Azoresgal~Life on an Island

Hiraeth: (n) Welsh - A deep, wistful, nostalgic sense of longing for a home; a home that is no longer or perhaps never was. A yearning and wistful grief for people and things long gone. Hiraeth ... this Welsh word, for some odd reason has stuck with me for quite some time. It has been saved on my phone, and on my laptop countless times.  I think it reminds me of the portuguese word Saudade . The first time I came across this word  and read it´s meaning, it stopped me in my tracks...I instantly thought of  my maternal grandparents house, here in the Azores.  It's the place I am most nostalgic about and find myself missing. From as early as the age of one, it´s where all of my childhood vacations took place, where I met my grandfather and grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins who instantly became childhood friends.  A magical little house by the sea, where I was fortunate enough to spend Christmas, Easter, and summers more than once. There were trips we sp...

 Tis' the season to invite family and friends over for a Christmas lunch or dinner to enjoy good food and wonderful company. This weekend Mr.G and I did exactly that, we hosted our Christmas lunch, and it was fantastic! Lots of story telling, lots of laughter, the kids giggling, the youngest baby peacefully sleeping, oh and lots of glorious food ! I tried to keep the menu simple, while having enough food for 25...yup you read that right, 25 and growing! The mains where turkey and ham, both roasted in our brick oven. I also made a potato and leek soup , and for side dishes, I made, portuguese stuffing, mac & cheese, brown sugar glazed carrots, roasted brussel sprouts , gravy, mashed potatoes, for dessert a Black Forest Pavlova .... and a partridge in a pear tree! Now I know you must be thinking... I thought you said simple...  and it was , the hardest thing, heating the brick oven early, to be able to roast the turkey and the ham, and have them done for our 1pm lunch...

 These Peanut Butter Bars couldn’t be easier, with only 5 ingredients and no-baking, the hardest part is waiting for them to chill in the fridge. Oh and lets not forget.... they are really delicious too. Is there anything better than peanut butter and chocolate together? My kiddos, Sara and Simon, actually made them, they are perfect for little hands to help with! Christmas is just around the corner, and these are perfect for your cookie plate, of for sharing as a gift. I hope you give them a try! 1 cup butter or margarine, melted 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (Marie biscuits or Digestive cookies) 2 cups confectioners' sugar 1 cup peanut butter 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (200gr, chocolate) 4 tablespoons peanut butter In a medium bowl, mix together the butter or margarine, graham cracker crumbs, confectioners' sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter until well blended. Press evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch pan, I like to line my pan with parchm...

I saved the sad looking, brown spotted bananas in my fruit bowl, and made a banana tarte tatin. Tarte tatin is one fancy shmancy looking dessert,   but it's one of the simplest things you can make. With very few ingredients you can  bake up a delicious and impressive looking dessert.  Bananas and caramel just go together really well, just think bananas foster .  I must warn you, once you bite into a piece, you will find yourself reaching for another. 3⁄4 cup granulated sugar 4 tbsp. butter 1 tbsp. orange zest 1⁄4 tsp. ground cinnamon 4-5 large firm-ripe bananas, halved lengthwise 1 package  puff pastry, thawed Vanilla ice cream, for serving 1. Preheat oven to 220// 425°. 2. Cook sugar and butter in a small sauté pan over medium heat, swirling skillet often, until mixture is deep golden brown, 8–10 minutes. (do not stir or sugar will crystalize) 3. Remove from heat and stir in orange zest and cinnamon; pour caramel mixture into a small glass or...

Friday nights at our house usually means we are eating fast food, well kinda sorta, we don´t go out for it, we make it at home. All three of our kiddos are big foodies, they love to cook, they love to try new things, and are quite happy to make suggestions for what to make for dinner during the week. For some reason, Friday has got to be some kind of junk food , someting you would find on a diner menu . So when Sara asked if we could have chicken and waffle sandwiches, I had to oblige and say yes! I used frozen chicken tenders, to save some time, but the waffles I made from scratch. These cornmeal waffles are seriously delicious, and are also perfect for Sunday brunch on there own. The sauce for this waffle sandwich, Maple Sriracha Mayo, the perfect sweet and spicy topping. Add some peppery arugula, and a fried egg and that my friends is a winning combination.  Savoury and sweet with every single bite. An easy way to have fast food at home, I hope you give it a try! ...

