Azoresgal~Life on an Island

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...

Nutella and puff pastry..yup..I don´t blame you if you feel a bit week in the knees! If that weren´t enough, it requires 2 ingredients, ok 3 if you count the egg wash, and it is easy to make. You smother  sheets of puff pastry with Nutella, in layers, then slice it, twist it, egg-wash it and bake it. Simple and delicious, only thing missing, a dusting of icing and a cup of coffee ! 3 sheets Puff Pastry, thawed Nutella** 1 egg, beaten Icing Sugar, for dusting Preheat oven to 200C/ 380-390F Line a baking tray with a sheet of baking paper. Place 1 sheet of pastry on the baking paper. Spread Nutella all over the pastry, a nice thin layer. Place another puff pastry sheet on top,  and spread more nutella over the pastry. Cover with the last sheet of puff pastry. Now place a drinking glass in the centre of the pastry, don't press it down, you don't want to cut the pastry, just mark it. Now cut out from the glass to the edges, making sure you cut throug...

Red velvet cupcakes smothered in cream cheese frosting are one of life's sweet little pleasures. For Valentines day I wanted to change them up a bit, well not really the cupcake itself, but the presentation. I placed them in little jars. Making  jar cupcakes is seriously easy, really it takes just a few simple steps. Bake up a batch of Red Velvet cupcakes ( from a box or made from scratch), then in a jar, you layer, frost and repeat. Easy peasy right ?  Add a pretty ribbon, a spoon and voilà, you’ve got a stunning dessert. These would also make  the perfect party favor, or a little thank you gift…Jar cupcakes are quick, easy and  delicious... heaven in a jar! Bake your cupcakes, and make your frosting ( recipe here ) To Assemble in Jars 1. Slice cupcakes horizontally into 2-3 layers depending on how thick you want your layers to be. 2. Place one cupcake layer into the bottom of your jar, pipe a layer of cream cheese frosting directly onto th...

These cookies are just the right texture, nice and soft on the inside and the blend of spices and molasses makes them extra delicious. The taste of ginger is very subtle, and not over powering, as ginger sometimes can be. They bake up really quickly, about 10 minutes in the oven. The dough does have to be chilled, the longer the better, it will keep it from being sticky when you roll it out. I had a great time making these, with my kids, they were very hand´s on, rolling out and cutting the cookies, the dough held up really well ! It was fun to watch them decorate them, all in their own style. There were lots of laughs, you can only imagine some of the nonsense they came up with ! I hope you all had a beautiful Christmas Day ! 1/2 cup butter, softened 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar 1/3 cup molasses 1 egg 2 tablespoons water 2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon each ground cinnamon, nutmeg and ...

These little tarts, with their sweet gooey filling, in a flaky pastry are a wonderful Canadian dessert. I haven’t made them in the longest time, shame on me , but I know why, it's because they are addictive!  I ate two, straight out of the oven, for me the best way to eat them, and washed down with a nice tall glass of cold milk. For my American friends, the butter tart filling is similar to pecan pie, and like pecan pie, they sometimes have nuts. Some recipes call for raisins, I however am not a raisin girl, and I never add them, I like them plain, no nuts, no raisins. If you’ve never tried a butter tart before you have got to try them.  I promise you that you won’t be disappointed! Pastry 2 ¼ cups flour 1 tbsp  sugar ½ tsp salt 1/2 cup shortening (Very cold and cut in cubes) 1/2 cup butter (Very cold and cut in cubes) 6 tbsp ice water (approximately, enough to bring the dough together) For the Filling 1 cup lightly packed brown s...

So today I needed a little kitchen therapy, I decided I would make a pumpkin pie. I have said it before, I find that making a pie from scratch is calming, I am wierd like that . I don't have a fancy shmancy mixer to make the crust, so I use my hand's for this. While mixing, adding more water, or a bit more flour, you tend to forget anything else that might be on your mind. And then, once you start making the pie filling, adding the sugar, eggs, cinnamon and pumpkin, it's hard not to smile, after all who doesn't love pie. I was going to use my old and tested recipe , but in the cupboard there was no condensed milk to be found. My lovely neighbour only had a can of evaporated milk instead of condensed milk, but she still saved the day. I got to use another recipe, one that is just as easy and also delicious. 1 (9 inch) unbaked deep dish pie crust 3/4 cup white sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon nut...

