Azoresgal~Life on an Island

So here's the thing, you either love eggnog or you hate it! I have to admit here in our home, we like it, and brace yourselves my kids even ask me to make it. Yup, I have those kids, eggnog connoisseurs! Most of the eggnog haters, dislike it because of the eggs in it. I get it I do, so this recipe may just convert you to an eggnog lover, because no eggs are involved, yup no eggs! No eggs means it's also safe for the kiddos, pregnant mommas, and the elderly. So now you have no excuse not to give it a try! Ingredients 5 cups milk ( I use skim milk) 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 (3.4 oz.) package instant vanilla pudding mix 2 teaspoons vanilla 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon allspice Pinch of ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon salt Instructions Add 2 cups of milk, sugar, pudding mix, vanilla, spices and salt to a blender and blend on high speed until smooth. Let stand 5 minutes. Pour into a large pitcher and stir in remaining 3 cups milk. Refrigerate until thickened sl

   I hope that you and your loved ones are having a wonderful holiday season! Just wanted to share these  scrumptious waffles with you, they are lovely! They remind me of yummy gingerbread cookies,I love them for the holidays.  I think they make breakfast extra special, without  being complicated to make, because we all know I like things easy around here! ‘Tis the season for hanging out in your pyjamas all day and being lazy, am I right?  So please make these, grab a cup of coffee, pour some mimosas and enjoy some gingerbread waffles together! INGREDIENTS 1 1/3 cups milk, warmed to room temperature 3 tablespoons melted butter 1/2 cup molasses 1/2 cup dark brown sugar 1 large egg 1 3/4 cups (290g) all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon ground ginger 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves Melted butter or cooking spray for coating the waffle iron. Powdered sugar for serving (op

These candy cane hearts, are so easy to make, seriously just three ingredients, you have no excuse not to make them! Besides being easy, they are so stinkin' cute and delicious too! I like to make them to serve with hot chocolate, as a topper. They are also a great addition to a cookie platter oe even a sweet little gift for someone!  I hope you give them a try! 24 miniature candy canes 1 cup white chocolate candy melts  holiday sprinkles or crushed candy canes Arrange the candy canes into 12 hearts on a sheet of parchment paper. Melt the candy melts in the microwave in 30 second increments until melted. Stir until smooth. Pour the candy melts into a piping bag or a plastic bag. Snip the tip off the piping bag or plastic bag. Pipe a dollop of chocolate into each heart. Use a toothpick  or spoon to spread the chocolate into the point and curves of the heart. Add sprinkles while the chocolate is still wet. Let sit until firm, then serve. **I like the white c

This is my  favorite icing for decorating  my favorite sugar cookies ! It's quick and easy to make, with very simple ingredients. Great for cookies, gingerbread houses, I  have even used it to frost my Christmas fruit cake. The icing dries nice and hard, tastes yummy, and will make your cookies look beautiful. So bake some cookies, and gather up the family to help decorate them. Listen it will be a rather messy event, but I promise it will be fun and you will be creating so yummy food memories!  cookies baked and cooled ( sugar cookie recipe ) 2 cups powdered/icing sugar 2 egg whites (or 1/4 cup liquid egg whites I prefer to use these for food safety) 2 teaspoons lemon juice ( this helps to harden the icing) *food coloring in desired colors *sprinkles  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment, beat the egg whites on high speed until foamy. Switch to low speed and gradually sift the sugar into the egg whites until it's completely incorpora

Well here we are again, just a few weeks away from Christmas! Now I know it comes every year, but gosh it just seems like a year goes by faster and faster as I get older. If you are anything like me I am sure you are already making lists, and checking them twice trying to get things done! This month everything  seems to happen all at once, parties, school activites, church activities it's seems never ending. More often than not you will be asked to bring something, or perhaps you want to take a gift for a teacher, or a "secret santa"! Well look no further, these super delicious treats require only 3 ingredients and  about 10 minutes  of your time from start to finish! That's it, when you are finished, you can pour yourself a cocktail for all your hard work! All you need is a bag of Rolo candy, a bag of mini pretzel twists, and a bag of pecan halves. Preheat your oven to  200 C/400F degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Cover it wi