If you’re looking for a dessert that is quick and easy to make, you should give this a try. It's light, lemony, sweet and tart! It's a great dessert for lemon lovers!  Now it is no-bake, but you do need to make it ahead of time, so it will set up. The lemon juice is what thickens and sets the cheesecake. I topped mine with a lemon curd , but many other toppings would be great too, blueberry, strawberry, or just some whipped cream! My family loved it, I hope your family will too! Crust 1 1/2 cups cookie crumbs (I use digestive cookies) 1/4 cup sugar 6 tablespoons butter, melted Filling 2 packages of cream cheese, softened 1 can  sweetened condensed milk 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice/ about 4 lemons (or lime juice) 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel 1 In a medium bowl, mix crust ingredients. Press evenly into ungreased 9-inch pie plate or a        springform pan, and chill in the fridge. 2 In large bowl, beat filling ingre...

This is a wonderful comfort soup for autumn and winter. Perfect for those crisp, cooler evenings we are getting now in the Azores. It's super easy to make,  with some simple ingredients, but it is so very delicious. It´s texture is rich and creamy, with out even adding any cream. I am not saying don´t add cream, because cream makes everything better! Mr. G prefers sans cream, so I just serve as is right after I blend it. Although a little swirl on top can´t hurt! If you like you can add some carrots, also great, is sweet potato and shallots instead of the onion. For extra liquid if it is a bit thick, coconut milk would be amazing, and if you wanted a bit of spice, curry powder would work like a charm. How ever you decide to make it, I hope you like it! 4 tbsp olive oil 1 onion, peeled and diced 1 medium butternut squash peeled, deseeded and cut into wedges 2 small potato, peeled and quartered 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed 4 cups chicken stock (water, or vegetabl...

This dish is super easy to make, and so delicious! I think every Portuguese family has their own version of how to prepare this shrimp dish.  At our parties and  family gatherings , shrimp usually makes an appearance towards the end of the meal. Don´t ask me why, I have no idea, but it works, so no need to change it! These are also served as a " petisco " a snack, accompanied by chilled wine or cold beers, can you see why this is a great dish for summer? The ingredients are very few, and I would suggest some good rustic bread for sopping up the sauce. One other thing, we like to use shrimp with the heads and shell on, are you still with me? The heads and shells give extra flavor to the sauce, if you are squeamish, and prefer food with no heads on it, by all means, buy peeled frozen shrimp. This is one of our favorite dishes at our house, and I hope you give it a try! 1 kilo /2 pounds of medium size shrimp (with shells on) 1 small onion, finely minced (optional ) ...

"Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability." - Sam Keen  One of my favorite quotes, and perfect for the middle of August, when not a heck of alot is going on around here. Well not unless you count the swimming, the grilling, the entertaining or the drinking on the patio! This has been one of our favorite drinks this summer. I love a good gin & tonic, it is actually one of my favorite drinks. Now imagine adding summer ripe strawberries and fragrant mint. Trust me it is a winner, you will not regret making it. So go and grab the ingredients, and make yourself some Strawberry Mint Gin & Tonics. While your at it, clear your agenda for the afternoon....and just be lazy...go on..it's the respectable thing to do! 2- 3 large strawberries, stems removed and halved 1 tsp. sugar 4 small mint leaves 1 1/2 oz. gin 1 lime wedge 4 - 6 oz. tonic water Place strawberries, sugar, and mint in a mason jar or tall glass. Muddle to combine. Add gin and...

Well summer has finally made its way to the islands! We have  had some bright sunny, hot days, only a handful so far, but I am not complaining. As soon as we get a glimpse of the sun, the kids and I run outside to the patio and the pool, to soak up the warm rays. Sadly because we have had more rain than sun, things in the garden are not going according to plan. There won't be a whole lot of tomatoes this year. They are still very tiny, and more green than red, but perhaps with some luck we will enjoy some ripe juicy ones as the weeks go by. Fresh tomatoes are perfect for this egg dish, and in turn this egg dish is perfect for the lazy hot days. I have some fond food memories attached to it, I just always remember it as one of my dad's favorite meals, and it also reminds me of summers spent at my Tia Laura's house. It's a perfect little meal, served hot or cold, as an appetizer, lunch or dinner. Mr. G likes these eggs served with thick slices of rustic bread, the kids an...

