Azoresgal~Life on an Island

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.  Crac...

  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...

These are the easiest biscuits you could ever make. No need  for a rolling pin or biscuit cutter, just some mixing, scooping, baking and you’re done!  Oh and let's not forget how great they taste! Light and fluffy,with a crisp outer crust and soft center. We love these biscuits, they can be added to any meal, I served them last night with Clam Chowder   . I really hope you give them a try! 2-1/2 cups self-rising flour 1 tablespoon sugar 2 teaspoons garlic powder 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 cup cold milk 8 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, ( I use salted) 1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese For brushing on top 1/4 cup butter, melted 1/4 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp dried parsley/or fresh to taste Heat the oven to 230C degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, garlic powder, salt and cayenne until combined.  Pour the melted butter, and the cold milk...

These are perfect for a rainy day, and a great way to use up stale bread. I grew up with my mom making these, usually on the weekend for an afternoon treat or to top off dinner when dinner was leftovers,  and sometimes they were dinner. Very similar to a french toast or a pain perdu , the batter is different though, it has flour added to it. They are shallow fried, and then sprinkled with sugar. My mom has always made them with sliced white bread, that's how I make them too. Tradtionally though, they would be made with sliced rustic bread. These are lovely with some coffee or with a spot of tea, they take a little time to make, but are well worth it. 1 3/4  cups flour 3/4 cups sugar 3 eggs 2 cups of milk pinch of salt sliced stale/ day old bread (about 20 slices) oil for frying sugar for topping In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, eggs milk and pinch of salt, until you get a smooth batter (I use my emersion blender). Get your bread ready, sli...

Making your own homemade hamburger buns is really easy!These took only about 40 minutes, start to finish.  They're soft and sweet, and I bet you have all the ingredients in your pantry. So here is the thing, I am not saying you will never buy store bought hamburger buns again, but perhaps once in a while you will bake these instead, because they are that good! 2 tablespoons active dry yeast 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water (110° to 115°) 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon salt 3 to 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add oil and sugar; let stand for 5 minutes. Add the egg, salt and enough flour to form a soft dough. 2. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 3-5 minutes. Divide into 12 pieces; shape each into a ball. Place 3 in. apart on greased/or baking paper lined baking sheets. 3. Cover and let rest for 25 minutes. Bake at 200//425° for 8-12 minutes or unti...

So you are probably wondering what a "bolo lêvedo" is? All I can say is, think english muffin , but a million times better! They are an Azorean bread, typical of the island São Miguel (a 20 minute plane ride, from my island). They are larger in size than an english muffin, have a lighter crumb, are sweeter, and have no nooks and crannies like it´s english cousin. They are not baked, but instead cooked on a hot iron griddle. Straight off the griddle, smothered in butter and jam, they are out of this world, but they can also be toasted. This sweet muffin, is not just for breakfast, it's perfect for making great sandwiches, and amazing burger buns too! With only a few simple ingredients, flour, sugar, eggs, butter, milk, and yeast, they are super easy to make at home. The hardest part...two rising times, but trust me, it´s so worth the wait! I made mini-bolo levedo, so stinkin' cute ! 500 grams flour (+ 100 grams extra) / 4 cups plus 1 extra 125 gram...

My favorite things about the weekend, getting to sleep in, everyone is home, and breakfast. Weekday mornings Mr.G and the kids all have different schedules, so breakfast is quick, some toast, a bowl of cereal, yogurt or fruit. Soooo on Saturday and Sunday, I like to spoil them and myself while I am at it. This morning Mr.G was headed to the farmers market, he was up first, and was kind enough to start making the coffee, before heading out. With the kiddos still waking up, I decided on Biscuits and sausage for breakfast. Now trust me, biscuits are really easy and super quick to make. These are light and fluffy on the inside , crispy on the outside. I made sausage because, that's what I had had, but bacon would be divine, but so would butter and honey! The kids made it to the the table just as these were coming out of the oven. It's a good thing I saved some for Mr.G, because the rest were all gobbled up quickly. I hope you try these, I really think you will like them! ...

  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 (...

Bôla de Carnes, is a traditional Portuguese bread, it´s a savory quick bread, that has all sorts of cold meats, leftover meats, or deli meats added to it. I also like to add some cheese to it, just because it can´t hurt !  This is one of my favorite things to make to take on a picnic, or to serve at parties, but it´s also really handy, when you don't know what to make for dinner! This was the case for yesterday, the day got away, as sometimes it does, I knew I had leftovers for Mr.G, but wasn´t quite sure what to make for the kids, when I remembered this. There are many versions for this, and for the most part they are made while using "the force ", no recipe, just eyeballing it. When there is a recipe, the common measure used is a "chavena" known to you and I as a coffee cup/mug, and yes it is a legit form of measurement! You can make this in two different ways, the first is as a cake, with all the cold cuts chopped in, and poured into a tube pan. The second wa...