A simple, no-bake pie that is perfect for the butterfinger lover in your family! This creamy butterfinger pie comes together in a snap with just a few simple ingredients.  Peanut butter, cream cheese and a butter finger filling poured into a delicious cookie crust, make this pie a winner! Ingredients 1 9 oz prepared graham cracker crust ( I made a cookie crust see below) 1 8 oz cream cheese, softened 1 cup powdered sugar 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 2 8 oz tubs Cool Whip thawed, ( I used 2 cups cream, whipped) 3 full size Butterfinger candy bars, crushed (I used 4) Using an electric mixer, whip together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, peanut butter and vanilla. Beat on medium-high speed until fully combined. Fold in containers of thawed cool whip and crushed candy bars into the filling by hand. Reserve 1/3 cup of crushed candy bars for the top. Spread into the crust. Top with the remaining crushed candy bars. Chill for 4 hours before

This Mac & Cheese has been on our menu rotation on repeat, it is that good! SUPER easy to make just add everything in the  slow cooker/crockpot and you end up with a classic, comforting dish.  It’s  become my favorite way to make mac and cheese and comes out perfect every time!  Friends I think you’re gonna like this one! INGREDIENTS 500 grams elbow macaroni (uncooked) 4 Tablespoons salted butter (sliced) 1 package cream cheese (cut into cubes) 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon cayenne or black pepper 3 cups whole milk 1/2 cup heavy cream (can also use whole milk) 3 cups  shredded  cheddar cheese ( or a mix of your favorites) INSTRUCTIONS Place the uncooked pasta into the bottom of the slow cooker. Put butter, cream cheese, salt and pepper on top. Then pour the milk and cream on top and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 1 1/2 – 2 hours, or until the pasta is tender. Stir half way through. Once the noodles are ready, add the cheese on top and

  A rich and fudgy, easy to make, chocolate chip banana bread!  Made super quick with the use of a boxed cake mix, and made in one bowl!  Oh and please trust me,it tastes just as good as it looks! INGREDIENTS 3 Bananas Ripe, Mashed ( about 6 small island bananas) 1/3 cup Oil 3 Eggs Large 1 box Chocolate cake mix Or Devil’s Food cake 1 cup Chocolate chips Regular or mini 1/2 cup  chocolate chips for topping (optional) INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven 180C/350F In a large mixing bowl, mix together mashed bananas, oil and eggs until smooth. Add cake mix, chocolate chips and mix until just combined. Don’t over-mix! Pour batter into two greased/floured loaf pans (Dimensions: 8×4). Sprinkle extra chocolate chips and  on top. Bake 45- 50 minutes or until an inserted toothpick in the center comes out clean. *Don’t replace oil with butter because butter makes this bread too dense. *Make sure to use the ripest bananas you can find because they add a lot of moistu

 I saw this recipe on Gordon Ramsay’s ‘Ultimate Cookery Course’ TV show, and decided to give it a try. These easy fritters are made with just a few cupboard ingredients! They are delicious and comfort food at it's best.  Great for lunch or a quick and easy dinner. Perfect for dipping, in some spicy mayo,  aioli, salsa, or even guacamole. My family loves them, I hope your family will too! Gordon Ramsay's Corn Fritters For The Fritters 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking powder Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 egg, beaten 1/4 cup whole milk ( I used skim) 1 tablespoon Olive Oil 2 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced 1 red chile, seeded and finely chopped 2 Tbsp chopped cilantro 1 8-ounce can of sweet corn, drained and dried on paper towel ( 1 cup of corn ) For The Dip 1 cup of plain yogurt (I used greek) 1/2 red chile seeded and finely chopped Juice of 1 lime 3 Tbsp chopped cilantro Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper *oil for frying ( I us

Well here we are, the 20th of August, and it feels like summer is over! I am not ready for summer to be over, even though temperatures have dropped,  its been raining for days and outside already feels like fall! So I say, step away from that pumpkin latte, and put away that blanket, and have faith that summer has not left us yet! To help, here is a super delicious bite to enjoy, while we wait for the sun!  ricotta cheese black pepper sea salt olive oil  slices of prosciutto fig jam slices of a nice rustic bread Preheat the oven to 200C.  Line the slices of bread on a cookie sheet and brush with olive oil on both sides.  Bake until golden and toasty, about 10-12 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Once your bread has cooled, spread with a small amount of fig jam.  Spread a few tablespoons of ricotta on top to cover.  Next place some prosciutto on top, tearing each slice into smaller pieces if necessary.  Crack a bit of fresh pepper on top and  a pinch

