Category: Brunch

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NOLA Bread Pudding

NOLA Bread Pudding | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Let’s celebrate Fat Tuesday in real New Orleans style with the big easy New Orleans Bread Pudding. The newest Little Jewel from the Bijouxs Kitchen.

NEW ORLEANS SCHOOL OF COOKING

Starting with my story of this recipe I have to go way back to my young days and daily walks around New Orleans to discover the city. I happened to be there on a movie location, way back-when the world was steady-and you could just cruise around the city on your own.I stumbled on The New Orleans School of Cooking on Conti Street and walked in. I met Joe Cahn who opened the original school in the 80’s. I signed up for a class on New Orleans cuisine which included File’ Gumbo (real deal), Jambalaya, Pralines, and of course Bread Pudding.

‘CRAZY’ JOE

That’s what I fondly called him after my first day of cooking class. I remember him teaching us to make the roux for the gumbo, which you must take to a near-burning-smoking dark chocolate brown color, you must be daring!  This is what gives the gumbo its flavor. I knew I was somewhere special and saved my recipe packet, complete with my notes, which I still have to this day.

NEW ORLEANS BREAD PUDDING

The thing is this is one of the easiest recipes and one of the best from the class. The basic ingredients are all mixed together, then poured into a buttered baking dish. A big easy. After baking a puffed, brown sweet pudding emerges. You of course, must complete the dish with Whiskey Sauce.

NOLA Bread Pudding | Bijouxs Little Jewels

NOLA Bread Pudding | Bijouxs Little Jewel

 

 

ORIGINAL NEW ORLEANS SCHOOL OF COOKING

I searched and found about Joe, who sadly has passed. He was a key chef in the New Orleans food scene. In my search I found this photo of the original cooking school location. Just as I remember walking in to a a young bride visiting the city. Joe loved the great culinary treasures of the region and shared so we could take them home and make them our own. My memory was prompted by all the Super Bowl Images of New Orleans, a beautiful city.

 

BREAD PUDDING

Every year, about the time of Fat Tuesday, I get the urge to bake up a real New Orleans bread pudding, via Joe’s recipe. Nothing could be easier and better than this recipe. The only tweak I have made is soaking the raisins in whisky prior to baking-adding a boozy-punch to the pudding. Of course I top it with the whiskey sauce, repeating the flavor.

NOLA Bread Pudding | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Join me in celebrating Fat Tuesday and the cuisine with New Orleans-Bread Pudding from The Collection.

 

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Spiced Winter Oats with Fruits & Nuts

Spiced Winter Oats with Fruits & Nuts | Bijouxs Little Jewels

During the dark days of Winter, which seem to be dragging on endlessly, comes a bowl of Spiced Winter Oats with Fruits & Nuts – the newest Little Jewel Recipe added to the Collection Membership.

WINTER SPICE MIX

I have been circling around the house avoiding the foggy days here on the Central Coast. My comforts included the bowl of Spiced Winter Oats with Fruits & Nuts, enjoyed anytime of day. Begin by make the Warming Winter Spice mix. You will use this for more than these oats, sprinkle on buttered toast, or add to your yogurt bowls. The Spice Mix is inspired from one I purchased long ago in San Francisco from March SF. The store is lovely, do check it out. I set out to recreate this spice and I think I got very close. A blend of cinnamon, allspice, anise and black pepper combine for peppery-warm mix.
Spiced Winter Oats with Fruits & Nuts | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

STEEL CUT OATS

I decided on Steel Cut Oats which are simmered with a touch of tahini and the spice blend. These two ingredients are what make this oatmeal special.  Water is added and the oats are cook to the desired level of creaminess. The oats are spooned into bowls, adding dried fruit such as raisins, and sweet papaya (my personal favorite, feel free to used dried) along with nuts such as pistachios and hazelnuts.
Spiced Winter Oats with Fruits & Nuts | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Spiced Winter Oats with Fruits & Nuts | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Spiced Winter Oats with Fruits & Nuts | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

WARMING BOWL OF OATS

To finish top add a few spoonfuls of warm vanilla almond ‘malk’ and a drizzle of Maple syrup.  The recipe is adaptable, use your favorite nuts and dried fruits. Savor Spiced Winter Oats with Fruits & Nuts, a new winter little Jewel from Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen.

 

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Green Goddess Salad with Crunchy Granola

Green Goddess Salad with Crunchy Granola | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Green Goddess Salad with Crunchy Granola is a light and lovely salad with the surprise crunch from seeded granola. Salads are always a little jewel from the Bijouxs Recipe Membership.

GREEN GODDESS

Salads are at the top of my list for meal-makers and starters. I am always keeping my eyes out for new ways with the salad bowl.

This salad is a fresh take on the Green Goddess salad, with a much lighter than usual green dressing. I enjoy the fresh herbs, avocado oil and Dijon mustard that join for the dressing. I used Little Gem lettuce a favorite, along with leaves of red radicchio for color & flavor.

Green Goddess Salad with Crunchy Granola | Bijouxs Little Jewels

CRUNCHY SEEDED GRANOLA

The surprise here is a crunchy granola topping in lieu of the usual croutons. A simple seeded granola is baked with seeds; pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds and rolled oats. Spiced with red chili flakes and honey for a sweet-spicy kick.

Green Goddess Salad with Crunchy Granola |Bijouxs Little Jewels

Simply Beautiful Food for the home cook by Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen.

 

 

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Cranberry-Rosemary Breakfast Pudding

Cranberry-Rosemary Breakfast Pudding | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Good Morning! Your holiday kitchen will smell like sweet French toast when you pull this custard-based bread pudding casserole from the oven. I adore the combination of tart cranberries and savory rosemary, an ideal holiday breakfast.

BREAKFAST PUDDING

Just the name of this recipe puts you immediately in the mood for a holiday breakfast event, you don’t want to miss this recipe. A simple bread pudding is made from cubes of sourdough bread soaked overnight with cranberries in an egg batter and made slightly savory with fresh rosemary and lemon. In the morning you are ready to bake.

Cranberry-Rosemary Breakfast Pudding | Bijouxs Little Jewels

STAUB GRATIN

My Staub Oval Gratin is a treasured Little Jewel. This beautiful color was from the Jenni Kayne Home Collection, where I worked as a designer. William Sonoma carries the oval gratin available in a a pretty graphite color. The gratin’s shape and depth make it a perfect vessel for so many recipes that require a large crust area, such as this Cranberry-Rosemary Breakfast Pudding. Easy to prepare and a joy to serve.

Cranberry-Rosemary Breakfast Pudding | Bijouxs Little Jewels

It is served here with a cranberry whipped crème fraîche, taking it to the dessert level.

Cranberry-Rosemary Breakfast Pudding | Bijouxs Little Jewels

CHEF &THE FARMER

This recipe was originated by Vivian Howard, of Chef & the Farmer in North Carolina which sadly closed. Hopeful she will continue her cookbooks, A Chef ‘s Life show and perhaps open another restaurant. Cheers.

 

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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…

Still Hungry?