 I hope you are all enjoying your summer so far! Ours is going really well, despite the lack of sunshine, we have plenty of humidity.... hurray humidity ..said no one ever! I am not gonna lie, as much as I love cooking, once the summertime hits, I seem to hit a road block. I just struggle with what to cook for my family. There is only so much BBQ one can eat, and grilling when its hot and muggy, is just not fun. My kids seem to being eating every 15 minutes these days, Lord bless them, but why are they always hungry ? We pretty much have an agreement, that breakfast and lunch they fend for themselves! Don´t you judge me, I am busy washing all the towels they use and leave hanging around, after going in the pool for 5 minutes, every hour, every day ! Yes we are going broke feeding them, and yes my house looks like I lost a game of Jumanji, but I would not have it any other way, love that we all get to be home together, well except for Mr.G, someone has to work around here! So on to...

  Our red potatoes taters are ready to harvest, after 12 weeks of slumber in the ground. I have to admit these are my favorties, they are "new" potatoes still. They are tender, with a slight crispiness, and the skin is not tough yet, you can scratch it off with a finger nail. This time of year is when I believe we eat the freshest produce possible, from the garden to our table. The lettuce, the peas, the green beans, the cabbage, even the green onions (that I should leave alone, or we won't have onions in the fall). Everything is fresh and vibrant, and smells like the earth, and you just know that it will all taste wonderful with the addition of the simplest ingredients. This potato salad is just that, very few ingredients, just enough to compliment each other, but let the taste of the red potatoes shine! I used greek yogurt instead of mayo,  it is light but still creamy and it tastes amazing. 1 kilo red potatoes, skin-on, 3/4 inch dice 1 cup plain Greek yog...

Despite the very cold, damp, winter-like spring we are having in the Azores, there are many things growing in the garden. Because of all of the rain we have had, the garden has become a bit of a jungle, as it is too muddy to keep things under control. We have enjoyed lots of lettuce, and spring onions. Anything that is leafy green, has basically gone wild, the herbs, like the parsley and mint. The arugula has bolted and so has the kale. Hubby isn't to worried, although he dislikes it being "messy", everything we grow is organic, so perhaps we get more birds, more butterflies, and more rabbits to visit the garden, and help control the mess . It all balances out, food for them, food for us, everybody gets their fair share, I can only hope the sun pays us a visit  really soon, the garden needs it, and so do I. While we wait for the sun, some things are ready for picking, these french green beans were picked by our oldest not so little . He thought  of it as a chore when he ...

This buttercream is so light-and-fluffy, with a delicate vanilla flavor. I love the look of all the little specks of vanilla bean. So pretty. So simple. So good. Let´s not forget delicous, I swear you will want to eat it by the spoonful. I have no doubt it will become a favourite recipe, for frosting your cakes and cupcakes! 1 cup salted butter, softened 2 vanilla beans (seeded) OR 1 Tbsp. vanilla bean paste 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 4 cups powdered sugar 3-5 Tbsp. heavy cream (or milk if you don't have cream) Using a stand mixer, cream together the butter, vanilla bean paste (or the scrapings from 2 beans*), and the vanilla extract with the paddle attachment, scraping down the sides as necessary, continue mixing until it's smooth. Add in the powdered sugar, one cup at a time until it's all incorporated and moist. The mixture will be stiff. When all the sugar is mixed in, you can begin to add heavy cream, a tablespoon at a time until the consistenc...

Cracker what ?? You read that right, a cracker pudding! This dessert is a classic from my childhood, my mom and my aunts always made this for our family parties,birthdays, BBQs. It is fantastic, lots of layers,  nice and light but not to sweet and super easy to make. If you don't tell your guests it is made with saltine crackers, they will think it is puff pastry. The crackers soften up, don't worry they do not get mushy, they flake up, ending up with a puff pastry texture. You will not regret making this, your friends and family will love it ! I promise! Saltine crackers 2 small pkg.  Jello vanilla instant pudding (+ 4 cups of milk) Large tub of  cool whip Topping (pie filling, or fresh fruit) Mix the pudding as directed on the boxes. Put a thin layer of cool whip in a 9x13 pan. Just enough to keep crackers in place. Now start the layers.... 1-Crackers 2-1/2 the cool whip 3-Crackers 4-1/2 the pudding 5-Crackers 6-Rest of pudding 7-Cracker...

