Category: Dessert

No. 557Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Cake

Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Cake | Bijouxs Little Jewels

A cake to love-Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Cake, a simple cake for anytime snacking.

LEMONS & BLUEBERRIES

Two of my all-time favorites of the summer season join forces to create a cake that will always be appreciated. Living up in the Central Coast citrus and fruits abound. The lemons go rampent this time of year, so many on the trees it’s hard to use them all. My neighbors supply me with even more lemons that I can use so I freeze the juice in ice cubes tray to brighten up the not-so-sunny winter gloom of days to arrive soon.

Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Cake| Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

RICOTTA CHEESE

The magic of this cake is the whole milk ricotta cheese which adds a dense, creamy texture-the cake will keep for a few days making it a favorite mid-day grab with an espresso.

Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Cake | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Cake | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

BAKING THE CAKE

As I has previosuly reported, my move up the coast has placed me is a new home, with an old wall oven that always burns the edges of everything! I have tried many tactics, nothing left but to pray to replace the oven soon. Your cake will not have  the dark brown crust on the edges, but in case you are destined with an old oven, not to worry the crust does not distract from the tender texture of the cake.

Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Cake | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

BEAUTIFUL FOOD BY DESIGN

I finally have completed my 4th cookbook Belle du Jour (beauty of the day). It has over 120 pages, lots of new recipes and has been a labor of love. I produce all parts of the book myself (call me crazy) from recipe preparation, photography, and book design, and publication. I offer the book, like my others, in digtial interactive format and print copy, both will be on my website shop just like my other cookbooks.

My next cookbook is already in my mind. That you for you support!

 

 

No. 549Recipe Card Posted on by — 2 Comments

Martha’s Bottom-Crust Apple Pie

Martha’s Bottom-Crust Apple Pie | Bijouxs Little Jewels

The All-American Apple pie, with a just a bit of a flavor twist. This pie is an old-fashioned Bottom-Crust Apple Pie I have been making for years, but the apples are flavored with a Winter Spice Blend. The cinnamon, allspice, anise seeds, black pepper and nutmeg create a one-of-a-kind spice blend that complements the apples. A Little Jewel from the Bijouxs Little Jewels Kitchen – Fall Forward.

Martha’s Bottom-Crust Apple Pie | Bijouxs Little Jewels

MARTHA MY DEAR

I always think of the Beatles song, Martha My Dear, which was composed for Paul’s sheepdog Martha. This recipe comes from a heritage cook from my vast collection, Martha Stewart’s Quick Cook, still a favorite in the Bijouxs Kitchen. There are many great recipes and you can still find used versions of this book on Amazon. This has worked to help me find many out-of-print cookbooks, many times available through thrift shops such as Goodwill.

OLD-FASHIONED BOTTOM CRUST APPLE PIE

This pie recipe is not common, yet omitting the top crust and replacing it with sugar, spices and butter it really allows the apple flavor to come through. Deeper than a tart it has been my go-to apple pie to make with my yearly bounty of over 100+ Anna Apples on my tree again this year. This apple tree variety really likes the coastal influence vs the hot interior valley. Yet, the Anna variety grows fabulous in Southern California, and bears a boatload of fruit. Check your local garden stores, this is one apple variety that bears fruit in warm California weather. More about Anna Apple Trees here.

Martha’s Bottom-Crust Apple Pie | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Martha’s Bottom-Crust Apple Pie | Bijouxs Little Jewels

WINTER SPICE BLEND

The Winter Spice Blend originated at March SF. This is one of my favorite stores to visit when in the beautiful city by the bay. As we all know, cities have changed since the downturn from COVID and other factors. The images from our cities are not dissimilar to the Great Depression, so sad for everyone. Their Winter Spice Blend contained allspice, anise seed, black pepper and nutmeg it remains a favorite, yet it is no longer available via the store.

