Azoresgal~Life on an Island

I was 8 years old, when  Diana Spencer, married Prince Charles. I remember waking up real early to watch the event on TV. Today 30 years later, her son , Prince William married the lovely Kate Middleton. They are stunning together, and hopefully they will live happily ever after. I thought it fitting to celebrate, with tea and scones. These scones come together wonderfully, they seem very scary when you first put them together, the dough seems very wet. With a little gentle kneading , the dough becomes nice and firm.  I used my English Red Transferware Teapot and Sugar Bowl and Milk jug (I love Ebay)  serve with jam and whip cream, ours was homemade plum jam 2 cups flour 3 Tablespoons sugar 5 teaspoons baking powder pinch of salt 1/3 cup very cold butter (cubed) 1 cup milk Sift flour, salt and sugar and baking powder into medium bowl; rub in butter with finger

I think I may be addicted to peanut butter, seeing as yesterday´s post, was also about peanut butter :) These little guys are very easy peasy, but be warned, they are so very dangerous, you may not want to share them, but instead gobble them all up by yourself, with a very large cup of ice cold milk.....of course that is just an idea ;) Peanut Butter Blossoms 1 3/4 c all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 c butter, softened 1/2 c creamy peanut butter 1/2 c granulated sugar 1/2 c light brown sugar 1 large egg 1 tsp vanilla 2 Tbsp milk sugar for rolling 1 bag hershey’s kisses (unwrapped, and ready to go, I keep mine in the freezer, while the cookies bake) Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.  Beat softened butter with peanut butter until smooth.  Add both sugars and continue to beat mixture until smooth. Add the egg, vanilla, milk, and finally the flour mixture to the butter and mix until co

 This is my favorite peanut sauce. I love it with noodles, it's great as a dip for chicken kebabs, or chicken satay. It's so good you will want to eat it with a spoon right out of the bowl (uhm....just saying of course ;)                                                                          1 cup smooth peanut butter 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce 2 teaspoons red chili paste, ( I USED CHILI FLAKES  add last if using, do not blend) 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar 2 limes, juiced 1/2 cup hot water 1/4 cup chopped peanuts, for garnish (OPTIONAL) Combine the peanut butter, soy sauce, red chili paste, brown sugar, and lime juice in a food processor or blender. Puree to combine. While the motor is running, drizzle in the hot water to thin out the sauce, you may not need all of it. Pour the sauce into a serving bowl and garnish with the chopped peanuts. Yield: 3 cups                                                               

I almost did not bake any sweet bread this year for Easter, I had so many things to do, preparing for our daughter's communion, which was celebrated also on Easter  Sunday. I kept talking my self out of it, but in my heart I knew that I would kick myself for not baking any. My kids had asked all week, when are you making the "massa sovada", to which I kept responding, "one of these days". I made it Good Friday, which I must confess, did not sit well with me, because that day, is a day of  reflection and quiet, surely the Good Lord will not be to upset with me. I grew up with my mom, making "massa sovada", she would even let us help out (sometimes) and I now know why only sometimes, little hands sometimes get in the way of speeding things up. The thing is,she never used a written recipe, it all came magically from her head. This  led me on a search for a recipe for sweet bread, and I finally found one, that I can follow, but make my own way "magica

3 cups all purpose flour  1 teaspoon baking powder  1 cup unsalted, cool room temperature  1 cup granulated sugar  1/2 teaspoon salt  2 teaspoon vanilla extract  ( almond, or any other flavour) 1 large egg Thoroughly stir together the flour and baking powder; set aside. Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the salt and extract. Scrape sides of bowl and beat in egg, beating only until egg is blended in. Add the flour mixture gradually (1 cup at a time) and stir until incorporated Preheat oven to  180C/ 350 degrees F.  Roll the dough onto a lightly floured surface to approximately 5/8″ thick.  Cut the cookies into shapes and place the cut cookie shape on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake the cookies for approximately 10 minutes or until the edges begin to turn golden brown in color.  Remove cookies from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Yield will vary depending on how b

This afternoon the kids did some crafting, they put together a bunny hiding in the grass. It was very easy to assemble. Some tracing, some cutting out, and some glueing. We used a paper plate, some green ,pink, and grey construction paper, and some googly eyes. They turned out pretty darn cute :)

1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 1 (14 ounce) can green beans, drained 1 (14 ounce) can yellow beans, drained 1 (14 ounce) can red kidney beans, drained (or white beans,navy beans etc.) 1 green pepper, chopped 1 red onion, chopped 1.Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl and stir until sugar is dissolved. 2.Add the rest, stir well and refrigerate overnight.

Monday afternoon, and I am still in my pyjamas. I even baked a cake in my pyjamas, I let myself do that today, the kids are still in pyjamas to, and I haven't even made my bed yet !! WHY....well because. It's the second week of the kid´s Easter school break, and we have been taking it easy. That's not the norm around here, I like structure, and routines, and lots of rules.....I run a tight ship, I have to, there a three of them and one of me. That´s why this Easter break we are taking it easy, and if that means lounging around in my jammies all day, and listening to Ray LaMontagne, then so be it.