 Baking banana bread is such a great way to use ripened bananas. Not only is this recipe super easy to make, but it is very delicious. It’s  great for breakfast, the perfect after school snack or a sweet surprise in a lunch box. If you would like to jazz up the flavor a bit, you could add walnuts or chocolate chips. Oh by the way, it's really great with cream cheese frosting too...just sayin'. Banana Bread 1 cup butter, softened 2 cups brown sugar 7 large ripe bananas, mashed ( our bananas are very small, so I use 14) 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 4 eggs, slightly beaten 3 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 tablespoon cinnamon chopped walnuts (opt.) Directions: Makes two loaves of banana bread. 1. Cream the butter and sugar. Blend in the bananas, vanilla and eggs. 2. Whisk together the dry ingredients. 3. Add to the wet mixture and mix until just combined. Pour into two greased 9x5 inch loaf pans. 4. Bake at 350F. Ch...

This cinnamon bread wreath  has become a favourite in our home and it pretty much disappears as soon as it comes out of the oven. A wondeful treat – buttery, and cinnamon-y, that is easy peasy to make, I cheat and use store bought crescent dough ! It’s perfect served warm right out of the oven, makes your home smell amazing and the addition of an icing drizzle will make you swoon! 1 package crescent rolls 1//4 cup soft butter 1/4 cup sugar cinnamon Pre-heat oven 180º Open up the crescent roll dough, open and flatten it out, pressing the seams together. Spread some butter on the dough ( I use my hands). Next sprinkle with sugar, and then the cinnamon. Now, roll the dough just like you’re going to make cinnamon rolls. Next slice down the middle of the roll (the lenght of it) with a very sharp knife. You will have two long halves. Turn both halves of the dough with the cinnamon and sugar facing up. Now twist the two lengths of dough, like a rope,  and t...

Bread that needs no kneading? What?  Yes and it absolutely works, it's incredibly easy. The hardest part is deciding in  advance when to make the dough, and then waiting  up to 18 hours. If you are willing to give it a try, you can have fresh-baked, crackly-crusty, rustic style bread when ever you want. Letting the dough rise over night is your best choice, I actually made my dough at 11pm last night. Yes I know I am crazy like that, I was surfing Pinterest, and thought, oh heck why not? So glad I did, it also gave me a chance to use my new dutch oven. There are plenty of recipes online for no knead bread, this was a combination of two that I really liked. Don't be scared to give it a try, it really is fool proof. Oh and please don't forget to buy some great butter, to slather on the just out of the oven bread...seriously..Heaven ! 3 cups All Purpose Flour 1 1/2 tsp. sal 1 tsp. yeast 1 1/2 cups luke-warm water Combine the three dry ingredients in a ...

 Portuguese a çorda is true comfort food, it's simple and it warms the soul. It's a combination of garlic,butter, bread, mint, water and eggs. Really quite frugal, as it turns leftover bread into a tasty soup. I have to be honest, I have only come to appreciate this lovely soup, in the last couple of years. One day I just got a craving for it,and made some, I am so glad I did. Every once in a while, I just get the need to make it, usually when I am not feeling well, or feeling a bit blue. Today was one of those days, I am fighting a cold, but much worse struggling with the fact, that Emma's birthday is coming up. Everything has become gloomy once again, and the tears appear from nothing. I just want to crawl away, under a blanket, for the next couple of day's. I know that's not being possible, this warm bowl of açorda was soothing and helped raise my spirits. Now everyone's mother and grandmother has a version for making Açorda, this is my way of making...

Homemade tortillas are very easy and inexpensive to make and they taste so much better than the store bought ones. I love that I know whats in them, sure it will take a little time, but once you try a fresh warm tortilla, it will all be worth it. My kids love them ! I actually have a tortilla press, that was given to me as a gift. If using a press, a ziplock bag, cut to open like a book, and the use of some cooking spray make things really easy. If you are rolling them out, lots of flour, dusted on your counter, helps with avoiding a sticky mess. These are great for fish tacos, burritos, and great as wraps for falafel ! Now don´t be scared, the first time might not go smoothly, but soon you will get the hang of it. Oh, and get the kids to help, those little hands are perfect for rolling the dough into balls ! 3 cups flour 1 tsp salt 1 tsp baking powder ⅓ cup canola oil 1 cup warm water (up to) In a large bowl combine flour, salt, baking powder, and oil. Slowly ad...

