No. 583Recipe Card Posted on Leave a comment

Rigatoni with Rosemary and Pancetta

Rigatoni with Rosemary and Pancetta | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Rigatoni with Rosemary and Pancetta is buttery with just a hint of garlic, fresh rosemary and lighlty dotted with salty pancetta-a simple little jewel pasta for your family weeknight meal from the Membership Collection.

COOKING CLASSIC ITALIAN

This pasta originally hails from Marcella’s Italian Kitchen cookbook. Rigatoni con il Rosmarino e la Pancetta Affumicata. Back in my early cooking days I studied recipes and books from the best chefs from France and Italy. So many legends were still cooking at the time. Many of the books they wrote, such as this book from Marcella Hazan, are still very important today, containing techiques and recipe backgrounds which you do not find in many of the current glossy cookbooks.

Rigatoni with Rosemary and Pancetta | Bijouxs Little Jewels

To this point, Marcella’s cookbook contains only a handful of small photographs. The classic chefs wrote much more about the cuisine and techniques and I go back to these books in may collection over and over again. There is always something to learn in the world of cuisine.

RIGATONI WITH PANCETTA

A word about pancetta. It is a salt cured pork product, usuallly cubed and browned and added to pasta dishes, the most famous is Pasta Carbonara. Pancetta Affumicata called for here is salt-cured and smoked, similar to bacon, although good grocery store pancetta will work fine.

Fresh rosemary and a high quality butter are what make this simple dish a stand out. No need for costly ingredients, much of Italian cooking relies on what was at hand.You will notice the garlic only lightly flavors the pasta, no garlic overload, so this dish can be enjoyed by all ages.

Rigatoni with Rosemary and Pancetta another Little Jewel recipe added to the Membership Collection. Join for all-acces to 500+ recipes, here’s how to join

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No. 582Recipe Card Posted on Leave a comment

Garlic White Beans with Spicy Black Olive Vinaigrette

Garlic White Beans with Spicy Black Olive Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

These beans are so much more than just a bowl of beans, they create and contribute to a great number of dishes and are a great new Little Jewel from the Recipe Membership Collection.

SIMPLE ITALIAN FOOD

These beans come together in a flash and are a favorite that I have adapted from Canal House PRONTO! 2013. To keep things simple, use canned beans drained and rinsed. Place the beans in a bowl then start mixing in the other ingredients. With so few ingredients in the recipe using the highest quality ingredients does really make a difference. As you can guess, a really good olive oil is a must! Novello extra-virgin olive oil was my choice as it is in season. I usually find some at Trader Joe’s but only in January, as this olive oil is an early harvest. Fruity green olives and green grass overtones, yum!

TOAST WITH BEANS & SAGE

Garlic White Beans with Spicy Black Olive Vinaigrette | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

Another way to use these delicious beans is to top thick slices of country bread with the hot beans and add fried sage leaves. Very Italian. Savor the simple recipes from the Recipe Membership Collection.

 

No. 576Recipe Card Posted on Leave a comment

Spaghetti Forte with Ligurian Olives

Spaghetti Forte with Ligurian Olives | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Spicy food is a culinary tradition in hot, arid countries and LA has been no stranger to the heat. What to do about dinner always remains an ongoing question. Spaghetti Forte with Ligurian Olives, just as the name suggests, is a very strong pasta-just in time.

FOODS OF TUSCANY

There are some very special ingredients at play this version of the recipe. Simple yes, but with very intense flavors that begin with Ligurian Olives from the hills of the Italian Riviera. Both black and green olives are packed in brine along with pure mineral salt. The olives create a rich black color for the sauce, with a taste almost akin to salty caviar.

 

Spaghetti Forte with Ligurian Olives | Bijouxs Little Jewels

The Taggiasca Ligurian olives (to be exact), are mixed with capers, garlic and anchovy to coat strands of another special Tuscan local ingredient addition, Ancient Tuscan Grain Spaghettoni.

ANCIENT TUSCAN GRAINS

Spaghetti Forte with Ligurian Olives | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Spaghetti Forte with Ligurian Olives | Bijouxs Little Jewels

These Tuscan Ancient Organic grains are farmed, milled and bronzed but all within 4 miles, keeping this a very local and closed loop product. I discovered these grains online and it is a more ‘toothsome” pasta, similiar to our whole wheat. A special Bronze Extrusion process is used that gives the pasta a rougher surface texture. This allows the sauce to really attach to the pasta, making every bite a flavorful experience. This pasta stands up to the assertive flavors of olives, garlic and capers of the sauce.
Spaghetti Forte with Ligurian Olives | Bijouxs Little Jewels
Just add little jewels of red pepper flakes – a plate of intense flavor to counter that spicy craving.
Stay Strong!

 

No. 574Recipe Card Posted on Leave a comment

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.