Category: Recipes

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Marsala Olive Oil Cake

Marsala Olive oil Cake Bijouxs Little Jewels

Bijouxs has lots of love for Olive Oil cakes. Baking got me through the days of cooking confinement. Thank goodness that is all behind us. I bring you Marsala Olive Oil Cake, another Little Jewel from the Kitchen.

OLIVE OIL CAKE

Marsala Olive Oil Cake is a version of the the now famous olive oil cake, Torta di Olio, from Maialino Restaurent in NYC. I posted my citrus take on that cake here. I love to see recipes get passed around, and changed, as happens many times with most of us who cook. Just a little more of this and less of that. I saw this cake by Chef Camilla Marcus, via Eye Swoon and adapted it. Just what I needed another olive oil cake recipe! One reason I love these sturdy olive oil cakes it that they are not a bit fussy and one-bowl wonders. I chose Marsala for the fotified wine, I feel Marsala is under utilized for baking. Marsala was a popular cooking wine back when I started my food education. 

Marsala Olive oil Cake |Bijouxs Little Jewels

RECIPE ARCHIVE

This cake is a recipe I photographed during the dark days of the confinement. I was able to get some groceries delivered so I kept calm and cooked.  Was it really two years ago? I built quite an archive during that period, with about 20 more recipes that are waiting to be shared. “Cooking can keep a person who tries sane” this truth from John Irving.

So, let’s keep cooking with Bijouxs Little Jewels from the Kitchen.

 

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Cherry Tomatoes w/ Sumac Shallots

Cherry Tomatoes w/ Sumac Shallots Bijouxs Little Jewels

This salad is a case in point of simply beautiful food from the home kitchen and no special skills are required. Sumac, a spice to become friendly with adds to easy-to-find produce for a salad layered with flavors. Cherry Tomatoes with Sumac Shallots- Beautiful Food by Design.

CHERRY TOMATOES W/ SUMAC SHALLOTS

Sumac plays the star role in the salad do not skip this step .Preparing the marinated shallots is simple and well worth the effort. Sumac is easily ordered online.

SIMPLE SALADS

Cherry tomatoes, basil leaves and crunchy pistachios blend to create a simple, yet complex flavored salad. This recipe is adapted from the master of using spices and seasonings to ramp up the flavors of just about everything, Yotam Ottolenghi. I have learned to use so many new spices from his many great cookbooks. I made a few small changes to the salad based on my on-hand ingredients, using only Heirloom cherry tomatoes and toasted pistachios instead of pine nuts. This is an in-the-moment salad, toss ingredients, plate and serve immediately.

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Cherry Tomatoes w/ Sumac Shallots | Bijouxs Little Jewels

 

 

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Farmers Market Sunny Salad

Farmers Market Sunny Salad | Bijouxs Little Jewels

A trip to the Farmers Market today brought a sunny smile to my face and this salad to my table. Farmers Market Sunny Salad is an easy ray of sunshine, another Little Jewel from the Kitchen.

FARMERS MARKET

It’s been way more than an minute since the local Farmers Market has been up and running at full speed. Most of the vendors are back. Splendid butter lettuce, radishes, heirloom cherry tomatoes, and my favorite edible flowers, along with the elusive mulberries.

Farmers Market Sunny Salad |Bijouxs Little Jewels

EDIBLE FLOWERS

What a quick way to add a smile to any dish by adding edible flowers. They are in season at the Farmers Market and I wanted a fresh, cheerful salad to serve. Although you usually see edible flowers in restaurants, they are becoming more available to home cooks. I added them to my plates when I worked as a private/personal chef years ago. I am happy to see them back in the market today.

PROBIOTIC COCONUT WATER

I have been making some healthy changes to my routines after reading the book Fatal Conveniences, yikes, we are exposed to sooo many toxins. Time to begin some simple changes. As a chef, the freshest organic produce is always my choice. I found Inner-Eco Probiotic Coconut Water. (No, this is not sponsored, just me here) I used it in this light dressing for the salad, Balsamic vinaigrette which includes the probiotic. An easy add-on to a health routine.

FARMERS MARKET SUNNY SALAD

This is a light, bright salad that includes butter leaf lettuce, radishes, heirloom cherry tomatoes tossed with Balsamic vinaigrette and of course edible flowers. I love the pansies smiling faces. Treat yourself as if you were someone you really loved. This is a nice way to look at self-love and eating healthy food is a part of that equation. Sending bright and sunny Spring wishes to all from the Bijouxs Kitchen. 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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Puy Lentils with Roasted Tomatoes & French Triple-Cream Blue

Puy Lentils with Roasted Tomatoes & French Triple-Cream Blue | B ijouxs Little Jewels

French Puy lentils, the smallest, deep green lentils make the most interesting salads. Today a delightful salad, Puy Lentils with Roasted Tomatoes & Gorgonzola–another Little Jewel from the Bijouxs Kitchen.

PUY LENTILS

If you have not tried Puy lentils from France, this salad is a great entry point to these lovely little jewels. Lentils are one of the most comforting legumes, like pinto beans and chickpeas, however Lentils du Puy are immediately different to the eye from the usual brown or red lentils. With a unique blue-gray green hue and small is size, Puy lack the mushiness of other lentils. This firmer texture make them an excellent fit for salads.

PLENTY

One of my forever favorite chefs is Yotam Ottolenghi. I bought the first version of the famed restaurant’s cookbook name Ottolenghi when it was first published in England, all recipes were in grams. The platters of food in the restaurant are displayed in the most appealing manner, it was immediate love.

Puy Lentils with Roasted Tomatoes & French Triple-Cream Blue | Bijouxs Little Jewels

VEGETABLE RECIPES

It is always a blessing to lay back on the heavy foods and concentrate on fresh vegetables and legumes. The vegetable recipes featured in Plenty are among my favorites. This salad is a take from one in the cookbook, I took a slightly more French spin. A great ingredient in this salad are the roasted tomatoes, with the effort, don’t skip these.

Puy Lentils with Roasted Tomatoes & French Triple-Cream Blue | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Puy Lentils with Roasted Tomatoes & French Triple-Cream Blue | Bijouxs Little Jewels

Puy lentils and French style triple cream blue, a semi-soft cheese cross between blue and brie, are the changes. Savor this Little Jewel salad from my kitchen to yours.

 

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