Ready for a simple dessert ? Fresh cherries baked with an oatmeal streusel is a simple pleasure. Served with ice cream makes it total comfort food. It takes a little bit of time to pit the cherries, (  perhaps you can   count your blessings while you do this ) but it's so worth it. The crisp comes together rather quickly. The combination of tart, bright red cherries with the crunch of the oatmeal can’t be beat. Really simple, really delicious, perfect for the lazy days of summer that lie ahead. 4 cups pitted cherries 2 tablespoons flour 1/2 sugar 1 cup oats 1 cup flour 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup butter, COLD , cubed Pre-heat oven 180º/350 Grease a baking dish (8 inch) round or square Mix sliced strawberries, sugar, and flour, Place into baking dish. Next mix, oats, brown sugar and flour, add in cold, cubed butter, and using your finger, mix till crumbly. Spread over cherry mixture. Bake for 45 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream :)

 It's that time of year again -- strawberry season ! Our strawberry patch is once again in full swing, every evening we bring in a basket or two. I am once again freezing what we don´t eat fresh, for jams and jellies. Yesterday however, the little voices inside my head, told me to make strawberry shortcake. I am so glad I listened to the voices ! These were amazing, sweet strawberries and cream sandwiched between melt-in-you-mouth shortcake biscuits.  So delicious, they taste like summer on a plate! Very easy to make, and that´s a good thing because they vanish quickly ! 2 cups flour 1 Tablespoon baking powder 1/2 tea salt 2 Tablespoon sugar 1/3 cup cold butter 3/4 cup milk whipped cream sliced strawberries with a bit of sugar ( to your taste ) Sift the dry ingredients together, and then cut in the butter until it looks like coarse crumbs.  Stir in milk lightly with a fork (or your mixer) until the dough pulls away from the bowl.  Flour yo...

I baked some mint M&M cookies this morning, to celebrate St.Patrick's Day ! I think the kid's are going to enjoy them, when they get home from school. I only made half a batch of the M&M cookie recipe , because the Mint M&M's I had were only an 8oz bag. It worked out rather nicely, and I ended up with about 20 cookies, perfect for snack today. Hope you have a lovely St.Paddy's Day !

 This is one of my favorite recipes, I have had for atleast 15 years. It is hand written on a tattered and yellowing page in my very old cookbook. I haven’t made it in such a long time and I’m wondering why since it’s SO good. It is a great coffee cake, very pretty and it tastes great too. For variety, you can use your choice of pie filling in place of cherry pie filling, strawberry or blueberry. The glaze is optional, but yummy, I did not add it today, as I was out of icing sugar. I hope you try it, you won't regret it. Enjoy your weekend ! 3/4 cup milk 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 1/4 cups flour 3/4 cup white sugar 3/4 cup butter 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 egg 1 teaspoon almond extract 1 can (19 oz.) cherry pie filling 1/3 cup sliced almonds Glaze (optional) 1 cup powdered sugar 2 tablespoons milk 1/2 teaspoon almond essence Directions: Combine milk and lemon juice. Set aside. Combine flour and sugar in food pr...

Happy Pi (3/14)  Day ! If your a math-lover or dessert-lover, today is the perfect day. I am the latter of the two ! So to celebrate, I made a Chocolate Walnut Pie ! It's easy to prepare, the filling is quick to mix, and you don't even have to prebake the shell. Easy Peasy ! 1  package round puff pastry 1/2 cup brown sugar 2/3 cup corn syrup 1/3 cup chocolate chips 2 tablespoons butter 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla pinch of salt 2 cups chopped walnuts Pre-heat oven to 200C. Line a 8 inch pie plate or tart pan with the puff pastry, cutting to size. In a bowl mix the sugar and corn syrup, microwave just till its warm, enough to mix well. Add in the chocolate chips, butter, vanilla, and salt, mix till everything is combined and chocolate has melted. Next add in the 2 eggs, beat and mix well, adding the walnuts last. Pour mixture into the pie plate, spreading it out to the side of the dish with a spoon. Bake in the oven 20-25 minutes, or until...

