No. 589Recipe Card Posted on Leave a comment

Friday Night Black Beans

Friday Night Black Beans |Bijouxs Little Jewels

The best recipe to pack for wonderful weekend getaways or lounging at home–Friday Night Beans are truly a Little Jewel from the Kitchen.

WEEKEND KITCHEN

Spring is almost here and boy, I can’t wait to get out and pack up for a weekend jaunt. These beans are part of my Mason Jar Cuisine along with my Mason Jar Blueberry Muffins. We don’t usually go far but a picnic at our local beach is just fine. It’s an easy formula; Mason Jars filled with salad, black beans, cornsticks (or cornbread) and cool things to drink.

Here’s how. During the week prepare some of your favorite picnic foods, mine include a jar my no-egg Caesar Dressing for salad or dip; a jar of black beans cooked with a hamhock (Cajun style); and Mason Jar Blueberry Muffins.  The beans are super-quick using the Instant Pot. The night before prepare the beans and bake the blueberry muffins and while the oven is hot bake the cornsticks. The morning is easy, just pack and go enjoy the weekend.

Friday Night Black Beans | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Friday Night Black Beans | Bijouxs Little Jewels
BLACK BEANS

There is no waste with cooking these recipes. The extra black beans make tasty lunch quesadillas or bowls served with rice  and the muffins are great for the lunch box. I like use glass jars, yes, they are heavy but are so much more sane for the environment and our health. I love these French Canning Jars with the snap lids, and they come in many sizes. Bring along an insulated tote to keep things warm, along with a large thermous filled with your favorite beverage.

Let’s go for a picnic with Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen.

 

No. 552Recipe Card Posted on Leave a comment

Paley’s Place Sausage & Mushroom Ragú

Paley’s Place Sausage & Mushroom Ragú | Bijouxs Little Jewels

The Pacific Northwest Paley’s Place , a recipe and cookbook that are both little jewels- Paley’s Place Sausage & Mushroom Ragú-No.552 The Recipe Collection

PALEY’S PLACE

After 26 years the Portland iconic restaurant closed in 2021. Left behind is a classic cookbook filled with recipes from Vitaly and Kimberly Paley. I have a million cookbooks but this one is special and filled with recipes and stores from the beautiful Pacific Northwest. It looks like a happy place no doubt. I found  my copy on Amazon.

Paley’s Place Sausage & Mushroom Ragú | Bijouxs Little Jewels

PALEY’S PLACE PORK RAGU

This recipe caught my eye. The spices in the sauce as very similar to my Baked Ziti with Sausage. A very memorable recipe from my No. 1 Family and Friends Cookbook.  Cinnamon is the spice that adds the ‘can’t put my finger on it” it’s delicious but what is it? 

The thinking comes from chef Vitaly Paley and unexpected flavors from his visit to Istanbul with his Turkish wife. He was able to infuse things from eastern Mediterranean, and Ottoman Empire flavors. There is so much to learn from the world cuisines, which is what keeps me cooking, always learning.

In his book, he shares his spice blend for making the pork sausage, which is quite simple and worth taking a look at. This recipe via 177MilkStreet uses bulk Italian Sweet Sausage as a short cut. I used the short cut however, I included a dash of paprika, ground fennel and ground star anise, which are the spices he used for his sausage recipe. The sauce is light but packed with flavor the perfect pair with a wide pasta such as Pappardelle.

Paley’s Place Sausage & Mushroom Ragú | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Cookbooks become the vessel to store all our food memories Little Jewels from the Kitchen.

No. 345Recipe Card Posted on Leave a comment

Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

 Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes & Ham | Bijouxs Little Jewels

The definition of eternity? Two people and a ham…so the joke goes. One delicious way to get through this ‘eternity’ is to bake a classic comfort food combination – Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes & Ham, a little jewel for the holiday season. Continue reading Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

No. 344Recipe Card Posted on Leave a comment

Instant Pot Green Chile with Pork

Instant Pot Green Chile with Pork | Bijouxs.com

Winter weather signals not only a change in temperature, but a change in our tastes in food. Now begins a season for craving warmth and comfort. I created an Instant Pot version of my New Mexico classic Green Chile with Pork to honor the fall season. Cooking seasonally is always a little jewel.
Continue reading Instant Pot Green Chile with Pork