Azoresgal~Life on an Island

I had some ricotta sitting in the fridge for a little while, that was going to expire soon. So I thought I would search for a sweet recipe that would help me use it up. I found this simple cake, it’s so moist, rich in flavor, and just plain delicious! The ricotta makes it light and delicate, it has a melt-in-your-mouth texture, you will not be able to stop at one slice. Dusted with icing sugar just before serving, it is absolutely beautiful. My family loved it, and I am sure your family will love it too. 8 tbsp unsalted butter (1 stick), at room temperature 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar 3 large eggs 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 pinch salt 1 cup fresh ricotta (250 grams) zest of 1 lemon 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 large apple, peeled and grated (should yield about 1 cup) confectioners sugar for serving Heat the oven to 180C/ 350F˚. Butter and flour a 9 or 10-inch springform pan.(I like to line the pan with parchment paper) Cream the butter and sugar in a sta...

These were so much fun to make, messy, but fun ! I think the best part was the look on the faces of my kiddos...priceless! They loved them, they couldn't get over how creepy they looked! These would be great for a Halloween party, or perhaps a fundraiser, they are sure to spook everyone out ! 8 small red apples 8 oz white chocolate/200g 2 Cup Sugar ½ Cup water 1 Tbsp Red food dye lollipop sticks/ branches (cleaned) Start out by washing your apples. If the apples don’t stand on the counter, just slice a little off the bottom. Place your lollipop stick in the apple at this point. Gently melt the white chocolate in the microwave or over a ban marie. Spoon the white chocolate all over the apple and allow the excess to drip off. Place them on a tray lined to parchment paper to dry, for roughly an hour. The chocolate has to be completely set before adding the ‘blood’ caramel. To make the blood caramel: Place the sugar and water in a heavy bottomed saucepan. Heat o...

If you live on love Pinterest like I do, I am sure you have seen these dainty little pastries on there. They really are visually stunning, but even better is they are delicious. A combination of sweet, flakey and crunchy.  The sweetness comes mostly from the apple, making them a nice light dessert.  We thought they were best eaten warm , out of the oven, although they were still lovely at room temperature. Don’t be scared to bake these, they are really easy to make, I promise, pinky swear . 1 sheet Puff Pastry, thawed ½ lemon lemon juice 3 red apples, cored and sliced very thin ( I used pink lady)  appricot/peach preserves ( I used fig) cinnamon powdered sugar Preheat oven to 375º// 190c Spray muffin 6 muffin tins with cooking spray. Fill a medium bowl with water and squeeze the juice of ½ lemon into the water. Cut the apples in half and core. Slice very thin with a mandolin or knife. Put into lemon water and microwave for 3 minutes until...

These are lovely ! Great flavors, apple and cinnamon, with a moist crumb. The crunchy topping, is oh so very delicious, and just adds to make this recipe a keeper ! Muffin : 1 and 1/2 cup all-purpose flour ¾ cup white sugar ½ teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1 egg 1/3 cup milk 1 large apple Topping : ½ cup brown sugar 1/3 cup quick cooking oats ¼ cup salted butter 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon Directions: 1) Preheat the oven to 200//400-degrees and prepare you muffin tin but greasing or using liners. 2) Make the topping first – in a small bowl, use a fork to combine the brown sugar, oats, butter and cinnamon. Set aside. 3) Peel, core, and dice the apple into small pieces. 4) In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients with a whisk.  In a small bowl, beat the egg and combine the oil and milk.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix well. 5) Fold in the apples until just mixed, then spoon...

I made this trifle many times this summer...and it was such a hit! An empty trifle bowl every single time! It has such lovely flavors, the apple filling, the peanut butter, and the silkiness of the cream cheese. All of these things and the fact that it is a no bake dessert, make it a keeper. This weekend a sweet friend asked for the recipe, and I realized it was not yet on the blog. Mea culpa..mea culpa, forgive me for not sharing  this gem earlier !  Please give it a try, you won´t be dissapointed. 1-1/2 cups cookie crumbs (Ricanela) any cinnamon flavored cookies 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cups peanut butter 1/4 cup butter, melted 2 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened 3/4 cup sugar 1 carton (16 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed (whipped cream 2 cups) 2 cans (21 ounces each) apple pie filling 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar 1/3 cup peant butter 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon In a large bowl, combine the cookie crumbs, brown sugar,1/2 cup pean...

