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Puy Lentils with Roasted Tomatoes & French Triple-Cream Blue

Puy Lentils with Roasted Tomatoes & French Triple-Cream Blue | B ijouxs Little Jewels

French Puy lentils, the smallest, deep green lentils make the most interesting salads. Today a delightful salad, Puy Lentils with Roasted Tomatoes & Gorgonzola–another Little Jewel from the Bijouxs Kitchen.

PUY LENTILS

If you have not tried Puy lentils from France, this salad is a great entry point to these lovely little jewels. Lentils are one of the most comforting legumes, like pinto beans and chickpeas, however Lentils du Puy are immediately different to the eye from the usual brown or red lentils. With a unique blue-gray green hue and small is size, Puy lack the mushiness of other lentils. This firmer texture make them an excellent fit for salads.

PLENTY

One of my forever favorite chefs is Yotam Ottolenghi. I bought the first version of the famed restaurant’s cookbook name Ottolenghi when it was first published in England, all recipes were in grams. The platters of food in the restaurant are displayed in the most appealing manner, it was immediate love.

Puy Lentils with Roasted Tomatoes & French Triple-Cream Blue | Bijouxs Little Jewels

VEGETABLE RECIPES

It is always a blessing to lay back on the heavy foods and concentrate on fresh vegetables and legumes. The vegetable recipes featured in Plenty are among my favorites. This salad is a take from one in the cookbook, I took a slightly more French spin. A great ingredient in this salad are the roasted tomatoes, with the effort, don’t skip these.

Puy Lentils with Roasted Tomatoes & French Triple-Cream Blue | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Puy Lentils with Roasted Tomatoes & French Triple-Cream Blue | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Puy lentils and French style triple cream blue, a semi-soft cheese cross between blue and brie, are the changes. Savor this Little Jewel salad from my kitchen to yours.

 

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Small Batch Coconut Cake

Small Batch Coconut Cake | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Just the two of us…and we are hungry for a little Coconut Cake (think your favorite Lemon Bread). To the rescue–Small Batch Coconut Cake, this cake is diminutive in size but big on flavor, another Little Jewel from the Bijouxs Kitchen.

BREAD OR CAKE?

OK, what is the difference between a bread and a cake? I have always been confused. Yes, there is a difference, simply put it has to do with the leavening agents used. This post on Food 52 breaks it all down. Confusingly, classic Lemon Bread is really more like a cake baked in a loaf pan. So this recipe can be either cake or bread, which ever you like.

SMALL BATCH BAKING

All that confusion aside, simple sweet loaf cakes are my favorite. Mini loaves are easy to share with friends, take to parties, and of course are just enough for the two of us. Lemon Bread is the classic that bears repeating so, enter Small Batch Coconut Cake, a tropical take on the favorite.

Small Batch Coconut Cake| Bijouxs Little Jewels

COCONUT CAKE

Simple pantry ingredients make this cake. A sweet glaze is poured into the hot cake that creates a tender, flavorful cake. This recipe makes a perfect size cake for small households.

Enjoy another Little Jewel from the Bijouxs Kitchen.

 

 

No. 500Recipe Card Posted on 1 Comment

Bijouxs Featured 805 Living Home Issue

 Bijouxs Featured 805 Living Home Issue

 Bijouxs Featured 805 Living Home Issue

Merci, Merci again to 805 Living Magazine! Grateful to again be featured in The Home Issue. The central coast is now my new home with fresh grown produce right down the street. My Spice Poached Bananas are included in this month’s issue. On newsstands and online.

THE 805 COMMUNITY

Big thanks to the publishing team at 805 Living for including me in this Spring issue. After working as a home design consultant in Santa Barbara for 6 months, I came to know many of the great food options along the Central coast. The food community is growing.

COASTAL LIVING

The beautiful coastline creates so many opportunities for fresh seafood and a wide variety of produce grown in the many agricultural communities. The sea has influenced many of my new recipes, such as the incredible Hope Ranch Mussels with Fresh Ginger & Thai Basil and classic California Fish Tacos using our local California Rockfish.

SPICED POACHED BANANAS

This featured recipe is a take on classic Bananas Foster from New Orleans. The original recipe was inspired by a recipe from the famous chef Lee Bailey, who was way ahead of all things on food & home styling. I had the chance to take a cooking class with him and have one of his cookbooks signed – very nice memory.

ON THE HORIZON

Wow! This post marks No. 500 on the blog. Stay tuned by signing up for the recipe newsletter, there are new things coming to Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen.

 

 

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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