This banana pudding recipe is super easy to make and is always a crowd pleaser.  It's rich, creamy, and indulgent. The combination of  condensed milk, pudding, whipped cream, bananas and vanilla wafers makes it a delicious dessert.  Did I mention it is also no-bake?? I love making it for our summer parties and get-togethers! Ingredients 1  can  Sweetened Condensed Milk 1 1/2 cups cold water 1  package instant vanilla pudding mix 3 cups whipping cream, whipped  vanilla wafers ( I used mini Maria cookies) 3 medium bananas,  thinly sliced ( I use about 7 ) Caramel topping (optional) Directions In large bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk and water. Add pudding mix; beat until well blended. Chill 10 minutes. Fold in whipped cream.  Into a trifle dish or other clear container, spoon in enough of the pudding mixture to cover the bottom. Top with a layer of vanilla wafers and a layer of banana slices and then cover with a layer of pudding. Repeat layers, ending

Today I am sharing my recipe for Tortas!  Portuguese tortas, are I suppose  how our grandmothers and their mothers before them found a way to stretch out meals to feed their families. As the saying goes  "waste not, want not", these are a perfect way to use up leftover fish or meat. I make them many times with canned tuna or sardines too! Now I am by no means saying this recipe is "the way" to make them, because we all know every family has  their own way of preparing these. This is how my family likes them, but I remember my avó Pimentel made her tortas with only eggs and no flour. I can just taste them now, she would make them with linguiça, chopped olives and lots of chopped parsley! She would fry them up, and serve them in paposecos, sprinkled with.....wait for it....sugar! This is one of my fondest food memories, tortas with sugar, the combination of sweet and savory, perfect! But even if I wanted to make them like my grandmother's, I don't think I coul

  Soft and chewy, these rolls are so easy to make and are the perfect start to your favorite  sub sandwiches! INGREDIENTS 5 teaspoons dry active yeast (2 pkgs) 1⁄4 cup sugar 2-1/2 cups water,  warm 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 teaspoons salt 7 cups all-purpose flour DIRECTIONS Dissolve sugar in water and add yeast to proof. Rest one to two minutes. Add oil and stir to combine. Combine salt and flour in a medium mixing bowl. Using a stand mixer, or by hand, add the wet mixture to the dry mixture. Beat until smooth on medium speed. If dough is too wet, add a little more flour to make the dough soft. On a lightly floured surface (or in the mixer bowl with bread hook), knead dough until smooth and elastic, about 5-6 minutes. Lightly grease a large bowl with a bit of oil and place dough into bowl, turning once to coat. Cover with dish towel and let rise for 45 minutes, or until doubled in size. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set oven to  200C/400 degr

 This cake is easy to whip up, uses ingredients that are probably already in your pantry. It´s ooey-gooey, over-the-top, chocolatey, fudgy and  absolutely delicious! You don't have to take my word for it, make it and see for yourself! 1/2 c. butter 1 1/2 c. sugar 2 eggs, unbeaten 1/2 c. sour milk (1/2 c. milk + 2 tbsp. vinegar) 6 tbsp. cocoa 2 c. sifted flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. vanilla 1 c. boiling water Preheat oven 180C/ 350 Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs. Beat well. Mix dry ingredients together. Add to creamed ingredients alternately with sour milk and vanilla, mixing well after each addition. Add boiling water and mix well. Batter will be very thin. Pour into greased 13x9 inch pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool. While the cake is baking, make the icing! Chocolate Icing: 1-1/2 cups sugar 4 tablespoons cocoa 3 tablespoons cornstarch 1 tsp salt 2 cups boiling water 1/4 cup butter 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 cup

 These cute Chocolate Nests are an easy Easter treat  to make. Fun and delicious, who doesn’t love a salty-sweet combo?!.The nests come together with just a few ingredients, shoestring chips and chocolate, see easy peasy. I like the flavor combination of  chocolate and peanut butter. But you can definitely just do  all chocolate, or chocolate and butterscotch.  Oh and they are also no-bake, how can you go wrong with these! One word of warning though, they are addictive....seriously addictive! Makes 6 nests 1 cup dark chocolate chips 1 cup peanut butter chips 1-1/2 cup shoestring potato chips or  thin pretzels, + extras Small candy eggs  In a bowl melt chocolate and peanut butter chips together in a microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until completed melted.Stir till the mixture is nice and smooth. Stir in shoestring potato chips (or  thin pretzels), mix until potatoes are coated, adding more chips if you wish. Spray muffin tins or bowls with non-stick spray.

