Azoresgal~Life on an Island

This Mac & Cheese has been on our menu rotation on repeat, it is that good! SUPER easy to make just add everything in the  slow cooker/crockpot and you end up with a classic, comforting dish.  It’s  become my favorite way to make mac and cheese and comes out perfect every time!  Friends I think you’re gonna like this one! INGREDIENTS 500 grams elbow macaroni (uncooked) 4 Tablespoons salted butter (sliced) 1 package cream cheese (cut into cubes) 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon cayenne or black pepper 3 cups whole milk 1/2 cup heavy cream (can also use whole milk) 3 cups  shredded  cheddar cheese ( or a mix of your favorites) INSTRUCTIONS Place the uncooked pasta into the bottom of the slow cooker. Put butter, cream cheese, salt and pepper on top. Then pour the milk and cream on top and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 1 1/2 – 2 hours, or until the pasta is tender. Stir half way through. Once the noodles are read...

  A rich and fudgy, easy to make, chocolate chip banana bread!  Made super quick with the use of a boxed cake mix, and made in one bowl!  Oh and please trust me,it tastes just as good as it looks! INGREDIENTS 3 Bananas Ripe, Mashed ( about 6 small island bananas) 1/3 cup Oil 3 Eggs Large 1 box Chocolate cake mix Or Devil’s Food cake 1 cup Chocolate chips Regular or mini 1/2 cup  chocolate chips for topping (optional) INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven 180C/350F In a large mixing bowl, mix together mashed bananas, oil and eggs until smooth. Add cake mix, chocolate chips and mix until just combined. Don’t over-mix! Pour batter into two greased/floured loaf pans (Dimensions: 8×4). Sprinkle extra chocolate chips and  on top. Bake 45- 50 minutes or until an inserted toothpick in the center comes out clean. *Don’t replace oil with butter because butter makes this bread too dense. *Make sure to use the ripest bananas you can find because ...

 I saw this recipe on Gordon Ramsay’s ‘Ultimate Cookery Course’ TV show, and decided to give it a try. These easy fritters are made with just a few cupboard ingredients! They are delicious and comfort food at it's best.  Great for lunch or a quick and easy dinner. Perfect for dipping, in some spicy mayo,  aioli, salsa, or even guacamole. My family loves them, I hope your family will too! Gordon Ramsay's Corn Fritters For The Fritters 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking powder Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 egg, beaten 1/4 cup whole milk ( I used skim) 1 tablespoon Olive Oil 2 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced 1 red chile, seeded and finely chopped 2 Tbsp chopped cilantro 1 8-ounce can of sweet corn, drained and dried on paper towel ( 1 cup of corn ) For The Dip 1 cup of plain yogurt (I used greek) 1/2 red chile seeded and finely chopped Juice of 1 lime 3 Tbsp chopped cilantro Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper *oil for frying ...

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...