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Just Like that, the Holidays are Here

Just Like That…|Bijouxs Little Jewels

Just Like that, the holidays are here. Bijouxs Liittle Jewels has got you covered!  My best Don’t Break the Bank cocktail party published a while ago. Here we go!

BIJOUXS NO. 1 SERVE A HOUSE COCKTAIL

Forget the full bar – keep it simple for guests and yourself by serving a house cocktail.  For larger group, consider serving a simple, modern, not so sweet punch, like the Sea of Rubies Punch (recipe tab), or a budget-friendly sparkling wine served with a beautiful zest of orange.

Sea of Rubbies Punch | Bijouxs Little Jewels

BIJOUXS NO.2  SERVE SIMPLE EASY TO HANDLE FOOD

Offer foods that are easy to eat while wielding a drink and remember it’s not dinner. Serve just enough food for guests to enjoy with their cocktails. Easy go-to party favorites Gougères (recipes tab) are a simple savory puff that are versatile and can be made ahead (recipe to follow): an impressive but uncomplicated French pastry. Thin, crunchy, fresh asparagus spears that have been lightly steamed and cooled in an ice bath, are wonderful and beautiful to serve, when dipped in Remoulade Sauce. A few more favorites, add a substantial dip like Roaring Forties Blue Cheese (recipe tab) served with celery spears, or maybe some great mini-sausages from a local deli, grilled (another make ahead) and served with Grey Poupon mustard. There you have it, a classic cocktail faire!

BIJOUXS NO. 3  TAKE PANTRY CLASSIC SNACKS AND MAKE THEM YOUR OWN

Potato chips and nuts are always party favorites. Purchase them plain and flavor them to create your own house version. Start by heating up thickly sliced kettle chips in the oven (recipe tab). Toss the chips with a simple homemade spice mixture, or flavor them hot out of the oven with your own spice combination like a BBQ dry rub, curry powder mix, or even finely grated Parmesan cheese to create your own homemade Bijouxs.  House Flavored Chips (recipe tab) Nuts work well with any custom seasoning and my salt and pepper cashews are an all-time favorite.  Take salted cashews and place them on a foil-lined baking sheet. Heat in the oven for 5 – 7 minutes. Toss with freshly cracked black pepper and add salt to taste.

Link to original issue here:https://bijouxs.com/bijouxs-bites-bijouxs-featured-in-pasadena-magazines-november-food-wine-issue/

 

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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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Chicken Roasted with Pixie Tangerines, Fennel & Pernod

Chicken Roasted with Pixie Tangerines, Fennel & Pernod | Bijouxs Little Jewels

More Pixie Tangerine love here at Bijouxs. I created a take on a recipe from the amazing Jerusalem Cookbook and cooked up with Chicken Roasted with Pixie Tangerines, Fennel & Pernod. Not your plain-old roast chicken here in the Bijouxs Kitchen.

COOKING FROM JERUSALEM

A wonderful gift of Pixie Tangerines from Melissa’s Produce to cook with inspired me so much here in the kitchen. I previously shared my Ojai Pixie Bars here. In this post, I reworked a favorite recipe from Ottolenghi & Tamimi’s Jerusalem cookbook. This book is a treasure chest of recipes from the diverse cuisines in the city. This recipe is wonderful for this holiday season. (Spiced Lentils & Brown Rice (Mejadra)is one of my favorites from the book).

COOKING FOR ONE OR TWO

As is many times the case, most recipes make enough to serve a big family, however in the real world, most nights many of us are cooking for just one or two people. Many recipes can be adjusted to smaller batch cooking-this chicken recipe reworked simply for 2 servings.

Chicken Roasted with Pixie Tangerines, Fennel & Pernod | Bijouxs Little Jewels

FENNEL & PERNOD

One of the major flavor notes in this dish is anise, from both the fennel seeds and the intense Pernod liquor. Sautéed Artichokes with Pernod from the blog is a nice way to introduce the liquor to your taste buds.

PIXIE TANGERINES

The sweetness of the tangerines, both juice and the fruit, are perfect counter play against to saltiness of the chicken. The fennel takes on a slightly sweet glaze cooking in the pan along with the Pixies and marinade. Just add some steamed Basmati rice to soak up the wonderful marinade-dinner is served.

Sweet holidays from Bijouxs Little Jewels in the Kitchen.

Disclosure: Melissa’s Produce sent the Ojai Pixie tangerines for recipe development.

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Ojai Pixie Bars

Ojai Pixie Bars | Bijouxs Little Jewels

I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day, what can make me feel this way? Ojai Pixie tangerines of course.
Ojai Pixie Bars, a sunny little jewel for the season. When winter’s dark days begin to end, that’s when the sunshine appears. This is also when the one-of-a-kind Ojai Pixie Tangerines appear.
I have been raving about these little jewels on the blog, it’s time to try them for your self. Continue reading Ojai Pixie Bars