Category: Olive Oil

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Creamy White Bean Soup

Creamy White Bean Soup | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Flexibility is word for this recipe. Italian White Beans are the flexible Bijouxs Basics recipe which begin this soup. Start with one batch of Italian White Beans = Creamy White Bean Soup. Brilliant.

WHITE BEAN SOUP

Creamy White Bean soup is really just all about a puree of Italian White Beans with most of the beans, then adding in some still-whole beans. The soup is thick and creamy. Feel free to add extra vegetable broth if a thinner consistency is desired. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and Italian parsley.

Creamy White Bean Soup | Bijouxs Little Jewels

COMFORT SOUP

This simple soup provides a warming bowl for these challenging in-between days. The as we head into Spring, we still have plenty of cold weather left. Enjoy Creamy White Bean Soup, and stay warm.

Creamy White Bean Soup| Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

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Bonnie Lu’s Pixie Salad

Bonnie Lu’s Pixie Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Bring on Spring! Bring on the Pixies! They are almost ripe, just a matter of weeks. Bonnie Lu’s Pixie Salad is a great way to begin the Pixie season, another Little Jewel from the Bijouxs Kitchen.

PIXIE TANGERINES

These tangerines are synonymous with Ojai, a lovely town nestled in the foothills just inland from the central coast. Pixie tangerines are a famous crop of the region, with many citrus groves in the area. Pixie’s are sweet and a very special citrus to herald in the Spring season. I am so lucky, my neighbor has a very abundant tree that I gather from each year.

Bonnie Lu’s Pixie Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

OJAI

The town of Ojai has a special place in my heart. As a kid, we used to drive from the valley over the interior road to the town. I always loved the Spanish Mission architecture of the town, reminding me of the valley I was raised in. Charming shops and restaurants line the main street and Bonnie Lu’s is a part of the food culture.

BONNIE LU’S CAFE

One of the cafe recipes I was attracted to was this salad with a No Oil Citrus Sesame Dressing & Butter Leaf Lettuce Salad via Edible Ventura County.  Pixie tangerine is a part of both the salad and the dressing. The salad also contains asparagus spears, tomato and shallots.

Breakfast is also served at the cafe, they close at 2 pm so plan an early trip.

Bonnie Lu’s Pixie Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

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Rigatoni with Rosemary and Pancetta

Rigatoni with Rosemary and Pancetta | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Rigatoni with Rosemary and Pancetta is buttery with just a hint of garlic, fresh rosemary and lighlty dotted with salty pancetta-a simple little jewel pasta for your family weeknight meal from the Membership Collection.

COOKING CLASSIC ITALIAN

This pasta originally hails from Marcella’s Italian Kitchen cookbook. Rigatoni con il Rosmarino e la Pancetta Affumicata. Back in my early cooking days I studied recipes and books from the best chefs from France and Italy. So many legends were still cooking at the time. Many of the books they wrote, such as this book from Marcella Hazan, are still very important today, containing techiques and recipe backgrounds which you do not find in many of the current glossy cookbooks.

Rigatoni with Rosemary and Pancetta | Bijouxs Little Jewels

To this point, Marcella’s cookbook contains only a handful of small photographs. The classic chefs wrote much more about the cuisine and techniques and I go back to these books in may collection over and over again. There is always something to learn in the world of cuisine.

RIGATONI WITH PANCETTA

A word about pancetta. It is a salt cured pork product, usuallly cubed and browned and added to pasta dishes, the most famous is Pasta Carbonara. Pancetta Affumicata called for here is salt-cured and smoked, similar to bacon, although good grocery store pancetta will work fine.

Fresh rosemary and a high quality butter are what make this simple dish a stand out. No need for costly ingredients, much of Italian cooking relies on what was at hand.You will notice the garlic only lightly flavors the pasta, no garlic overload, so this dish can be enjoyed by all ages.

Rigatoni with Rosemary and Pancetta another Little Jewel recipe added to the Membership Collection. Join for all-acces to 500+ recipes, here’s how to join

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Garlic White Beans with Spicy Black Olive Vinaigrette

Garlic White Beans with Spicy Black Olive Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

These beans are so much more than just a bowl of beans, they create and contribute to a great number of dishes and are a great new Little Jewel from the Recipe Membership Collection.

SIMPLE ITALIAN FOOD

These beans come together in a flash and are a favorite that I have adapted from Canal House PRONTO! 2013. To keep things simple, use canned beans drained and rinsed. Place the beans in a bowl then start mixing in the other ingredients. With so few ingredients in the recipe using the highest quality ingredients does really make a difference. As you can guess, a really good olive oil is a must! Novello extra-virgin olive oil was my choice as it is in season. I usually find some at Trader Joe’s but only in January, as this olive oil is an early harvest. Fruity green olives and green grass overtones, yum!

TOAST WITH BEANS & SAGE

Garlic White Beans with Spicy Black Olive Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

Another way to use these delicious beans is to top thick slices of country bread with the hot beans and add fried sage leaves. Very Italian. Savor the simple recipes from the Recipe Membership Collection.

 

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Seared Halibut & Lemon Caper Sauce

Seared Halibut & Lemon Caper Sauce | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Living along the Southern California coast in my early days meant mountains of fresh fish available almost everywhere. Turns out I was a foodie even at 5 years old. I always ordered fresh pan seared halibut with lemon & butter at a local restaurant–Seared Halibut & Lemon Caper Sauce is another Bijouxs Little Jewel from the Collection.

5 YEAR OLD FOODIE

I began my love of food and my selective taste palate early on, I knew what I liked. Vegetables, salads and fresh fish were among my favs. I sensed a bit of agitation from my family for my very particular tastes, only food prepared a certain way. There are a few things I did not eat then and still avoid to this day, such as mayonnaise or ANY creamy salad dressings. I loved my Italian simple school lunch of dry salami on sourdough bread with a little oil and vinegar. Yes, my tastes have remained the same. Who knows that picky child may be a budding foodie!

FRIDAY NIGHT FISH

My family did engage in the ‘fish on Friday’ routine and we were lucky enough to have a great casual fish restaurant nearby. Long ago fish was not the pricy splurge it is now, we were working class folks, but still able to enjoy a night out for fresh fish. The restaurant served thick pieces of fresh halibut pan seared served with fresh lemons, this was my favorite. I rarely ordered anything different, I knew what I liked and still do.

Sharing another Little Jewel from the Kitchen – Seared Halibut & Lemon Caper Sauce. Join the Recipe Club Membership to access all 580 recipes anytime.

 

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