Category: Meal Planning

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Bijouxs Basics: Kinda Joan’s Pickles

Bijouxs Basics: Kinda Joan's Pickles

I was missing my home town Los Angeles and craving the pickles that are served at Joan’s on Third. Here is my version of Joan’s on Third Sweet and Crunchy Pickles – a Bijouxs Basic recipe.

JOAN’S ON THIRD

I spent many a lunch time at Joan’s on Third at a table on the sidewalk. I worked in design field and the Westside locale is home to the design world.  I always ordered the Salad Trio; Chinese Chicken Salad, Curried Chickpeas and fruit, and of course a side of Joan’s Sweet & Crunchy pickles. Good news, you can purchase a carton of the pickles in the deli case. 

BIJOUXS BASICS: KINDA JOAN’S PICKLES

SWEET AND CRUNCHY PICKLES

BIJOUXS BASICS: KINDA JOAN’S PICKLES

Craving the pickles, I spent time searching for a close approximation of my memory of the pickles. This recipe, Kinda Joan’s Pickles, is my take and delivers a crunch that is not-too-sweet.  These are close to Joan’s pickles. I have placed some notes on the recipe card to help clarify the ingredients.

Super easy refrigerator pickles take but a few ingredients, no cooking, marinate then ready to enjoy in about 30 minutes. Of course they are even better the next day. Enjoy them straight out of the jar, add to sandwiches and great alongside a BBQ or picnic.

Kinda Joan’s Pickles a basic from Bijouxs Little Jewels in the Kitchen.

 

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Pasta al Limone

Pasta al Limone | Bijouxs Little Jewels

A simple weeknight Italian pasta for just a couple of people-Pasta al Limone, another Little Jewel from the Kitchen.

SIMPLE ITALIAN FOOD

Italian genius, just a few on-hand ingredients create  a quiet plate of pasta for two. I love simple Italian cuisine and Pasta al Limone is a prime example of rustic, simple food.
There is nothing to learn, just create a simple lemon sauce and toss with hot pasta-done!

No special equipment required, basic kitchen equipment will do. One medium sauce pan, my favorite here,  is all that is required is to make the simple sauce  along with a pot to boil the water for the pasta. The ingredients are simple as well, lemons, Pecorino Romano cheese, olive oil, a knob of butter and pasta, that’s it.

Pasta al Limone | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Pasta al Limone | Bijouxs Little Jewels

LEMON LOVE

It’s no secret at Bijouxs I display my love of all things citrus and also the back story. Oranges and lemons were a big part of my growing up and the smell and taste is etched in my memory. Currently I have a large orange tree, but I am wanting to plant a lemon, oh, could I find an Amalfi Lemon tree to plant?? There are a plethora of lemon recipes (well, over 20 to be exact) on my Bijouxs website, the all time winner is this one, which still gets lot of views.

 

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Simple Strawberry Tiramisu

Simple Strawberry Tiramisu | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Strawberry season is finally upon us. The berries are beginning to show up at the roadside farm stands along the Central Coast. I always pull over and grab some berries, early season or not, they are still sweet. Simple Strawberry Tiramisu is my go-to for an easy, light true Little Jewel from the Kitchen.

STRAWBERRY SEASON

Just as the berries burst on the scene, so does the California Strawberry Festival. 2024 is looking to be a better year for the berries. The festival is being held at the Ventura Country Fairgrounds. The festival is sponsored by major companies and best of all money raised is donated to charities.

SIMPLE STRAWBERRY TIRAMISU

This recipe was inspired from the great Chef Ottolenghi’s Strawberry Tiramisu Cake. Roasting the berries produces a sweet syrup to layer with the Ladyfingers. My changes included sizing down the recipe, making one 5×8 inch loaf. To further simplify, the filling consists of thick Greek yogurt lightened with whipped cream, vanilla and a shot of Grand Marnier. So good. I also used supermarket Ladyfingers, they are usually right next to the strawberries. All the ingredients are easy to find in local supermarkets.

