For the Roses. This year so many events have been cancelled, but not cooking here at Bijouxs, confinement creations abound. Grapefruit Herb & Rose Olive Oil Cake, the gift of a little jewel Now residing in the heart of citrus country along the coast of California, let’s just say I have my pick of any citrus, mostly gifted from friends. A bevy of grapefruits from inland groves came my way and recipes have ensued.
Continue reading Grapefruit Herb & Rose Olive Oil Cake
Back to basics. Simple straightforward food that well, just tastes really good. This 4-ingredient Italian classic Capellini Aglio Olino Peperoncino is a staple in the Bijouxs Kitchen, ready to fulfill any hunger attack even when your cupboard is almost bare, always a little jewel.
Here is my latest confinement cooking creation. A salad utlizing my rag-tag on-hand ingredients of radicchio, roasted beets, greens, blackberries and sesame croutons — On-Hand Panzanella, a little jewel of necessity.
Time is precious, and I am making the most of mine during our ‘required down-time.’ I stumbled across this photograph of Triple Herb Roasted Chicken, a house favorite. The comfort of simple cooking at home is a little jewel.
Going through my drive of thousands of photographs, many for taken for the blog, this photo brought to mind a time, place and favorite recipe I was planning to share on the blog. The time of this photograph was “when the world was steady”, the place was at my beloved 1924 “ranch” in the foothills above LA. Photographed in my studio, on my favorite farm table, this recipe evokes how food and memories are intertwined.
As I gaze at this photo, I can actually taste this chicken. I remember how this simple adaptation of Wolfgang Puck’s favorite chicken recipe was perfect, after all, you can never have enough chicken recipes. I begin with a small chicken, remove the backbone to create two halves which will lay flat in the roasting pan. Three of my favorite herbs, rosemary, tarragon and thyme along with garlic make up an overnight marinade. The flavor is worth the wait.
The next day, remove the chicken from the marinade, rub with some additional olive oil and roast in the oven, that’s it. Well, there is one more thing. A savory, buttery herb sauce that you douse the chicken with after you remove from the oven. This is truly a simple, yet very tasty way with a chicken.
The beauty of our everyday is now more precious than ever. I savor my time cooking and bringing you the little jewel recipes. The photographs I share with you are the real food, as it is prepared, very light on styling. I want you to to see what the food will look like prepared. Celebrate the everyday beauty all around us, right here in our kitchens. Be well.
Spiced Lentil & Brown Rice first came onto my radar through Jerusalem the Cookbook, now a classic. Humble ingredients, lentils and rice, are spiced to create a wonderfully satisfying
vegan dish, for lunch dinner, or breakfast. A savory dish that truly is a little jewel.
The flavors and spices used in Middle East cuisine are among my favorites: cinnamon, cumin, ginger, and allspice. My friends from the Middle East have over the years given this California girl some lessons, and the dishes work wonderfully in our California cuisine template.
Kitchen standards like Chickpea & Fava Stew (Ful), Zahtar Chicken & Tangerine Couscous and Roasted Strawberries with Labneh and are among my go-to recipes, fresh, simple and healthy eating. Once I began cooking the cuisine, I sought out cookbooks to widen my knowledge. Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi’s book, Jerusalem, not only shares recipes but stories from both of the chef’s childhoods and the food they grew up on.
Here at Bijouxs Little Jewels, I keep the recipes surprising, delicious and created for the home cook. I love to experiment with new recipes from cultures all over the world – good food is universal. Many times my friends introduce me to new recipes, food is all about sharing.
SPICED LENTILS & BROWN RICEI love simple dishes that combine a grain with a legume, such as Arroz Congri (Cuban Rice and Black Beans and Frijoles de la Olla (Beans in a Pot). This combination is satisfying and economical dining. The recipe can be made either in the Instant Pot or stovetop. I have made this both ways, and since I purchased the Instant Pot I have been giving it a try to simple and hasten long cooking dishes. In about 15 minutes Spiced Lentil & Brown Rice is ready to serve.
I have made a few minor adjustments, such as using less oil to sauté the shallots, and topping with fresh cilantro, a drizzle of olive oil and additional fragrant spices. A spoonful of yogurt sauce would lend a creamy texture. Finish with a green salad and some fresh fruit. Cuisines from around the world are little jewels.
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