Category: Meal Planning

No. 561Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Italian Prune Plum Torte

Italian Prune Plum Torte | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Italian Prune Plums are in season, but savor them now in this classic Italian Prune Plum Torte, the newest Little Jewel from the Bijouxs Collection.

ELUSIVE ITALIAN PRUNE PLUMS

I wait every year for this time, scouring the markets for the elusive Italian prune plums. Then one day on a walk through the market, there they are. Usually they set off to the side in smaller crates alongside the other plums. I grab my shopping bag and purchase a generous amount enough for the torte and a small batch of jam.

Italian Prune Plum Tart | Bijouxs Little JewelsItalian Prune Plum Torte | Bijouxs Little Jewels

TORTE VS TART

So, what is the difference between a torte and a tart? A torte, from the Italian word torta means “cake.” So, a torte has a batter base, more like a cake. A tart like this one is baked on a crust like this one on my classic Plum Tart. Once you look at them both the difference becomes apparent.

ITALIAN PLUM TORTE

This cake or torte is very easy to prepare. This recipe originated from Marion Burros. 40 years ago and The New York Times published Marian Burros’s recipe for this Plum Torte every September from 1983 until 1995. A very iconic recipe.

A simple batter is topped with the plum halves, sprinkled with sugar and baked until the plums are bursting.

Italian Prune Plum Torte | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Italian Prune Plum Torte \ Bijouxs Little Jewels

My grandmother had an extensive garden and grew this variety of plums, as well as a couple others. She mainly ‘put up’ jam and preserves with the stone fruits.

I have been baking this torte since 2012 since I first became aware of Prune Plums for my original Plum Tart post. So moved, I posted my favorite poem from Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle, “This is Just to Say” by William Carlos Williams. This is just to say…

No. 560Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Tomato & Bread Salad

Tomato & Bread Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Bread & Tomato salad is a great way to use all those random tomatoes at the end of the season. A salad of juicy tomatoes, olive oil & vinegar are aborbed by the rustic toasted bread. Bellisimo!

SUMMER’S END TOMATOES

One of greatest way to use all those random tomatoes at the end of the season. A salad of juicy tomatoes, olive oil & vinegar are aborbed by the rustic toasted bread. Bellisimo! SUMMER'S END TOMATOES BREAD AND TOMATO SALAD Bijouxs Little Jewels

All the odds and ends tomatoes are perfect candidates for Bread & Tomato Salad.

BREAD & TOMATO SALAD

This salad comes together in an instant with basic pantry ingredients along with day old rustic bread, torn and toasted lightly just perfect to soak up all the juices and dressing.  This salad is a light dinner or lunch to serve along with some fresh fruit and a glass of ice cold rose.

One of greatest way to use all those random tomatoes at the end of the season. A salad of juicy tomatoes, olive oil & vinegar are aborbed by the rustic toasted bread. Bellisimo! SUMMER'S END TOMATOES BREAD AND TOMATO SALAD | Bijouxs Little Jewels

One of greatest way to use all those random tomatoes at the end of the season. A salad of juicy tomatoes, olive oil & vinegar are aborbed by the rustic toasted bread. Bellisimo! SUMMER'S END TOMATOES BREAD AND TOMATO SALAD |Bijouxs Little Jewels

Savor the end of Summer season with Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen.

 

 

 

 

 

No. 559Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Slow Roasted Cherry Tomato & Basil Sauce

SLOW ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Life is a bowl full of cherries, cherry tomatoes that is. Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Basil savoring the little jewels of Summer.

THE MENU

Nearing the end of summer the tomato plants give it one last go, producing the last of the tomatoes in the blistering September heat. Even along the coast the sun has been pounding down on the garden and the tomatoes are going crazy. Time to pull out all my tomato recipes.

Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Basil | Bijouxs Little Jewels

SLOW ROASTING

We know what slow roasting can do for vegetables, it works the same magic on cherry tomatoes. The slow temp coaxes out the sugary sweetness of the fruit. It takes a bit of time but worth every minute, producing cherry tomatoes perfect for sauces, pasta dishes and of course this lovely to add to your Charcuterie platter.

Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Basil | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

BASIL SAUCE

Another end of season crop is basil, and fresh basil creates this simple sauce to bathe the tomatoes in, plus it is very easy to make. Serving the tomatoes with sauce creates a perfect vehicle to dip sliced bread in then top with a tomato.

Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Basil | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Basil | Bijouxs Litle Jewels

 

BEAUTIFUL FOOD BY DESIGN

Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Basil | Bijoux Little Jewels

 

My Bijouxs mantra BEAUTIFUL FOOD BY DESIGN. Cooking at home with all the everyday beauty all around us, right in our kitchens. Cheers.

 

 

No. 558Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Plum Tart

Plum Tart| Bijouxs Little Jewels

THIS IS JUST TO SAY…Plum Tart is a taste treat recreated from my past, a humble childhood treat originally fashioned from scraps of leftover pastry sprinkled with sugar, baked crisp and topped while still hot from the oven with a spoonful of homemade plum preserves. Close your eyes, take a bite of Plum Tart – a grown up version of little jewel from the kitchen. From the archives my beloved Plum Tart, a true little Jewel.

THIS IS JUST TO SAY
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold
William Carlos Williams

Plums, the most delicious fruit celebrated in this poem from the familiar favorite childhood book Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle, were abundant in my Grandmother’s garden – so abundant that jars and jars of plum preserves could be produced without any notice of the many ripe plums I would snatch from the trees, either by climbing on a stool or using a stick to dislodge the luscious fruit for my avail. Bijouxs Plum Tart is a recreation of a taste from the past, simple and humble, yet as delicious as the fruit itself.

The recipe, if I dare call it one, involves a simple slab of pie dough rolled into a large, rough edged circle, topped with cut ripe plums, then folding the edges of the dough in wide pleats over the filled tart with a sprinkle of sugar and baked until golden brown and crisp. But to fully recreate the aforementioned childhood treat, the baked tart is brushed with an ample dose warmed red currant jelly, which replicates the fresh plum preserves that topped the pastry scraps.

Enjoy the summer!

No. 557Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Cake

Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Cake | Bijouxs Little Jewels

A cake to love-Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Cake, a simple cake for anytime snacking.

LEMONS & BLUEBERRIES

Two of my all-time favorites of the summer season join forces to create a cake that will always be appreciated. Living up in the Central Coast citrus and fruits abound. The lemons go rampent this time of year, so many on the trees it’s hard to use them all. My neighbors supply me with even more lemons that I can use so I freeze the juice in ice cubes tray to brighten up the not-so-sunny winter gloom of days to arrive soon.

Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Cake| Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

RICOTTA CHEESE

The magic of this cake is the whole milk ricotta cheese which adds a dense, creamy texture-the cake will keep for a few days making it a favorite mid-day grab with an espresso.

Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Cake | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Cake | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

BAKING THE CAKE

As I has previosuly reported, my move up the coast has placed me is a new home, with an old wall oven that always burns the edges of everything! I have tried many tactics, nothing left but to pray to replace the oven soon. Your cake will not have  the dark brown crust on the edges, but in case you are destined with an old oven, not to worry the crust does not distract from the tender texture of the cake.

Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Cake | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

BEAUTIFUL FOOD BY DESIGN

I finally have completed my 4th cookbook Belle du Jour (beauty of the day). It has over 120 pages, lots of new recipes and has been a labor of love. I produce all parts of the book myself (call me crazy) from recipe preparation, photography, and book design, and publication. I offer the book, like my others, in digtial interactive format and print copy, both will be on my website shop just like my other cookbooks.

My next cookbook is already in my mind. That you for you support!

 

 

Still Hungry?