Simple Strawberry Tiramisu |Bijouxs Little Jewels

SEASONAL SWEETS

Along with my classic Strawberry Shortcake that is from my From the Garden Cookbook.

 

Simple Strawberry Tiramisu | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Finally, there is a chance the rain will stop here and the sun will once again shine along this magic shore. Happy Spring to everyone.

 

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Small Batch Seedless Blackberry Cardamom Jam

Small Batch Seedless Blackberry Cardamom Jam | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Making an everyday jam is quick because they require no canning and take only about 30 minutes of your time. Enjoy Small Batch Seedless Blackberry Cardamom Jam No. 535 in the Recipe Collection.

EVERYDAY JAM

This jam has just a few ingredients and is easy to create any day of the week. I love making these quick jams, my Strawberry Everyday Jam has been on repeat for years.
To branch out I adjusted a jam recipe from one of my favorite books Squirl Everything I Want to Eat. I discovered Jessica long ago at the Altadena Framers Market. She was just starting to sell her jams, they were fabulous, it was easy to predict her success.

Seedless Blackberry Cardamom Jam | Bijouxs Little Jewels

EVERYTHING I WANT TO EAT

The Sqirl cookbook has recipes from the almost cult following at Sqirl restaurant and store in LA, very hip. When I moved back to LA after a short stint of living out of California, this was one of the first restaurants I made a beeline to. Creativity abounds at the restaurant. Do not pass on the toasts, or the daily quiche and of course pick up some jam.

BLACKBERRY JAM

This is a very small recipe, enough jam to just for a week. To achieve the silky smooth jam pictured, nothing more is required than patience and a little elbow grease. The berries have seeds and along with the cardamom seeds so sieving the jam takes a few minutes, but the product is very satisfying to create.Seedless Blackberry Cardamom Jam | Bijouxs Little Jewels

TOAST & JAM

There are so many ways to enjoy this jam, however there is nothing quite like toast & jam. Thick slices of pullman baked Pan de Mie buttered and toasted are slathered with the brilliant ruby-hued jam. The smooth seed- free jam is worth the work. Enjoy Seedless Blackberry Cardamom Jam from the Bijouxs Recipe Collection. Follow me on Instagram @bijouxs.com to see what’s cooking in the Bijouxs Kitchen.

 

Seedless Blackberry Cardamom Jam | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

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Montcomb’s Spicy Lentil Soup

Montcomb’s Spicy Lentil Soup | Bijouxs Little Jewels

This soup is thick enough to almost be a stew, a completely satisfying bowl on a chilly rainy night No. 533 in the Collection–Montcomb’s Spicy Lentil Soup– the newest Little Jewel Recipe.

SPICY LENTIL SOUP

I first brought you this recipe many years ago on the blog. It was complete with not so great food photos, early in my food photography days. Since then I have made it for years and just cooked up a pot of soup the other day and I wanted to share the evolution of the recipe.

As I recounted in my first post, the visit to Montcomb’s in Belgravia was magical. “As we descended down the dark, narrow stairs directly off a street in the shiny Belgravia district of London; this was not looking promising. We were there on a quest for a proper meal in London, intrigued, but not hopeful, we reached the bottom of the stairs facing a dark wooden door; down here we were instructed from the pub above, we would find the restaurant. We had come this far, so we guardedly opened the door.”  What commenced is shown here in my original post. Entering this beautiful restaurant, what a surprise. A true story!

Montcomb’s Spicy Lentil Soup | Bijouxs Little Jewels

As far as food memories, this was really a great one. The soup has evolved over the years, with a few changes. I checked and it is no longer on Montcomb’s menu although the restaurant still is going strong. The soup has evolved in my kitchen over the years. The basic ingredients stay the same but I have made the soup a bit chunkier than the original, almost a stew.  I have also a few options noted regarding the sausage and seasonings, see COOK’S NOTES in the recipe.

Cozy up with a bowl of Montcomb’s Spicy Lentil Soup – another Little Jewel from the Collection.

 

 

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