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...

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 ...

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...

 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 ...

 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. ...

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...