Azoresgal~Life on an Island

Lately, I am having a difficult time, with accepting, and just letting things be. xo, Diana

  I have been feeling under the weather, I believe it's the flu. My sweet uncle Alberto, swears by this concoction. He is almost 80, God bless him, and he has this drink in the evening, even when he doesn´t have the flu. So I figured I had nothing to loose. I prepared it just before, going to bed. Well let me say that I was out like a rock, all night long,  I slept for almost 14 hours ! Now I can´t say it has cured my cold, but it sure as heck, hasn't made it worse.  Hot Toddy 2 ounces Whiskey ( I used Rum) 2 tablespoons honey some lemon peel 1 cinnamon stick boiling water Place the whiskey, lemon peels, honey and cinnamon stick in a mug, and pour the boiling water over, to fill to the top of the mug. * you can add everything to taste, want more whiskey, go for it......like more honey add some more.  you can also add other spices, cloves, nutmeg, aniseed etc. This is your little magical potion, prepare it however you like it. xo, Diana

"theres no tragedy in life like the death of a child.Things never get back to the way they were." D. Eisenhower I have been very quiet lately, I am sad. Some very dear friends of our's, have lost there beautiful baby, Alice, to stillbirth. My heart aches for them both. I have been uneasy since we found out, my mind seems to be racing all the time, and I know all to well, why. Hearing their news, has sent me into a spin, a nose-dive of sorts, opened up a wound, I am left to think of all that happened to us when our Emma died. I just want to pick up my friend C., and hold her real tight, and tell her everything will be okay. Even if, to get to okay, it takes many years. I am praying for her, and her husband, they are about to start a very, long , tough and lonely journey. They will never be the same again, they will be changed by this.........I know we were. xo,Diana

Have a great weekend friends :) xo,Diana

This dressing is tasty and pretty,  it's summer in a jar. It is worth making for when you’re in the need of something light and refreshing. Like now in the middle of winter, when summer still seems so far away. Whip up a batch in the blender, store it in your fridge and enjoy it during the week, on your salads. Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing 1 Lemon,( the grated rind and the juice) 2 to 4 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste) 2 tablespoons Mayonnaise 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard 1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive oil 1 tablespoon Poppy Seeds Sea or Kosher Salt to taste 1. Whisk lemon peel, lemon juice, mayonnaise, sugar and mustard together in a medium bowl or pulse together using a food processor/ or use blender 2. Slowly whisk in olive oil or continuously run food processor/ or the blender while drizzling in. 3. Stir in poppy seeds and season to taste with salt. Keep refrigerated. Serve over your favorite salad greens. xo,Diana

OH MY LORD, RUN INTO YOUR KITCHEN AND MAKE THIS.....GO......I MEAN IT !! This was so very easy to put together, and it does not require that many ingredients. I used a Portuguese goat's cheese, instead of a French Chevre, and was pleased with the results. I served these over a salad, drizzled with some Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing . It was light, and tangy, and a perfect match with the goat's cheese. I look forward to making this in the summer, when I can go out into the vegetable patch, and pick some lettuce and tomato for the salad. I think perhaps that's why I liked this dish so much, reminded me of summer. I really do hope you give it a try. seasoned bread crumbs, eggs, flour, goat's cheese the goat's cheese, comes with 2 in the package slice the goat's cheese in half you will have four lovely rounds of goat's cheese set out 3 bowls, one for the, flour, eggs, and seasoned bread crumbs flour first, then egg wash, then coat with the b

If your house is anything, like ours, you have probably already put all your Christmas things away, back into the boxes. I have been dragging my feet about this, I hate when Christmas is over, I get sad, I suppose blue. Of our two Christmas trees, I have taken one down, the other is still waiting, I still turn on it's little white lights, and love how it sends a warm glow, into the family room. I have often wondered, how long I could possibly leave one of the trees up, without anyone thinking I was crazy. I do however have a couple of Christmas "decorations", I keep out all year long, because I love them so. I have a large, blown glass, snowman, my wonderful Mr.G. gave me the first year we were married, a small quilted, christmas tree, a christmas snowman tealight holder, and a holly wreath, that are always out, spread out about the house, but my most favorite piece, is a musical box, of sorts. It is a winter scene, a pond, with a boy who skates, when you wind it up, ther

All of these lines across my face Tell you the story of who I am So many stories of where I've been And how I got to where I am..... Stories, we all have them.  Happy ones, sad ones. Some of us are willing to tell our story, while others, perhaps need a bit more time to tell theirs. In the end, what counts, is that we are not defined by our stories, but that they are used to grow and learn from. And like any other story, found in a book, you can open and close that book, anytime you like. To read, in little bits, or perhaps, just to place upon a shelf, and save it, as a keepsake. xo, Diana

Yes you read that correctly....Peanut Butter~hummus. This little gem, is really good, and the fact that it does not require tahini , makes it a keeper. You see on, my little island, tahini , is no where to be found, in my grocery store, so I can never make hummus, sad but true. However, peanut butter is not a problem, that is available here, so when I saw this recipe, over on Miss i never tie my hair, I like to lick my fingers, and eat in bed, Nigella Lawson site, I was intrigued. I am so glad I gave it a try .....it makes me want to lick my fingers and eat it in bed, it's a great appettizer, and even a fantastic after school snack, my kiddos loved it. It does however, make enough to feed an army, if I were just making it for us, I would halve the recipe. So don´t be afraid, go ahead and make some, I promise you will like it. Peanut Butter Hummus   (ala' Nigella) 2 cans (400g) chickpeas ~DRAINED 1 garlic clove peeled 5 tablespoons olive oil 6 tablespoons smo

Today, I bought these two beautiful Boca Negra, at the fish market, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them. After all the eating, drinking, and more eating during the holiday season, I wanted something, light, and cleansing for lunch, a broth of sorts, and the fish poached in it. So that is what I did, with some very simple ingredients. Now keep in mind, this is one of those "by eye" recipes, no real "rules" to follow. But I am sure, you will get the jest of it. I ended up using, some of the broth, to pour over some day old bread, I sliced thinly, and placed in a little tureen. fish from the ocean, caught locally, and the green onions & parsley from our garden 2 Boca Negra ( you could use snapper, or red fish, or grouper) bunch of parsley 3-4 green onions 2-3 cloves minced coarse salt olive oil water/ white wine  (2-1) tomato puree I chopped the parsley, and green onions (all of it) real coarse ( used some scissors ala'

This recipe, was shared with me, by my dear friend Aneda. She had made them before, for our family, and they were amazing, this year I made them for our New Year's Eve party. My kids absolutely love them, along side some buttery rice. Thanks so much Aneda for the recipe. Swedish Meatballs 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 pkg dry onion soup mix 1 cup sour cream 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon dill weed 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon paprika 1 bag swedish meatballs ( I bought a bag of regular meat balls, we dont have swedish meatballs here) 1 can mushrooms (stems and pieces) drained Spray/ grease a large baking dish, and place meat balls on the bottom of the dish. Mix all the other ingredients together, and pour over the top, of the meatballs. Bake at 180/350 for 1-1/2 ( 90mins.) hours. Serve with rice or noodles. You could use this sauce with pork chops, or chicken breasts as well. xo, Diana