The gray days of late winter are all about California’s fickle weather. Today it’s rainy and cold, even snow on our local mountains. Staying present my senses are telling me soup. Classic tomato soup takes on a Italian profile–Roasted Heirloom Tomato Soup with Parmesan Toast is a comforting little jewel. Continue reading Roasted Heirloom Tomato Soup & Parmesan Toast
Category: Garlic
Healthy Black Bean Tacos
Craving healthy tacos? I have got you covered here is the recipe, craving fulfilled. Healthy Black Bean Tacos come together in a flash and are an economical weeknight meal. Eating healthy is always a little jewel. Continue reading Healthy Black Bean Tacos
Bijouxs Basics: Shallot & Garlic Confit
Back to basics here in the Bijouxs Kitchen. Classic recipes that comfort the soul. Beautiful, simple food from our kitchens–Bijouxs Basics: Shallot & Garlic Confit. Continue reading Bijouxs Basics: Shallot & Garlic Confit
Fennel Fronds Pesto
Fresh Fennel is a little jewel to include in your garden. The fragrant green fronds create a rich green pesto, another little jewel from the Bijouxs kitchen.
FENNEL IN THE GARDEN
I have always included fennel in my gardens, even now in my tiny garden at my bungalow up the Central Coast. I was gifted a large fennel plant from a neighbor’s garden. Fennel bulbs multiple, so my neighbors dug up a large clump of bulbs to share. Turns out fennel is fussy about a transplant, there is a long tap root and you really have to keep if watered during its adjustment time. I cut back the fronds and planted in rich planting mix, after a few months my fennel is thriving.
FENNEL IN THE KITCHEN
I have used the bulbs in a variety of recipes, cooked and raw in salads. Fennel has a mild anise/licorice taste. You will see many times fennel a part of Italian cuisine. The bulbs can be braised, with cream and cheese, also roasted and put into salads and pasta. One of my favorites is this Blood Orange, Fennel & Radicchio Salad. Thinly sliced fennel adds the crisp crunch to the beautiful salad made colorful with rich hues from Blood Oranges.
FENNEL PESTO
So, what to do with all the luxuriant fronds that accompany the fennel plant? What came to mind was a pesto, which I have made with greens other than basil. After a checking the internet I discovered that you can basically just substitute fennel fronds in place of the basil-so simple. Many times, if I do not have pine nuts, I swap out walnuts in my pesto, as I did in this recipe. I used the basic ratios of my original basil pesto recipe.
There are of course many ways to use the pesto, just as you would use basil pesto. I liked this pesto as a dip for a steamed artichoke or spread on a sandwich or tossed with pasta. Fennel a little garden jewel.
Pizza with Truffle Burrata & Pesto
Pizza is in the house! Post holiday delights created this creamy flavor-packed Pizza with Truffle Burrata & Pesto, another little jewel from the kitchen. Continue reading Pizza with Truffle Burrata & Pesto