Category: Recipes

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Dishoom’s Gunpowder Potatoes

Dishoom's Gunpowder Potatoes| Bijouxs Little Jewels

You got me with the Masala Chai. The Indian recipes found in Dishoom: From Bombay with Love are amazing. I have been dabbling with Indian cuisine for years but this book’s Gunpowder Potatoes are worth the read. Armchair traveling from Bombay with Love is a Little Jewel from the Kitchen.

BOMBAY CUISINE

Indian cuisine is soo so much more than just curry. I like to bring you the best recipes from all cuisines to the website, cook’s love to learn and share.

The recipes in From Bombay with Love are from Mumbai and are dishes that are traditionally found in that region. Learning to cook the world’s cuisines is a challenge, however the flavors are well worth it. Dishoom’s Gunpowder Potatoes are a prime example of complex spices and flavors that really make humble new potatoes sing. This is also a good entry point into Bombay cooking, The potatoes make a unique &  flavorful side to accompany an entree.

Dishoom's Gunpowder Potatoes | Bijouxs Litle Jewels

GUNPOWDER POTATOES

Flavors building on flavors is the key to these potatoes. Toast and grind the trio of spices to release the oils and scents from the spices.
Simply steamed small new potatoes are then broiled to achieve a crispy golden crust. The tender potatoes are cut into craggy pieces using a large metal spoon. These rough edges absorb all the favor goodness.

Next the rest of the ingredients including the melted butter with onions, cilantro, lime and chili, are tossed with the bowl of hot potatoes. Optional is Kebab Masala, a unique Indian spice blend, I do recommend adding it, it adds another depth of flavor (found on Amazon of course).

Dishoom's Gunpowder Potatoes | Bijouxs Litle Jewels

 

From Bombay with Love – Little Jewels from the Dishoom Kitchen.

 

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Paley’s Place Sausage & Mushroom Ragú

Paley’s Place Sausage & Mushroom Ragú | Bijouxs Little Jewels

The Pacific Northwest Paley’s Place , a recipe and cookbook that are both little jewels- Paley’s Place Sausage & Mushroom Ragú-No.552 The Recipe Collection

PALEY’S PLACE

After 26 years the Portland iconic restaurant closed in 2021. Left behind is a classic cookbook filled with recipes from Vitaly and Kimberly Paley. I have a million cookbooks but this one is special and filled with recipes and stores from the beautiful Pacific Northwest. It looks like a happy place no doubt. I found  my copy on Amazon.

Paley’s Place Sausage & Mushroom Ragú | Bijouxs Little Jewels

PALEY’S PLACE PORK RAGU

This recipe caught my eye. The spices in the sauce as very similar to my Baked Ziti with Sausage. A very memorable recipe from my No. 1 Family and Friends Cookbook.  Cinnamon is the spice that adds the ‘can’t put my finger on it” it’s delicious but what is it? 

The thinking comes from chef Vitaly Paley and unexpected flavors from his visit to Istanbul with his Turkish wife. He was able to infuse things from eastern Mediterranean, and Ottoman Empire flavors. There is so much to learn from the world cuisines, which is what keeps me cooking, always learning.

In his book, he shares his spice blend for making the pork sausage, which is quite simple and worth taking a look at. This recipe via 177MilkStreet uses bulk Italian Sweet Sausage as a short cut. I used the short cut however, I included a dash of paprika, ground fennel and ground star anise, which are the spices he used for his sausage recipe. The sauce is light but packed with flavor the perfect pair with a wide pasta such as Pappardelle.

Paley’s Place Sausage & Mushroom Ragú | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Cookbooks become the vessel to store all our food memories Little Jewels from the Kitchen.

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Blackberry Catsup

Blackberry Catsup | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

Catsup or Ketchup, either way this Blackberry Catsup is so simple & delicious you will never want to buy ketchup again. Blackberry Catsup the newest Little Jewel from the Membership Recipe Collection.

RECIPE NO. 551

The Membership Recipe Collection keeps growing. With full access to over 550 recipes, with NO ADS, NO POPUPS no tracking. Nothing to interrupt your cooking mojo. I have created the Recipe Membership with a very low yearly subscription rate, less than $2.00 per month! Fully searchable with a PRINT RECIPE tab that allows you to easily print recipes. Plus, you have access via your phone or any device, perfect for pulling up  ingredients for a recipe. Oh, and lastly beautiful simple photography and cookbooks to order as well. I have got you cooking covered!

Blackberry Catsup | Bijouxs Little Jewels

CATSUP OR KETCHUP

Checking into this issue it seems either title is correct for this beloved condiment. My search unearthed an interesting fact. Both names are Westernized terms for a condiment that has origins in China: fish sauce. Who knew? I love these little known facts about recipes.

Blackberry Catsup | Bijouxs Little Jewels

SIMPLE INGREDIENTS

The ingredients are simple, you may have most of them on hand except the fresh blackberries. The recipe comes from my all-time favorite chef-designer, Lee Bailey. An immense talent, he contributed food, tabletop, garden and design books. I met Lee at a local book signing for Cooking with Friends. Great recipes for guests and simple home style meals. Lee was never fussy. Many of his books contain the tabletop items he designed and sold. This from Saveur Magazine, tells you he was at the beginning of the taste movement. His shop in Henri Bendel NYC was fabulous.

Blackberry Catsup | Bijouxs Little Jewels

I like to make my own dips, dressings etc. and there are a bounty of them to choose from in the Recipe Membership Collection. This way you know what is in them, control the ingredients and avoid all the nasty additives in processed food. Never a better case for creating your own condiments.

 

 

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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.

 

 

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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.

 

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