A little bowl of heaven this is, served piping hot, topped with  toasty bread and cheese  that is melted and bubbly.  This soup is perfect for when it's cold outside, and  you  just want to sit back and enjoy something warm and satisfying. It's a great comfort food. French onion soup is actually a very simple soup to make, it is a gourmet dish that anyone can prepare. Simple and frugal ingredients add up to one amazing dish! There are a billlion and one recipes for onion soup, some that cook all day....which I find daunting. I happened to like this one alot. The most important step, is caramelizing the onions, a nice low flame and some patience will do the trick. I hope you give it a try. ¼ cup unsalted butter 3 large onions, thinly sliced 2 dried bay leaves ½ tsp fresh thyme, chopped ( I used dry) 2 tbsp all purpose flour ½ cup red wine 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 4 cups Beef Broth ½ tsp black pepper 1 baguette, 1/2...

 Challah is an amazing bread, and I am sorry I waited this long to make it! It somehow scared me, I thought it would be complicated. Turns out it is a simple process, but it does take a little bit of time and effort. But when you  smell the bread baking, then see your beautiful braided challah on the dinner table,  it really makes it all worth it. As for braiding the Challah, I will add the link to the video, that helped me out ! Honey Challah Bread makes 2 loaves Ingredients: 1 cup warm water (110 to 115 degrees) 4 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast (2 packets) 1/2 cup sugar plus 1 tsp sugar 1/2 cup honey 8 tablespoon butter, softened 3 eggs 2 teaspoons salt 5 1/2 cups flour (or more if necessary) 1 egg, beaten, for egg wash Directions: 1.  Lightly oil a medium bowl and line a large baking sheet with silicon mat or parchment paper and set aside.  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the hook attachment, put warm water in the bowl a...

   Butter, garlic, cheese and little bubbles of fresh baked bread...heaven. Who could resist!? Great served along side pasta, or as a snack. Super simple and quick! You don´t have to make your own dough, buy some pizza dough at your bakery, and it comes together even faster ! Add other spices, basil, oregano, or rosemary. The butter and cheese ratio, is something you will play with....after all more cheese is never a bad thing ! 2 teaspoons active dry yeast 1 1/3 cups warm water 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 2 tsp. salt 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1/4-1/2 cup butter, melted 1 Tbsp.chopped parsley 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated 1 cup grated cheese (of your choice In a large bowl, stir together the yeast and water. Let sit 5 minutes until yeast is foamy. Mix in the olive oil, salt, and flour. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until dough is elastic, 7-10 minutes. Place dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover wit...

Cheese, jalapenos and beer in a bread !! What ?? Seriously those ingredients alone had me convinced this would be really good. That and the fact that I still have tons of jalapenos, which Mr. G keeps nagging  reminding me to use up ! So I got to it, and found this recipe on the magical world of Pinterest. You know the place, don´t pretend you don't!  This bread,it's a keeper, its sitting on my kitchen counter right now, just took it out of the oven. It smells wonderful, and tastes ( I know because I ate a big warm slice of it...I had to taste test it for you) even better. It's best to eat it all the day you bake it, that won't be hard , because it's a quick bread, it will not be as lovely the day after. So go on..go try it ! 3 cups all-purpose flour 3 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1/4 cup sugar 2 whole jalapenos, finely chopped (seeds removed) 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 12/ oz (355ml) bottle/can beer 3 Tbsp melted butter Preheat ove...

Hey, I saw that ! You wrinkled your nose when you read bread pudding ! This however is not your grandmother's bread pudding. Trust Me ! I had friends coming over for coffee yesterday, and I wanted to bake something for our breakfast. My go to dish is pancakes, ( they love my pancakes ), but there was no electricity yesterday ( yes you read that correctly, the drawback of living on an island...whole other story ), so I could not use my griddle. Now luck would have it that the gods in my pantry  provided me with all the ingredients to make this lovely dish. The only thing I added to the original recipe, was the grated orange zest. Orange and cranberries just go really well together,the perfect combo. This got rave reviews from the ladies, and was a sweet start to our day. I hope you give it a try ! 16 slices bread, crusts removed, cubed 1 cup dried cranberries 3/4 cup white chocolate chips 6 eggs, lightly beaten 4 cups  milk 3/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanil...

"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato." Lewis Grizzard So excited to finally, have ripe tomatoes in our garden. I always wish they grew as quickly as the lettuce, or the zucchini. I suppose mother nature, knows what she is doing, and why it takes so long for them to be ripe. You cannot rush perfection ! I love, love a simple tomato sandwich, if you have never had one, you are missing out ! They taste like summer ! Just plain, white bread, some mayonnaise, salt, and pepper...Heaven !