Category: Mustard

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Farmers Market Sunny Salad

Farmers Market Sunny Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

A trip to the Farmers Market today brought a sunny smile to my face and this salad to my table. Farmers Market Sunny Salad is an easy ray of sunshine, another Little Jewel from the Kitchen.

FARMERS MARKET

It’s been way more than an minute since the local Farmers Market has been up and running at full speed. Most of the vendors are back. Splendid butter lettuce, radishes, heirloom cherry tomatoes, and my favorite edible flowers, along with the elusive mulberries.

Farmers Market Sunny Salad |Bijouxs Little Jewels

EDIBLE FLOWERS

What a quick way to add a smile to any dish by adding edible flowers. They are in season at the Farmers Market and I wanted a fresh, cheerful salad to serve. Although you usually see edible flowers in restaurants, they are becoming more available to home cooks. I added them to my plates when I worked as a private/personal chef years ago. I am happy to see them back in the market today.

PROBIOTIC COCONUT WATER

I have been making some healthy changes to my routines after reading the book Fatal Conveniences, yikes, we are exposed to sooo many toxins. Time to begin some simple changes. As a chef, the freshest organic produce is always my choice. I found Inner-Eco Probiotic Coconut Water. (No, this is not sponsored, just me here) I used it in this light dressing for the salad, Balsamic vinaigrette which includes the probiotic. An easy add-on to a health routine.

FARMERS MARKET SUNNY SALAD

This is a light, bright salad that includes butter leaf lettuce, radishes, heirloom cherry tomatoes tossed with Balsamic vinaigrette and of course edible flowers. I love the pansies smiling faces. Treat yourself as if you were someone you really loved. This is a nice way to look at self-love and eating healthy food is a part of that equation. Sending bright and sunny Spring wishes to all from the Bijouxs Kitchen. Thank you for your support.

 

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Bijouxs French Tarragon House Vinaigrette

Bijouxs French Tarragon House Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

A summer evening outdoor concert spurs Bijouxs Basics. Working as a personal chef I had the opportunity to prepare meals for the most amazing families, many of which I still count as friends. An impromptu evening with such a former family, along with plenty of catching up, reveals a most requested Bijouxs, the house vinaigrette, and after all, Bijouxs is all about sharing the little jewels. Continue reading Bijouxs French Tarragon House Vinaigrette

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Victory Garden Salad

Victory Garden Salad

Yes, small victories count. Planting a small crop of lettuce provides salads for weeks, then sow more seeds and voila, lettuce appears. The simple Mesclun mixed variety is my favorite and produced this simply beautiful Victory Garden Salad a little jewel from the garden.

VICTORY GARDEN SALAD

Celebrate, a small victory in my garden. As always, starting with the freshest most healthy ingredients are keys to a great salad. Now, residing in a tiny cottage in the central coast, life has changed. No more sprawling garden, space in my yard is a premium. I have three small areas to grow my garden favorites. Since space is so limited I have narrowed it down to a few of my favorites. First on my list is growing lettuce for salads, from which I create a multitude of dishes, much more than just salads. For years I have been growing mesclun greens mix.

Victory Garden Salad

GROWING MESCLUN

Mesclun is a Provençal word that describes a mix of tender salad greens and many times includes herbs. The name comes from “mesclular” which is a mixture, which describes this mix of lettuce, also sold as spring mix. It is frequently served in restaurants and widely available in the supermarkets. However, growing your own lettuce is easy and very rewarding. When you feel like a salad just go out and clip some fresh greens, no waste and many of varieties are “cut and come again” meaning if you clip the leaves more new leaves appear. Almost anyone can have a small victory garden, you can grow this lettuce in a 12”inch pot, perfect for apartment dwellers. A volunteer nasturtium joined the party.

MESUCLUN SALAD

Spring mix greens are in every store now. They are very tender and must be handled with care. Also, they tend to have a short life in the refrigerator, another reason to grow your own greens. In looking for a salad recipe the first chef to really feature these greens was Alice Waters, from her I take my lead.

Gently wash greens and place in a salad spinner then roll them loosely in a clean kitchen towel and store in the refrigerator until you are ready to use. They are best used the same day, but can usually survive overnight, but not much longer.

My favorite dressing is French, made directly in a wooden salad bowl, then topped with the greens and brought to the table, ready to toss and serve. This dressing is my everyday dressing, my go-to in the kitchen. This real French dressing is simply made by place a small clove of garlic in a wooden salad bowl, with a pinch of salt and pepper and mashed into a paste using a wooden spoon. Dijon, red wine vinegar are added and mixed, then olive oil is whisked by hand until the dressing comes together. Voila, a perfect salad.

Victory Garden Salad

Grown your own Victory Garden Salad. Stay well.

 

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