Category: Snacks

No. 615Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

Blueberry Crisp

Blueberry Crisp | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Blueberries–dark, mysterious little glistening jewels, precious and sweet–dare I say, perfect for Blueberry Crisp, a simple jewel from the Bijouxs kitchen.

FOOD MEMORIES

It’s funny how cravings happen. A simple thought, conversation, or image can return you to a meal, a taste, a time and a place. Our beautiful Pacific Northwest is a place I have traveled to and enjoyed for many years–eating my fill of huckleberries, wild salmon and peaches to die for, and also…

Blueberry Crisp | Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen

COASTAL SUMMER

When people California imagine summertime on the Central Coast, they’re probably thinking of blue skies and ocean breezes with perfect surfing waves. In fact, it’s usually about 60+ degrees here and the ocean is a little gnarly, the fog clouds hang like dark stubble out off the coast. But every afternoon we get a prevailing sea breeze and the sun usually shines.

LOCAL BLUEBERRIES

I have been able to pickup nice blueberries grown just north of me along the coast. I’m lucky to be North of LA and nestled in some of best fruit and vegetable agricultural growers. Baskets of bluberries are found at my Farmer’s Markets.

The memory of blueberries baked into a crisp in the Pacific Northwest. I recreated this lovely treat at home and it’s easy to do. Living in the dry, arid environs of Los Angeles area has precluded me from picking up fresh wild blueberries from the market, but I have found solace in the intense natural flavor from local berries, they make a bright, quick crisp.

Blueberry Crisp | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

BLUEBERRY CRISP

This recipe is one of the best I have ever encountered, no joke. It came from an vintage Saveur Magazine Numer 51, The California Road Trip. I am so happy I have kept all my Saveur copies for many years I subscribed. My many road trips north to Seattle area have lead me to the most amazing blueberries. This crisp recipe from the Trnindad area is like no other. So simple but the crispy-sweet crust is the winning part of the recipe.

Blueberry Crisp | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Blueberry Crisp | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Just a bite of this crisp takes me back, it hopefully will evoke a memory of your own, a comforting time now easily recreated in a dish. Enjoy!

 

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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Vietnamese Coffee Granola

Vietnamese Coffee Granola | Bijouxs Little Jewels

VIETNAMESE COFFEE GRANOLA

Good Morning! The creamy flavor of Vietnamese coffee is part of this breakfast bowl-Vietnamese Coffee Granola, the newest Little Jewel #607 from the Collection Membership.

 

VIETNAMESE COFFEE GRANOLA |Bijouxs Litle Jewels

VIETNAMESE COFFEE GRANOLA | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

VIETNAMESE COFFEE

One of my favorite parts of dining on Vietnamese cuisine is the rich, sweet flavor of a Vietnamese coffee. At one point in time, I had a real Vietnamese coffee drip maker (update I just got a new one) and tried my hand at making these sweet and potent cups of coffee. Mine were never ever as good as the restaurant version. There also is a preferred coffee Cafe Du Monde to use for classic results.

VIETNAMESE COFFEE GRANOLA | Bijouxs Little Jewels

COFFEE GRANOLA

Loving Vietnamese coffee lead me to a way to flavor granola with the same creamy, coffee sweetness. How? You begin with basic coffee ingredients of sweetned condensed milk and coffee. Next the basic granola components of rolled oats, cashews, pecans and pumpkin seeds. Flavor with cinnamon and cardomom. Melted coocnut oil is also mixed in with the granola mixture, completed.

Bake the granola on a standard half sheet pan lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. Bake the granola, watching over it during the 40 minute or so bake, giving it a mix a few times during baking for even browning. That’s it. You favorite coffee is now in your breakfast bowl. Top with sliced fresh fruit and Vanilla Almond Malk. Coffee is served. Store the granola in a glass sealed jar. Good Morning!

VIETNAMESE COFFEE GRANOLA | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

 

 

No. 602Recipe Card Posted on by — Leave a comment

French Strawberry Preserves

French Strawberry Preserves | Bijouxs Little Jewels

More and more, we all wonder as we cruise the vast supermarket aisles, “Where did this food come from and what’s really in it?” Food labels are akin to reading hieroglyphics. Consider this simple, classic everyday beauty, French Strawberry Preserves – just a few ingredients with loads of fresh flavor.

FRENCH PRESERVES

This recipe is adapted from Mes Confitures: The Jams and Jellies of Christine Ferber, real French preserves. The difference I can see is the technique for making the preserves, it is a very easy 3-day procedure, and it produces the best jam I have made thus far.

French Strawberry Preserves | Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen

FRAISES DE BOIS STRAWBERRIES

This variety of smaller, more delicate strawberry is also referred to as Alpine Strawberry in English. I had grown them at my cherished Spanish Bungalow, now so close to the sea, berries are more difficult to grow without ample sun. Lucky they are grown in the drier inland commercial farms near me. I used them here in the French Preserves.

TOAST AND JAM

French Strawberry Preserves | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Always a comfort toast & jam and a cup of tea, savor French Strawberry Preserves No. 602 from the Collection.

 

 

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Slow Cooker Gingerbread Pudding

Slow Cooker Gingerbread Pudding | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Slow Cooker Gingerbread Pudding has now become an extremely addicting fovever-favorite, another Little Jewel from the Kitchen.

GINGERBREAD

Is there any better smell than gingergread baking? You have to wait until you open the Instant Pot, but wow, there it is. Traditional spices of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg along with molasses make this almost-impossible pudding work. All the things you love and more are here in this recipe.

SLOW COOKER PUDDING

Ok, I admit I was a bit skeptical about making a pudding in the slow cooker. Acutally, it turned out better than I thought and I got to try a new cooking mode on my Instant Pot. I love the Instant Pot as a pressure cooker, and it was also spot-on as a slow cooker. (You can also cook the pudding in a traditional medium size slow cooker set on HIGH)
Slow Cooker Gingerbread Pudding|Bijouxs Little Jewels

GINGERBREAD PUDDING

I love my old English Gingerbread recipe a great classic, but this pudding now has become a new favorite. The pudding is soft, almost runny, filled with all the spices you love, plus a buttery brown sugar topping that sets this pudding apart. I cannot resist a spoonful before serving.
Slow Cooker Gingerbread Pudding | Bijouxs Little Jewels
Slow Cooker Gingerbread Pudding Bijouxs Little Jewels
Slow Cooker Gingerbread Pudding – another Little Jewel from the Kitchen.

 

Still Hungry?