 Now why in the world would anyone bake a chocolate chip cookie in a cast iron skillet? Why? Oh perhaps because it produces a super gigantic cookie! A seriously delicious dessert, still warm from the oven, it has a soft gooey middle, and a crispy, crunchy golden edge. The perfect finishing touch, is a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream! Heaven in a pan! Make small individual ones and greedily eat directly out of the pan with a spoon  or make a larger sized pan, to slice up and share with family and friends. Please,  please give it a try,  I just know you are going to love it! ¾ cup melted butter 1 cup brown sugar ½ cup granulated sugar 1 egg + 1 yolk 2 cups flour ¾ tsp baking soda 1 tsp kosher salt 2 tsp vanilla 1½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips Preheat oven to 180// 350° In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon, combine melted butter and both sugars. Stir until there are no lumps. Add in vanilla, egg and yolk. Stir until mixture is smooth ...

Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone! I don´t know if you are cooking mexican tonight for dinner or not. If by chance you are, here is the perfect little dessert to end your meal with, Churros. They require very little ingredients to make, and come together quickly, but trust me, the end result is amazing! The cinnamon-sugar coating adds crunch and just the right amount of sweetness. If that weren't enough, the chocolate dipping sauce takes this dessert to the next level, a great combination of flavors. I promise if you make them, you won’t be disappointed! Churros 2 tablespoons  butter 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 1/4 cups water 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, sifted 2 large eggs vegetable or canola oil, for frying Cinnamon Sugar 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon Whisk the sugar and cinnamon together in a wide, shallow bowl. Set aside. To make the churros: Combine the butter, sugar, salt, and water in a...

This is one decadent dessert.  It has three layers, a crunchy chocolate crust, a lucious caramel filling and a heavenly chocolate ganache topping. Then it is sprinkled with sea salt, seriously do you not feel  faint ??  Oh Lordy the combination of flavors is amazing. I know you are thinking, caramel, I have to make caramel ?? Oh no, but you don't, I cheated, yes because I like easy peasy. I used a can of cooked condensed milk, genius , right ? So you see, it is really easy, and if you do make it, I just know you will love it ! Crust 1 1/4 cups  chocolate cookie crumbs (bolacha mulata) 5 tbsp.  butter, melted 3 tbsp. sugar Filling  1 can cooked condensed milk (397 grams) Ganache 300 grams dark chocolate 1/2 cup cream  sea salt flakes Position a rack in the middle of an oven and preheat to 350°F (180°C). In a bowl, combine the cookie crumbs, butter and sugar and stir until the crumbs are well moistened. Pat the mixture fi...

Portuguese people have been enjoying fava beans ( broad beans ) for a very long time, way before Hannibal Lecter was having them with Chianti. There are many ways to prepare favas, stewed, baked, in salads, in soup, even fried as a chip. These favas escoadas ( broad beans that are drained ), are served as a petisico (snack ), usually alongside other petisicos, fried linguiça, fried morcela, boiled eggs, and washed down with a nice cold beer or wine. Like every other Portuguese recipe, there are a billion different ways of making these. The first part consists of boiling the fava beans, the second part is adding them to a sauce. The sauce is made up most commonly of onions, garlic, parsley, massa malagueta, olive oil and sometimes vinegar. These are all mixed together, and then added to the fava beans, the sauce is a raw one, not cooked, giving the dish a big bite! So here is where these are different, I like to cook the sauce, I just like how it mellows out the flavors, and  this w...

  Focaccia is a flat Italian bread, traditionally flavored with olive oil, salt and topped with herbs. It is the perfect mix of a crisp crust, a salty top and  chewy interior. Did I mention the adorable dimples? Yes the dimples, in the dough, the perfect little pockets for the herbs.  Focaccia, all on its own is perfect for  dipping in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It is also great served with cheese, olives and prosciutto. If that weren't enough, it also makes great sandwiches and panini.   If you don't mind a little waiting time, it is actually quick  and easy to make. I must warn you though, once it comes out of the oven, it will be hard to resist not eating the whole thing, while it is warm! Ingredients 1 3/4 cups warm water 1 package active dry yeast 1 tablespoon sugar 5 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for kneading 1 tablespoon salt, plus coarse sea salt, for sprinkling 1/2 cup  olive oil, + 1/4 cup (...