Category: Olive Oil

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Wild Mushroom Risotto

Wild Mushroom Risotto | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Where the wild things are…Wild Mushroom Risotto. Gorgeously rich with the flavors of the earth paired with the creamy comfort of Italian risotto. Little Jewel Recipe #606 from the Collection Membership-join the Collection here.

WILD MUSHROOMS

Well, not really wild, but cultivated species of the ever elusive mushroom. Pictured here are a collection from Santa Barbara farmers market, these will create a bellissimo risotto.

Wild Mushroom Risotto | Bijouxs Little Jewels

RISOTTO

If you have some fears about making risotto, fear not! It is an easy, creamy, comforting Italian dish you will make again and again. After all, it’s just rice.

There are many recipes to prepare risotto, too many to count, but Wild Mushroom Risotto is one you will want to collect. This recipe is easy, in that the mushrooms and risotto are sautéed together, keeping things simple.

This risotto keeps the mushrooms the same size as the risotto to create an even texture. Make sure you do not overcook the rice, keep a soft toothsome chew. It is ready when you can drag the spoon across the pan bottom and a trail remains. Remember the rice will continue to cook after you remove it from the heat.

I served the risotto in my favorite bowl handmade by a friend back home when I lived in Pasadena, great memories! Cheers.

 

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Chicken Braised in Coconut Milk & Herbs

Chicken Braised in Coconut Milk & Herbs | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Coconut milk creates a savory creamy sauce for Chicken Braised in Coconut Milk & Herbs, the newest Little Jewel from the Collection Membership.

COCONUT MILK

This simple braising method creates tender chicken with a light coconut sauce infused with garlic and herbs. Braising is a cooking method that is not that widely used, but should be revisited in our cooking collection.

Braising is a cooking method that combines both wet and dry heat. Food is first seared at a high temperature, then simmered in a covered pot with a liquid. This method is great for tougher cuts of meat, making them tender. Perfect for these boneless chicken thighs.

FRESH HERBS

The fresh thyme is important to this recipe, adding a woody hint along with the garlic infusing flavor into the rich coconut milk braising liquid.

WEEKNIGHT COOKING

This brown+braise recipe makes an easy a weeknight dinner, the oven cooking portion requires no attention.
Chicken Braised in Coconut Milk & Herbs, another Little Jewel in the Collection Membership.

 

 

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Heirloom Yellow Oxheart Tomato Salad

Heirloom Yellow Oxheart Tomato Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

A simple preparation for the sweet queen of the season, Heirloom Tomatoes. Yellow Oxheart tomatoes are served in all their beauty. Recipe No. 601 from the Membership Collection.

HEIRLOOM TOMATOES

The farmers markets in the Central Coast of Cali are bursting with the first picks of the season. Since I am in the midst of the agriculture here fruit and vegetables abound. This year the tomatoes were early, after a wet spring, surprising most of us gardeners.

OXHEART HEIRLOOM TOMATOES

It’s lovely to visit the Farmers markets near Santa Barbara, you will find so many varieties. A friend brought me a bag of Yellow Oxheart tomatoes along with some small yellow cherry tomatoes. The Oxheart dates back to 1915 from Virginia.

SIMPLE FOOD

Tomatoes are the one fruit that does not need much adornment. Their sweetness is a perfect complement to the salty nature of the Manchego cheese along with the brightness of parsley.

Savor Heirloom Yellow Oxheart Tomato Salad simple and  new in the Membership Collection.

 

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Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Spring in the garden heralded by my first artichokes. Inspired, a new recipe for the Collection Membership a crispy Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette. Join and as a member access all 600 recipes.

SPRING IN THE GARDEN

As we all know this Spring weather has been a bit wonky everywhere, hard to plan a garden this year. I have held off on planting my lettuce and herbs, the fog has made it dismal here on the CA Coast. However, my tried & true artichokes mananged to squeek out a few artichokes.

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

ARTICHOKE PANINI

The dreary weather has kept me indoors but I happened on a delighful recipe from Joy’s Once Upon a Thyme featured in Diner’s Driveins and Dives. Joy created a crispy artichoke panini served with the best dressing. They are located in beautiful lush Chehalis Washington.

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

BASIL VINAIGRETTE

Her salad dressing is so much in demand that they sell bottles of it at the restaurant, really. While I do not have her exact recipe, I have come pretty closed by tinkering with the ingredients. The episode on DDD does tell more about the basil dressing, which she says people want to drink, it’s that good. Photo from website.

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Enjoy this crispy Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette. Cheers.

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Chin Chin’s Classic Chicken Salad

Chin Chin’s Classic Chicken Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

THE classic Chinese chicken salad from the Chin Chin restaurant-always a Little Jewel.

CHIN CHIN RESTAURANT

Very hard to believe that Chin Chin began as a counter and to-go eatery in Sunset Plaza years ago about 1983.  In those days as a young girl  I was driving over the hill from the valley to Sunset Plaza to get regular facials at famed spa Ole Henrickson and always stopped in for lunch. Sitting at the tiny counter (wish there were photos) I would order of course the Chicken Salad along with an orders of Chicken Fried Rice and Dumplings to take home for dinner.  All my family members were crazy about the food.

CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD

Along with sitting at the counter to eat, the-then tiny eatery had shelves with some products, most important were the jar of preserved red ginger, which is key to the salad.  I make the dressing ahead, enough for a few of salads. Fresh ginger and green onion are also elements in the dressing so the dressing must be used with a few days. Shredded poached chicken, iceberg lettuce and fried wonton strips and deep fried rice stix are added for crunch. All the ingredients are tossed in a large bowl with the dressing.

Chin Chin’s Classic Chicken Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Alas, I no longer live near any of the Chin Chin locations and it took a but of searching, but I was happy to find a reasonable duplicate of the salad recipe online. I have been enjoying the salad at home. Here served with some chopsticks I kept from a to-go order a LA friend picked up for me not long ago.

Enjoy Chin Chin’s Little Jewel Salad.

 

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