Azoresgal~Life on an Island

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