Seeing as it is still winter, and we are on the eve of St.Patricks day, I present to you this most delicious Steak and Guinness pie, oh and let's not forget the cheese! A slow cooked beef and vegetable stew simmered in a stout beer gravy and baked under flaky puff pastry! Do you feel faint? I can´t blame you, this pie is scrumptious and delicious! I promise you will love it! Ingredients Olive oil 3 medium red onions , peeled and chopped 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped 2 carrots , peeled and chopped 2 sticks celery , trimmed and chopped 4 field mushrooms , peeled and sliced ( I used button mushrooms, about 20) 1 kg quality brisket of beef or stewing beef , cut into 2cm cubes A few sprigs fresh rosemary , leaves picked and chopped Sea salt Freshly ground black pepper 440 ml Guinness 2 heaped tablespoons plain flour 150 g Cheddar cheese , freshly grated 340 g ready-made all-butter puff pastry 1 large  egg , beaten Method Preheat the oven to

This easy gingerbread bundt cake has a soft delicate crumb infused with a warm combination of spices, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, & clove.  I love the way this cake looks when made with a bundt pan, but you can also bake it in a 9-inch x 13-inch pan. The butter sauce is optional, you truly don’t need it; the cake is delicious without it. But in my house, everything is better with a butter sauce. CAKE 2 1/2 cups  All-Purpose Flour 2 tablespoons gingerbread spice; (or 2 1/2 teaspoons ginger, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon cloves, and 1/2 teaspoon allspice) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 cup (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed 2 large eggs 1/2 cup molasses 1 cup water INSTRUCTIONS Preheat the oven to 350°F/180C. Lightly grease a 10- to 12-cup bundt-style pan. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, gingerbread spice, salt, baking soda, and baking

These are easy and simple to make.  Beautiful and so delicious,  a puff pastry heart filled with  whipped cream and strawberry jam.  They are the perfect little treat to make for your Valentine! Ingredients: 1 sheet of puff pastry 1 Egg  ( for egg-wash ) 1-2 tbsp of sugar 1 cup of whipping cream 1-2 tbsp of icing sugar or more to taste  Strawberry Jam more icing sugar for topping Directions: Preheat your oven to 425 F or 220C.  Unroll  pastry sheet and cut out hearts/ or squares Prick each heart with a fork and then brush  the hearts with the beaten egg, sprinkle with sugar.  Place the hearts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in your oven for 12/15 minutes  or until they are risen and turn golden, allow them to cool. Split when cool.   Next add 1 to 2 tbsp of icing sugar to the whipping cream and beat till fluffy.   Then to one of the halves, dollop on some whipped cream, and then some strawberry jam, and sandwich the hearts togethe

This Orange Chicken is delicious, and easy to make. A combo of spice, a little sweet and a lot of sticky, this citrusy saucy chicken is so scrumptious. All you need is a bowl of rice with it and you have yourself the perfect, comfort meal! Ingredients Chicken: 4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts cut into bite-size pieces 3 Eggs whisked 1/3 cup Cornstarch 1/3 cup Flour Oil for frying Orange Chicken Sauce: 1 cup Orange Juice 1/2 cup Sugar 2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar or White Vinegar 2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce use tamari for a gluten-free dish 1/4 teaspoon Ginger 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder or 2 garlic cloves, finely diced 1/2 teaspoon Red Chili Flakes Orange Zest from 1 orange 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch Garnish: Green Onions Orange Zest Instructions To make orange sauce: In a medium pot, add orange juice, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and red chili flakes. Heat for 3 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 Tablespoons o

These bars are in a word...amazing!  They are a  combination of a blondie base packed with white chocolate & cranberries,  topped with a cream cheese frosting then sprinkled with a few more bits of  cranberry for good measure and white chocolate drizzled over the entire thing. Oh my, just describing them makes me want to eat one or two!They are super rich, so you may want  to cut them into small pieces. Smaller pieces just means you can have more than one.  Enjoy! Ingredients Bars: 1 cup  butter, melted 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon orange extract ( I used orange zest) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups all purpose flour 1 cup white chocolate chips 3/4 cup dried cranberries Frosting and Topping: 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1/2 teaspoon orange extract ( I used orange zest) 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/3 cup dried cranberries, roughly ch