Category: Brunch

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. 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. 608Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Wild Plum Streusel

Wild Plum Streusel | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Wild plums gathered  from the seaside coast of California are the basis of this luscious, buttery-rich Orcas Island Wild Plum Streusel, a Little Jewel from the Recipe Membership Collection.

WILD PLUMS

A very random collection of dead-ripe small plums were brought to me by a friend, so ripe I had to act fast not to lose their lusciousness. The plums were different varieties of almost-wild trees growing up along the California coast. These were found at a coastal farmers market in the over-ripe bin. I adore plums and since these plums were more-than-ready to use, I was on the hunt for a recipe. I have many plum recipes on my blog, but this one caught my eye.

Wild Plum Streusel | Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen

 

This recipe hails from Orcas Island. I have been near the area but never to Orcas Island, it looks so beautiful. All of the San Juans are amazing. Vashon Island off the coast of Seattle is one island have to I traveled to and loved. Orcas Island is further north and sits firmily in the within the San Juan Islands. Definetly worth a visit.

OK, the plums are the interesting thing about this recipe. The orcas plums used in the original recipe  are slightly tart, and the wild-ish ones gathered  from north of Santa Barbara I used were also slightly tart. Everyone who tried this streusel commented on how they thought it would be sweet, but instead it was slightly tart. I liked this aspect of the streusel. Try to locate some small tart plums, for the full flavor of the orginal recipe. A cherry pitter will speed things up in removing the pits. The pitted plums are placed on top of a quick cake batter that creates the base of the streusel. Soft buttery cake on the bottom, sweet-tart plums with the streusel topping- yum! Serve with a scoop of gelato.

Wild Plum Streusel | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

MEMBERSHIP COLLECTION

Savor the season with Membership Collection Recipe No. 608. Easy to join the Collection to access over 600+ recipes only $35.00 for the full year.

 

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Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Spring in the garden heralded by my first artichokes. Inspired, a new recipe for the Collection Membership a crispy Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette. Join and as a member access all 600 recipes.

SPRING IN THE GARDEN

As we all know this Spring weather has been a bit wonky everywhere, hard to plan a garden this year. I have held off on planting my lettuce and herbs, the fog has made it dismal here on the CA Coast. However, my tried & true artichokes mananged to squeek out a few artichokes.

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

ARTICHOKE PANINI

The dreary weather has kept me indoors but I happened on a delighful recipe from Joy’s Once Upon a Thyme featured in Diner’s Driveins and Dives. Joy created a crispy artichoke panini served with the best dressing. They are located in beautiful lush Chehalis Washington.

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

BASIL VINAIGRETTE

Her salad dressing is so much in demand that they sell bottles of it at the restaurant, really. While I do not have her exact recipe, I have come pretty closed by tinkering with the ingredients. The episode on DDD does tell more about the basil dressing, which she says people want to drink, it’s that good. Photo from website.

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Enjoy this crispy Artichoke Pesto Panini with Basil Vinaigrette. Cheers.

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