Category: Cocktail Hour

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Baked Sweet Potato Fries with Grated Romano Cheese

Baked Sweet Potato Fries with Grated Romano Cheese |Bijouxs Little Jewels

Crispy sweet and salty fries what is not to love? Baked Sweet Potato Fries with Grated Romano Cheese another little jewel recipe from the Recipe Membership Collection.

GOING GREEN

This recipe is adapted from one of my favorite new cookbooks. In my search for all-things plant based I saw incredible burgers from Martin Nortin’s book, Green Burgers.The Zucchini with Grilled Green Onions and Garlic is wonderful. I have cooked the recipe but my burgers do not look at gourgous as the photos in the book. I really respect the author, he photograped and created the book by himself, I know about that gig myself with my cookbooks.

ALL ABOUT THE SIDES

The sides are almost as important as the burgers, after all are not fries required with a burger? I love potatoes, all varieties. In the above mentioned book, I love that the author has provided a generous selection of sides. I have not been doing as much frying lately, so the Bake Sweet Potato Fries caught my eye. These fries are made with Japanese sweet potatoes.

Baked Sweet Potato Fries with Grated Romano Cheese | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Baked Sweet Potato Fries with Grated Romano Cheese | Bijouxs Little Jewels

JAPANESE SWEET POTATOES

Japanes sweet potatoes vary from our American sweet potatoes. With a red skin, pale interior and fluffy texture the Japanese Murasaki variety are a bit creamier. They can be roasted at high heats, 425-450 degrees F. They work wonderfully for sweet potato oven fries. They can take the heat to develop a brown crust and stay soft. One of the best potatoes for oven sweet potato fries.

Baked Sweet Potato Fries with Grated Romano Cheese | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Baked Sweet Potato Fries with Grated Romano Cheese Recipe No. 550 from the Recipe Membership.

 

 

No. 520Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Crispy Baked Shrimp

Crispy Baked Shrimp | Bijouxs Little Jewels

A take on the retro friend ‘Shake’n Bake’ seasoning goes grain-free and gets amped up with spices–bake up some Crispy Baked Shrimp more Little Jewels from the Kitchen.

CRISPY SHRIMP

Bake don’t fry, let’s keep this recipe easy and healthy. No need to fry these shrimp, they are perfectly crispy baked in the oven with a savory crunchy coating. You could fry these shrimp, but why?

As you can see, a sheet pan works perfect to bake the shrimp to a crispy golden brown.

Crispy Baked Shrimp | Bijouxs Little Jewels

JUMBO TAIL ON SHRIMP

Don’t skimp on the shrimp. Jumbo or Large shrimp tail on are optimal for this recipe. Source your shrimp from your local fish monger where you can ensure the shrimp is fresh and from a sustainable source. 

It’s nice to keep the tail on to hold while you dip the shrimp in your favorite seafood sauce. 

Crispy Baked Shrimp | Bijouxs Little Jewels

SPICY COCKTAIL SAUCE

No need to make your own cocktail sauce. I use a good organic brand and doctor it up with a little Old Bay Seasoning, just the kick a bottled sauce will need.

No. 520 Baked Crispy Shrimp recipes from the Collection Membership. Join for all-access to my 520 recipes. Thank you for your support!

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Bijouxs Bites: Portuguese Sausage Rolls

Bijouxs Bites: Portuguese Sausage Rolls | Bijouxs Little Jewels

It’s been a minute since I posted a Bijouxs Bites recipe! Ok, here is one I use often when enteratining guests. Retro-favorite favorite pigs-in-a blanket come to mind with Portuguese Sausage Rolls-a simple little bite from the Bijouxs Kitchen.

PIGS IN BLANKETS

I confess, I always loved when my Mom made Pigs-in-Blankets, even though she made them with ready-made biscuit dough and little smokey sausages, so very retro. Fast foward, still loving these crispy bites I now make them with all-butter puff pastry and smoked Portuguese sausage. Also great, is no need for perfection, just slice dough to fit sausage.

Bijouxs Bites: Portuguese Sausage Rolls | Bijouxs Little Jewels

PORTUGUESE SAUSAGE

This Hawaiian breakfast classic landed on my radar during my honeymoon in Hawaii; served with scrambled eggs it became my go-to breakfast. Back home in LA we found a great little cafe in Eagle Rock that served the same breakfast, so that was now on our Sunday breakfast repeat. A million years (seriously) have passed but somehow Portuguese sausage once again came into view at my local Whole Foods, into the basket it went.

My first thought was breakfast, but I noticed sausage rolls on IG for parties…hum let’s do it with Portuguese sauage. The test recipe turned out to be a winner and sooooo easy. I plan on serving these as part of a summer appetizer. Savor another Little Jewel from my Bijouxs Kitchen to yours.

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Spiced Pickled Grapes

Spiced Pickled Grapes | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Let’s get pickled. Spiced Pickled Grapes are sweet, crisp and spiced–another simple Little Jewel from the Bijouxs Kitchen.

MAKING PICKLES

Pickles can be much more than cucumbers. I love to make pickled vegetables and fruits. They are easy to make, no canning required. The result is crisp, fresh and tangy sides which make great condiments for meats and salads. In the Spring it’s time for these wonderful Pickled Peaches with Brandy topping both both savory and sweet dishes. Spice up your cocktail hour with Quick & Spicy Pickled Vegetables. This Quick Thai Cucumber Pickle makes a simple side salad and uses just one cucumber.

My recipes are often driven by the need to not to waste food. We used to pickle to preserve food. My Grandmother pickled or preserved just about every vegetable and fruit she grew. After surviving the Great Depression she planned ahead. My favorite book with introduces the concept of “cooking with economy and grace” in An Everlasting Meal. This is a lovely book that I needed back in 2011 with a job loss looming, not so far off in today’s work climate. This pickle is a take on Tamar Alder’s pickle recipe.

Spiced Pickled Grapes | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

SPICED PICKLED GRAPES

I had an extra bunch of sweet red grapes left from a charcuterie board I served recently. Feeling it’s now time for some fresh flavors as Winter begins to turn to Spring. Quick pickling is a method to capture the freshness of the ingredient and flavor with a sweet-tart vinegar based brine-don’t worry it is easy.

Spiced Pickled Grapes | Bijouxs Little Jewels

First, up make the brining liquid which consists of vinegar, brown sugar and some flavorful spices. Bring to a simmer then pour the hot brine over the grapes in a heat-proof bowl.
Allow to cool to room temperature. Place in glass jar and store in the refrigerator. They should keep tighly sealed for about a month. I always check by a quick smell to make sure food is still fresh.

Spiced Pickled Grapes |Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

Honestly, I have been snacking on the grapes right from the jar. Think also of using the grapes along with creamy goat cheese tossed in a simple salad of tender baby greens.
Preserving today is a little jewel.

 

 

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