 These are divine! When you bite into the crisp shell there is a soft rich chocolatey centre. So good. Everyone loves them and there is never any left on the plate. Perfect for the Christmas season ! I have yet to make them with a boozy filling, but I imagine, a bit of baileys or frangelico would be just wonderful ! Ingredients: 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened 36  Oreo's 200g chocolate + 1 tablespoon crisco sprinkles Directions:  Place the Oreo's in the bowl of your food processor and chop until finely crumbled. Pour Oreo crumbs into a medium bowl. Add in cream cheese and mix until well combined. Or add cream cheese to the food processor, and pulse. Place  wax paper on a cookie sheet. Scoop out Oreo dough and roll a 1 inch ball of the mixture, setting it on the wax paper. Continue until all the Oreo mixture is used up. You'll have at least 3 dozen depending on the size. Place cookie sheet in refrigerator for at least 15 minutes, long...

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...

Pumpkin, sugar, and  cinnamon, oh my.... these are such a lovely treat. They are a favorite at our house on the weekends, and a great way to use up all the pumpkin we had this year. These little gems taste like pumpkin pie, with less work. Try and resist the urge to make them any bigger than, a teaspoon, they will not cook all the way through. I hope you give them a try. 1½ cups flour 1/3 cup sugar 2 tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt ½ tsp cinnamon ¼ tsp ginger ¼ tsp nutmeg ½ cup cooked pumpkin ¼ cup milk 2 tbsp oil 1 tsp vanilla 1 egg ½ cup sugar 1 tsp cinnamon Heat frying oil to 375◦ Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.  Mix pumpkin, milk, oil vanilla and egg.  Stir in dry ingredients just until moistened. Drop by teaspoonfuls into hot oil, 5-6 at a time.  Fry for 1-2 minutes, on each side, until golden brown.  Drain on paper towels. Mix cinnamon and sugar.  Roll warm donuts in mixture. recipe ...

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...

My wonderful Mr.G, celebrated another birthday this weekend ! I think since we have been married, I have baked him a cake every year. I like to try and make a different flavored cake every year, usually with something he loves ! So seeing as we have so many strawberries, that's what I went with. Mr.G loves..loves chocolate dipped strawberries ! The rest of the cake, just came together like a puzzle. Bits and pieces that I thought would work. I will try and walk you through my madness ! I was in the kitchen all afternoon, and yes there are alot of steps...but...Mr.G is worth it ! I am pleased to say, he loved it... .mission accomplished ! the cake : ( found here ) 1 (18.25-ounce) package chocolate cake mix 1 (4-ounce) package chocolate instant pudding mix 4 large eggs 1/2 cup Irish Cream (I used Baileys Hazelnut) 1/2 cup cold water 1/2 cup vegetable oil Preheat oven to180// 350 degrees F . Spray 2 9 inch round cake pans with Baker’s ...

Ban for banana + offee for toffee = Banoffee Pie! A British favorite. Delicious caramel with sweet sliced banana and smooth whipped cream. So very yummy, and very easy to make. I made a little pie dish, you could certainly make individual ones. Try to stop your self after one slice of this banoffee pie. about 4 bananas sliced cooked condensed milk/ Dulce de leche-1 tin 200 ml of cream  + 2 Tablespoons icing sugar (whipped) 2 cups Digestive biscuits/Marie biscuits-crumbs, 1/2 Butter -melted cocoa powder/or chocolate sprinkles/or grated chocolate Use the food processor to grind the biscuits. Mix the crumbs and the melted butter and transfer it into a pie dish. Press the crumbs to make the crust. Refridgerate it for about 15 mins. Next layer is the caramel poured over the crust. Top with the sliced bananas. Top bananas with the whipped cream, be sure to cover all the bananas or they turn brown. Dust with cocoa powder/ or chocolate shavings/ or chocolate sprinkle...

Everytime, I make this cake, I get asked for the recipe ! I don´t know why it has taken me so long to share it on here. It is a wonderful, easy cake!! It has a light lemon flavor and isoh so very moist. I like to add the poppy seeds, but of course that is optional. Want to make it even more "lemony" add some grated lemon peel. Be warned, it will disappear quickly. It is great with coffee...and fantastic with a tall cold glass of milk...I promise ! 1 package white or yellow cake mix 1 small package  Jello  lemon pudding 4 large eggs 3/4 cup vegetable oil 3/4 cup 7 Up 1 tablespoon poppy seeds (optional)  *grease and flour a cake pan In the bowl, add the cake mix,  instant lemon pudding, eggs, vegetable oil and 7 Up.  Beat for three minutes on medium speed. Bake in a 180/350 degree oven for 45,  or until cake tests done with a toothpick.  Cool in pan 10 minutes and flip onto a wire rack to cool completely. Lemon Glaze 2 c...