No. 624Recipe Card Posted on Leave a comment

Just Like that, the Holidays are Here

Just Like That…|Bijouxs Little Jewels

Just Like that, the holidays are here. Bijouxs Liittle Jewels has got you covered!  My best Don’t Break the Bank cocktail party published a while ago. Here we go!

BIJOUXS NO. 1 SERVE A HOUSE COCKTAIL

Forget the full bar – keep it simple for guests and yourself by serving a house cocktail.  For larger group, consider serving a simple, modern, not so sweet punch, like the Sea of Rubies Punch (recipe tab), or a budget-friendly sparkling wine served with a beautiful zest of orange.

Sea of Rubbies Punch | Bijouxs Little Jewels

BIJOUXS NO.2  SERVE SIMPLE EASY TO HANDLE FOOD

Offer foods that are easy to eat while wielding a drink and remember it’s not dinner. Serve just enough food for guests to enjoy with their cocktails. Easy go-to party favorites Gougères (recipes tab) are a simple savory puff that are versatile and can be made ahead (recipe to follow): an impressive but uncomplicated French pastry. Thin, crunchy, fresh asparagus spears that have been lightly steamed and cooled in an ice bath, are wonderful and beautiful to serve, when dipped in Remoulade Sauce. A few more favorites, add a substantial dip like Roaring Forties Blue Cheese (recipe tab) served with celery spears, or maybe some great mini-sausages from a local deli, grilled (another make ahead) and served with Grey Poupon mustard. There you have it, a classic cocktail faire!

BIJOUXS NO. 3  TAKE PANTRY CLASSIC SNACKS AND MAKE THEM YOUR OWN

Potato chips and nuts are always party favorites. Purchase them plain and flavor them to create your own house version. Start by heating up thickly sliced kettle chips in the oven (recipe tab). Toss the chips with a simple homemade spice mixture, or flavor them hot out of the oven with your own spice combination like a BBQ dry rub, curry powder mix, or even finely grated Parmesan cheese to create your own homemade Bijouxs.  House Flavored Chips (recipe tab) Nuts work well with any custom seasoning and my salt and pepper cashews are an all-time favorite.  Take salted cashews and place them on a foil-lined baking sheet. Heat in the oven for 5 – 7 minutes. Toss with freshly cracked black pepper and add salt to taste.

Link to original issue here:https://bijouxs.com/bijouxs-bites-bijouxs-featured-in-pasadena-magazines-november-food-wine-issue/

 

No. 623Recipe Card Posted on Leave a comment

Giant Beans with Tomatoes & Herbs

GIANT BEANS WITH TOMATOES AND HERBS | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Grab a little wintery comfort with a bowl of GIANT BEANS WITH TOMATOES AND HERBS a simple oven bake bursting with flavor-no boring beans here.
From my Collection Membership to you.

GIGANTE BEANS

Beans pictured here are giant lima beans, which are easy to procure online. The orginal recipe from Andrea Gentl uses a bean called “fasolia gigantes,” which are large white beans used in Greek cuisine, many times in the dish referred to as ‘Gigantes plaki’, which is very similar to this recipe. The Greek beans are available online. This dish is often served as a main course and best of all it is vegan-friendly. *One thing to note is that the beans need to be soaked overnight in lots of fresh water prior to cooking. Do not be tempted to peel off the skins, this will cause the beans to split and become mushy.

TOMATOES AND HERBS

The prepped beans* are baked in an herb-based fresh tomato sauce with oregano, thyme, bay leaf and fresh rosemary. Bake them in a 350° large covered casserole until tender for 2-3 hours, adding extra water as needed. My beans took the full 3 hours and required extra water, but time will depend on the size of your beans.

GIANT BEANS WITH TOMATOES AND HERBS | Bijouxs Little Jewels

GREEK COOKING

This particular recipe originates from a port town on Serifos, although this bean dish is served in many part of Greece. It appears as the term “plaki” pronounced Plah-KEE, refers to a Greek cooking method where the food is baked or roasted with plenty of tomatoes, veggies, and extra virgin olive oil, just as these beans are prepared.

HEALTHY DINNER

This bean dish is healthy, tasty and very satisfying. Serve with lots of extra Greek olive oil and a dense bread with a crisp crust, perfect to mop up the sauces. Simply Beautiful Food from Greece for the home kitchen.

 

No. 614Recipe Card Posted on Leave a comment

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!

 

No. 613Recipe Card Posted on Leave a comment

Chicken Tagine with Green Olives & Preserved Lemon

Chicken Tagine with Green Olives & Preserved Lemon | Bijouxs Little Jewels

ON THE MENU tonight, Chicken Tagine with Green Olives & Preserved Lemon, a favorite No. 613 in the Membership Collection.

Tagines are exotic and comforting at the same time: the pungent spices, a juxtaposition of the salty and sweet, combined with meats and vegetables gently simmered tender in a delicate broth create a different take on a comforting stew. This simple chicken tagine is a Bijouxs I would like to share.

ABOUT TAGINES

More info: Tagine is the name of the stew, and also the name of the beautiful glazed clay vessel in which tagines are prepared. No worry, you do not need a tagine (the vessel) to make a tagine (the stew) – a heavy Dutch oven with a lid will do. The things I love about tagines (the stews), besides the incredible layers of flavors, are that they are easy to prepare and utilize less-expensive cuts of meats, pure Bijouxs.

Chicken Tagine with Green Olives & Preserved Lemon | Bijouxs Little Jewels

SIMPLE RECIPE

The basic technique for most tagines is rather simple, place the meat in the tagine (or dutch oven) add the vegetables, spices, and water, then cover and simmer, that’s it. Most tagines do not require an initial browning of the meat and utilize dried spices, olives, etc. many available in your pantry.

Chicken Tagine with Green Olives & Preserved Lemon | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Chicken Tagine with Green Olives & Preserved Lemon | Bijouxs Little Jewels

COOKING IN A TAGINE

In my beautiful azure blue tagine I purchased long ago from Global Table in NYC, it is import to heat the tagine slowly on the stove, a flame tamer really helps. I recently found a pretty tagine at Willams Sonoma. The key is that the ingredients do not dry out due to the conical shape of the lid which keeps the liquids flowing back onto the ingredients. Important for getting really tender chicken in this recipe.

Enjoy this recipe!

No. 610Recipe Card Posted on Leave a comment

Melon Salad with Nectarines, Tomatoes and Basil

Melon Salad with Nectarines, Tomatoes and Basil | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Layers of juicy melon with sweet nectarines, tomatoes and pecorino cheese are dressed with light lemon juice along with with capers and spice of red chile flakes–Melon Salad with Nectarines, Tomatoes and Basil No.610 in the Recipe Membership Collection.

SUMMER SALADS

Grab the best selections from summer’s bounty of fruits for summer salads. This Melon Salad with Nectarines, Tomatoes and Basil has quickly become a summer favorite. 

MELON SALAD  WITH NECTARINE, TOMATOES AND BASIL

Melon Salad with Nectarines, Tomatoes and Basil | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Sweet fruit combined with salty tomatoes and percorino cheese make a delightful salad combination. For this recipe use the best fruit you can find, ripe melon, nectarines, and cherry tomatoes. Each ingredient is dressed individually with just lemon juice a couple capers and red pepper flakes. Top the salad with shaved pecorino cheese and fresh basil leaves. Bella!

Beautiful and fresh summer salad Melon Salad with Nectarine, Tomatoes and Basil No. 610 from the Membership Collection.