Well because yesterday was salad dressing, today could only be Croutons !!! These are easy peasy to make, and so much better than store bought, and I would dare say healthier to, at least you know what goes into them. Its a great way to use up slice bread, or loaf bread. Croutons Preheat over to 350 I use sliced loaf bread cut into cubes, crust and all. Put in extra large bowl, drizzle extra virgin olive oil over to lightly coat, sprinkle with garlic salt, and dill, you can add other herbs, oregano, thyme, cayenne pepper whatever you like. Spread on cookie sheet and bake until lightly browned, tossing occasionally. I set timer at 10 minute increments so not to burn. Hint: Make a lot at a time, extra croutons can be stored in freezer in ziplock bag.

1 sweet onion(diced) 1 cup oil 1/3 cup cider vinegar 1 tablespoon dry mustard 1 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 1/2 cup sugar 1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds (optional) Add first 7 ingredients into a blender, and whizz up until everything is blended. You can then stir in the poppy seeds (if using), pour into a jar, or squeeze bottle, and store in fridge. This keeps really well (if it lasts that long). This is great on all salads, but its also fantastic on sandwiches (just sayin). Enjoy :)

These are the yummiest brownies ever! They’re ooey, gooey, and SUPER fudgy. Oh and they are made in one bowl only, so no messy clean up afterwards. This is my go to recipe everytime. Perfect on there own, made better served with a scoop of  vanilla ice cream and warm caramel sauce. I hope you make these, you can thank me after you do! 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 large eggs 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/3 cup cocoa powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup flour 1.Preheat oven to 350°. 2.Mix oil and sugar until well blended. 3.Add eggs and vanilla; stir just until blended. 4.Mix all dry ingredients in a separate bowl. 5.Stir dry ingredients into the oil/sugar mixture. 6.Pour into greased 9 x 9 square pan. 7.Bake for 20 minutes or until sides just start to pull away from the pan. 8.Cool completely before cutting. 9.Note: I usually double the recipe and bake in a 9 x 13 pan. If you double the recipe, you will need to cook longer than 20 minutes

1/2 cup cornmeal 1/2 cup boiling water 1/2 cup flour 1/2 tsp.salt 1 Tblsp.baking powder 1 egg beaten 1/4 cup melted butter 1/4 cup milk Place the cornmeal in a large bowl,pour the boiling water over the cornmeal, stirring well to combine. Add the rest of the ingredients. Stir just till combined. Fry by the spoonful on a hot griddle, as you would pancakes. Enjoy :)

I am doing the happy dance, it´s Friday and the start of Easter Break for my three monkees. Two whole beautiful weeks to spend together, not worrying about buses, lunches or homework. They are excited, but I am too. I love when my kids are home with me, I like them under my wing. They have already asked what crafts we will be doing, and when are we baking easter cookies. We have been doing these things since they were really young, I think that even if I wanted to stop, they would not let me. So I am going to enjoy it, while they are still up for it, and not yet rolling their eyes at the mention of an easter craft. Wishing you all a safe and blessed weekend :)

Ingredients: yeast 1 pack (dry) water 1 ¼ cups (warm) flour 4 cups ** salt ¾ tsp. olive oil 2 Tbs. olives 1 cup (black or green) Yield: 1 loaf **amount of flour depends on moisture in olives Method: preheat oven to 400 degrees 1. Pit & chop olives till medium chunky. 2. Combine ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer. 3. Mix for @ 10 min. with the dough hook until satiny texture and no longer sticky.( I knead by hand) 4. Place in oiled bowl and refrigerate overnight or cover with a cloth and let double in size at room temp. Approximately 30 minutes 5. Shape dough into a round and let rise on baking sheet till almost doubled. 6. At this point you can brush the loaf with a little egg wash or just brush lightly with water. make a couple of slashes across the top of the loaf and place in oven 7. Pour a couple cups of water in the preheated pan on the bottom of the oven and shut the door. Don’t open the door until the bread has good col

2 tsp. salt 2 tsp. black pepper 2 tsp. garlic powder 1 1/2 tsp. onion powder 1 1/2 tsp. dry mustard 1 1/2 paprika 3 Tblsp. olive oil Mix all spices together. Rub olive oil all over the pork loin. Then rub the spice mixture all over the meat. Roast in a very hot 400ºF oven. Roast uncovered for 1hour and 30 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before carving/slicing.  Enjoy :)

I wonderful friend of mine, stopped in yesterday afternoon, and gave me this perfect little rose. A rose accompanied by a big warm hug. Her visit meant the world to me yesterday, it helped to lift my spirits. I am truly blessed in my friendships.

In my heart you live on.......Happy 10th Birthday Emma....

April 1st, ten year's ago, fell on a Sunday, I know this, just like I know 2+2=4. If I am brutally honest, I remember it, because, it's the last time I felt whole. I remember dancing around in our living room with a big pregnant belly, while holding hands, with my oh so very young , 20 month old toddler Tomas. It´s almost movie like, I can see it in my mind, I have pressed rewind, and viewed it over and over again, it was a momment of pure joy, dancing to music on the radio, enjoying a wonderful sunny morning. We had been blessed with a beautiful healthy son, and I was 38 weeks pregnant and waiting for the arrival of a healthy baby girl. We were almost home free, really. Everything had gone fantastically well, I was a picture of health, all ultrasounds indicated our daughter was healthy , all we had to do was wait for her to make her appearance into the world. I pause that Sunday, in my mind, and have gone over and over it again, trying to see what I missed, or perhaps