So, I have tried here to recreate the blend to season this apple pie. The spice blend has a unique peppery finish. It is perfect for fall cooking, so make up a batch. Using a small coffee grinder dedicated to spices makes creating your own spice bends easy, as well, pie. Little Jewel No. 549 in the Recipe Collection.

 

No. 541Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Apple La Flognarde

Apple La Flognarde | Bijouxs Little Jewels

A simple French dessert made from apples and some pantry basics makes this sweet baked Apple La Flognarde, another Little Jewel from the Kitchen Recipe Collection, perfect for Mother’s Day.

FLAUGNARDE VS CLAFOUTI

I have featured both a clafoutis and flaugnarde recipes previously at Bijouxs, and they provide the basis of this recipe as well. All of these simple French fruit desserts begin with what you will recognize as very thin crepe-like batter, that when baked, surrounds the fruit with a semi-firm custard. Served warm or as a cold dessert, these are French simplicity at its best.

Apple La Flognarde | Bijouxs Little Jewels

TRADTIONAL APPLE LA FOLGNARDE

Really, Apple La Flognarde is a clafoutis. That is to say that when made with apples this dish is more commonly referred to as a flognarde, the same simple sweet batter is used. The author Colette wrote “The flognarde becomes a huge blister that fills the oven, turning golden, brown, bursting here, swelling there…At the height of its eruptions, remove it, sweeten it with a little powdered sugar and share it while it’s boiling hot.” I love this perfect description of this apple dish.

I peel and chop the apple into large chunks that rise up when baking and create crispy peaks. These peaks create deep nooks for the Crème Anglaise and powdered sugar to sink into, dreamy.

Apple La Flognarde | Bijouxs Little Jewels

SWEET ENDINGS

Apple La Flognarde | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

This simple, crustless eggy custard-based dessert pairs well with a dousing of Crème Anglaise, very easily created by melting vanilla gelato or ice cream. The sweet cream adds a richness to the dessert. Happy Mother’s Day.

 

No. 539Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Skillet Blueberry Cobbler with Biscuits

SKILLET BLUEBBERRY COBBLER WITH BUTTERMILK BISCUITS | Bijouxs Little Jewels

This recipe includes 3 things that I love: a cast iron skillet, wild blueberries and biscuits. Together they create this easy SKILLET BLUEBERRY COBBLER WITH BUTTERMILK BISCUITS, another Little Jewel from the Recipe Collection.

COBBLERS

Cobblers are at the top of my simple go-to dessert list. A couple favorites inlude a Basic Strawberry Cobbler and my all time favorite Pumpkin Cobbler. Cooking in a cast iron skillet makes this dessert so easy.

SKILLET BLUEBBERRY COBBLER WITH BUTTERMILK BISCUITS | Bijouxs Little Jewels

BIG SUR BISCUITS

My Big Sur Biscuits are wonderful, but without time and guests on the way I resorted to buttermilk canned ready-to-bake biscuits, which actutally were not bad. Look at the label for the ingredients many have Palm Oil, might want to avoid those. There are other natural biscuits alternatives to try.

SKILLET BLUEBBERRY COBBLER WITH BUTTERMILK BISCUITS Bijouxs Little Jewels

BLUEBERRIES

Blueberries are a household favorite for desserts, breakfast and morning smoothies. My current favorite is Wyman’s Wild Blueberries frozen and perfect to keep on hand.
I love them on my Buckwheat Pancakes with Blueberries, thin, crispy with a nutty flavor.

RECIPE MEMBERSHIP COLLECTION

Please enjoy this simple BLUEBBERRY COBBLER. Collect all of my 538 Little Jewel Recipes, especially created for the home cook. Members gain access to over 500+ curated recipes plus access to all new recipes added monthly. AD-FREE with Print-Friendly recipes.
Recipes have been collected from my travels all over the world with cuisines from Italy, France and of course, Classic Home Style Cooking.

Join here.

 

No. 537Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

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.

 

Still Hungry?