Category: Meal Planning

No. 619Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

LA Hippie Nachos

LA Hippie Nachos| Bijouxs Little Jewels

These nachos are special, they are LA Hippie Nachos. Lots of little nudges make regular nachos special, Hippie Nachos No 619 from Bijouxs Little Jewels Collection.

HIPPIE NACHOS

So, what are Hippie Nachos you say? I came across this recipe online here, and had to make them. They really are such a step-up from standard nachos, yet remain true to the classic.

THE RECIPE

Who does not love nachos?? I have made them many ways over the years but discovered Hippie Nachos a recipe from artist Louesa Robuck. I met Louesa right after I moved to Ventura, a chance encounter and a friend and I went out to view her Monotype paintings in her studio. That was how the connection began. Her beautiful book Foraged Flora had just come out and she gifted me a copy! So, over the years I have attended her work shops Punk Ikebana, it was great. She truly is a talent.

ALL ABOUT THE BEANS

I think the key to this recipe is the amping-up of seasoning of the refried beans that make these nachos so special. Do not skip this step in the recipe. It’s an easy fix and really makes a difference. Once you prepare the beans you can assemble the nachos and broil to cheesy brown delights. The Have’a Corn Chips are also special, available in many markets.  

LA Hippie Nachos | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

Serve the nachos right out of the skillet while still warm.

No. 618Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Squash Blossom Frittata

Squash Blossom Frittata | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Beautiful squash blossoms adorn this end of the season simple frittata recipe- No.618 Squash Blossom Frittata in the Membership Collection.

BEAUTIFUL FOOD IN OUR KITCHENS

It’s easy to see the everyday beauty right here in our own kitchens. Just looking at these lovely fragile squash blossoms brings the beauty of nature right before our eyes. A simple walk out to the garden brought forth these blossoms.
Squash Blossom Frittata | Bijouxs Little Jewels

ALONG THE COAST

This year the weather by the beach has been filled with lots of foggy days, often not clearing until late afternoon, to that end my squash bloom crop was small and a one time event towards the end of the season. The zucchini were small, not a vibrant year. I had to supplement my squash blossoms with some from the famers market to have enough for the recipe.

FRITTATA

Frittatas are one of my favorite breakfast/brunch recipes in the kitchen. This Italian little jewel is so easy and so adaptable. Make it your own and add in your favorite vegetables, cooked bacon or sausage, fresh herbs and cheese-use your breakfast favorites. I posted a recipe for a Green Tomato Frittata, a perfect way to use up the unripe tomatoes that show up at the end of the season.
Squash Blossom Frittata | Bijouxs Little Jewels

JOIN THE MEMBERSHIP COLLECTION

I created the Membership Collection to allow my readers complete access to all my 600+ recipes, and avoid nasty pop-ups, ads and tracking  that  you find on most other (food) websites. It takes forever to get to the recipe. The small membership fee helps keep the Bijouxs Little Jewels coming to you. ad free. Thank you!
No. 617Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Simple Linguine with Clam Sauce

Simple Linguine with Clam Sauce | Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen

From the pantry to the table this Simple Linguine and Clam Sauce will be on repeat in your home. Bijouxs Collection Membership Recipe No. 617 Prego!

LINGUINE AND CLAMS

For years I ordered this dish when I dined out, little did I know how easy it is create at home, plus it uses basic on-hand pantry ingredients–a little kitchen jewel.

CANNED BABY CLAMS

Canned clams are available in almost any market, as is the bottled clam juice. People may shy away thinking this dish may taste fishy, but no, the baby clams are mild and sweet. This is a pasta dish you can serve to almost anyone and they may not guess there are clams in the sauce. 

CLASSIC ITALIAN

Linguine and Clams is a traditional Italian dish. This is a take on the dish with a few twists. The linguine is cooked in the clam broth, which adds deep flavor to the pasta, and keeps the sauce light. This method also makes cooking the recipe very easy. The other twist is to top the pasta with toasted bread crumbs Sicilian style. Then just a  touch of fresh parsley and oregano complete the pasta.

No. 616Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Pesto Stuffed Shells with Truffle Marinara Sauce

Pesto Stuffed Shells with Truffle Marinara Sauce | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Large pasta shells stuffed with basil pesto and baked in a Truffle Marinara sauce, easy dinner Italian elegance-Pesto Stuffed Shells with Truffle Marinara Sauce from the Membership Collection.

SHELL PASTA

The large shell pasta is perfect for stuffing. I like the simplicity of stuffing the shells with pesto, it makes the recipe easy to prepare. I also like the lighter take on this pasta dish, not loading up on a heavy cheese stuffing.

STORE BROUGHT INGREDIENTS

The key to the simplicity of the recipe is that you are using store-bought pantry items for the bulk of the recipe. Jarred marinara sauce, ready made pesto, and grated cheeses are easily pick up on the way home.

STAUB GRATIN

Consider this an investment piece in the kitchen you will use over and over again. You have seen it many of my recipe photographs, it really is a little jewel. Mine was a limited color Jenni Kayne color, but the new Grenadine color is lovely.

Pesto Stuffed Shells with Truffle Marinara Sauce | Bijouxs Little Jewels

DINNER IS SERVED

This simple pasta dish makes a dinner alongside a green salad and toasty garlic bread if desired.

No. 615Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Blueberry Crisp

Blueberry Crisp | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Blueberries–dark, mysterious little glistening jewels, precious and sweet–dare I say, perfect for Blueberry Crisp, a simple jewel from the Bijouxs kitchen.

FOOD MEMORIES

It’s funny how cravings happen. A simple thought, conversation, or image can return you to a meal, a taste, a time and a place. Our beautiful Pacific Northwest is a place I have traveled to and enjoyed for many years–eating my fill of huckleberries, wild salmon and peaches to die for, and also…

Blueberry Crisp | Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen

COASTAL SUMMER

When people California imagine summertime on the Central Coast, they’re probably thinking of blue skies and ocean breezes with perfect surfing waves. In fact, it’s usually about 60+ degrees here and the ocean is a little gnarly, the fog clouds hang like dark stubble out off the coast. But every afternoon we get a prevailing sea breeze and the sun usually shines.

LOCAL BLUEBERRIES

I have been able to pickup nice blueberries grown just north of me along the coast. I’m lucky to be North of LA and nestled in some of best fruit and vegetable agricultural growers. Baskets of bluberries are found at my Farmer’s Markets.

The memory of blueberries baked into a crisp in the Pacific Northwest. I recreated this lovely treat at home and it’s easy to do. Living in the dry, arid environs of Los Angeles area has precluded me from picking up fresh wild blueberries from the market, but I have found solace in the intense natural flavor from local berries, they make a bright, quick crisp.

Blueberry Crisp | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

BLUEBERRY CRISP

This recipe is one of the best I have ever encountered, no joke. It came from an vintage Saveur Magazine Numer 51, The California Road Trip. I am so happy I have kept all my Saveur copies for many years I subscribed. My many road trips north to Seattle area have lead me to the most amazing blueberries. This crisp recipe from the Trnindad area is like no other. So simple but the crispy-sweet crust is the winning part of the recipe.

Blueberry Crisp | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Blueberry Crisp | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Just a bite of this crisp takes me back, it hopefully will evoke a memory of your own, a comforting time now easily recreated in a dish. Enjoy!

 

Still Hungry?