Last weekend our family went to a baptism for the youngest cousin in the family. Following the ceremony we were  invited to lunch. Amongst many wonderful dishes served at the venue, were these lovely little apples. These delicate ruby gems, were not too sweet, and had a fantastic syrup, the perfect pairing to the pork loin. They were poached in red currant syrup, this syrup is very common here in Portugal. There are many brands, and they are used for all sorts of beverages, very similar to grenadine. I have never been drawn to fruit poached in wine, it just has never appealed to me, so these beauties inspired me to go home and give them a try. I must say.... mine could give the catering company a run for their money ! They were amazing. 4 medium apples ,Pink Lady, Golden Delicious, or Braeburn apples,(peeled, cored,cut in half) 500 ml water 200 ml red currant syrup ( xarope de groselha) 150 grams sugar 2-3 anise star 4-5 cloves Combine water, red currant syrup...

Apple fritters are  so delicious, and easy to make, you can have them any time of the year. The outside is crispy, the inside is soft, bursting with little bits of apple. Sprinkled with icing sugar and some cinnamon, the only thing missing is....a nice cup of coffee or tea. Oh and famliy and friends to share them with ! 2 large apples, peeled, cored and dices 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 eggs 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted 3/4 cup milk 2 teaspoons vanilla flavoring Oil for frying                                                         Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl with a whisk. Next add the milk, eggs, vanilla, butter and beat with whisk.  Peel, core, and dice app...

I baked this apple pie yesterday, for a friend. Recently he had mentioned, that apple pie was one of his favorite desserts. We were invited over for dinner last night, by his lovely wife,  I offered to bring dessert, and surprised them with this apple pie. You will have to excuse the lack of step by step pictures, I am not lying when, I tell you, I put this apple pie together in 10 minutes  I felt like I was on  the TV show Chopped.   It's the apple pie I have been baking , well since I started baking apple pies, the recipe is from one of my very favorite cookbooks The Fannie Farmer Cookbook. A cookbook that I have had for a very long time, and the one I go to for alot of my baking.  It's a quick and easy pie to make, and tastes wonderful with a scoop two scoops of vanilla ice cream. Apple Pie Basic dough for 9" 2 crust pie 3/4 - 1 cup sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1 1/2 tbls flour 6-8 large, firm, tart apples (abo...

Way before I had a blog, I was already taking pictures of our culinary adventures, and posting them on Facebook.  I have alot of recipes, and pictures over there, so I will slowly be adding them on to here. We made these caramel apples last year, for Halloween. Truth be told they were on my to-do list this year, but I never got my hands on some caramels.  These were fantastic, and alot of fun to do with my kiddos. Caramel Apples 6 medium apples Wooden craft sticks Kraft Caramels (14 ounce package) Pot or Pan Waxed paper Prepare the apples. Wash the apples in water and dry them thoroughly. Insert a wooden craft stick in the top of each apple to serve as a handle while eating. Cover a cookie sheet or plate with waxed paper. Unwrap the caramel pieces and put them in a pot. Add two Tablespoons of water to the caramels and melt them on a medium to low heat. Stir the melting caramels constantly with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching. Lower the heat if you d...

"I know the look of an apple that is roasting and sizzling on the hearth on a winter's evening, and I know the comfort that comes of eating it hot, along with some sugar and a drench of cream... I know how the nuts taken in conjunction with winter apples, cider, and doughnuts, make old people's tales and old jokes sound fresh and crisp and enchanting."  Mark Twain The perfect recipe for the apple season.  The contrast of  sweet soft fruit and  a crunchy crumble topping, make this a fall favorite. Much quicker to make than an apple pie. After one taste, I think, you will want to make it again. 6 apples, and a buttered dish thinly slice apples, and place in the dish half a bag of caramels ( Werthers Caramels, work just fine) unwrap, and layer on apples ( YOU CAN MAKE THIS WITHOUT THE CARAMELS TOO) in a bowl mix, flour, sugar, spices,oats,and butter layer on top of the apples (and caramels if using) bake @ 200º/375 fo...

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. ~George Eliot Ingredients 4 cup. peeled and diced apples (4 large apples) 1 cup. brown sugar (or all white or all brown) 1 cup. white sugar 1 1/2 cup. oil 3 eggs, well beaten 2 tsp. vanilla 3 cup. flour 2 teasp. baking soda ½ teasp. salt 2 teasp. cinnamon 1 teasp. nutmeg (opt.) Mix apples and sugars well. Add oil. Slowly add eggs and vanilla, then dry ingredients. Pour into greased 13x9 baking pan or tube pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes. (check depnds on oven) Butter Sauce : (optional, but delicious ;) ½ c. butter 2 tsp. vanilla 1 c. sugar ½ c. heavy whipping cream Bring ingredients to rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Pour over warm cake, that has been poked several times xo,Diana