your favorite pasta sauce.

Feel a little French today with Polenta with Gruyère & Herbs No. 597 from the Membership Collection. Thank you to all my new and loyal members!

 

 

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Daily Quiche

Daily Quiche | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Daily rotating quiche are served with a side of Shu farms market greens, simple and yet profoundly classic. The Daily Quiche is a perfect example of farm fresh ingredients used from local growers to create the menu at Sqirl Los Angeles. When I moved back to LA this was one of the first restaurants I sought out.

SQIRL RESTAURANT

Opened in 2011, this restaurant has created creative recipes using local ingredients. I loved the food and have enjoyed the cookbook from which this recipe is brought to us. I posed a jam recipe, and I actually had met Jessica very early on when she sold her jams at the Altadena Farmer’s Market. So good, I knew more what destined for her. She can take basic ingredients and make them special, like her thick buttery toast with Seedless Blackberry Cardamom Jam. So good.

DAILY QUICHE

No, you do not need to make this quiche daily, but at the restaurant they do. They mix up the ingredients for variety, however this take with spinach, garlic, shallots, feta cheese in a lush creamy filling is my choice. There is a nice balance of the rich filling to vegetables and herbs. The crust is buttery and substantial. Using local farm raised eggs from a local source is my choice. The eggs are from chicks right down the street from me-perfect.

Daily Quiche | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Daily Quiche: Bijouxs Little Jewels

Daily Quiche | Bijouxs Little Jewels

LOCAL EGGS

Daily Quiche | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Now that I am up in Ventura by the beach, I was so happy to find local eggs, right down the street from me. They are great, roaming free in the back yard.
Contact 805-258-8883 only if you want order, purchase and pickup. Thank you.

 

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Santa Fe Salad

Santa Fe Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Today I am recreating a favorite restaurant salad–Cheesecake Factory Santa Fe Salad another Little Jewel from the Kitchen.

CHEESECAKE FACTORY

Beginning in Beverly Hills in 1978 (wow) starting with just cheesecake then expanding to a full menu, the restaurant chain has thrived over the years. Of course the cheesecake is great, however one of their salads has remained a favorite-the Santa Fe Salad. Although the menu is a throw back to the 80’s, the food is still great.

SANTA FE SALAD MEMORIES

It may seem a bit dated, but this salad has a taste combination that remains flavor relevant. Fond memories of getting lunch with my bestie at my home in Pasadena. Sadly she has passed, but enjoying the salad reminds me of her. The core ingredients of the salad are simple, roasted chicken if desired, grilled fresh corn, black beans, tortilla strips and Romaine lettuce, but the dressing(s) are the KEY. Tossed with a Spicy Peanut-Cilantro Vinaigrette which is so yummy I like spike it flavor up with the addition of a side of their Peanut Sauce which I always order.

Santa Fe Salad | Bijouxs Litle Jewels

 

SANTA FE SALAD AT HOME

Now that the Cheesecake Factory is just not down the street, I took a try at making the salad myself, knowing the salad dressings would be the key. Yes there are a few components to the salad, however you can make the dressings ahead and store in the refrigerator. Of course, I searched around the internet and found a few versions of the salad recipe. Guess I’m not the only one who craves this salad. I came pretty close with my sleuthing and tinkering to try to get the flavors correct. The peanut sauce is not exact yet, but close. I serve the salad without the chicken, which is how I order it.

Santa Fe Salad

Food memories are always a Little Jewel.

 

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