Azoresgal~Life on an Island

I know that deviled eggs are a pretty easy thing to make, and that there are a gazillion recipes for them. One more recipe could not possibly hurt...right ? It is a pretty simple straight forward recipe, but it is yummy. I never seem to have any left over when I make them ! So whats so different about these ? I don't use mayonaise to make them, but instead Thousand Island salad dressing. They are great for parties, picnics and even afterschool snack ! Hope you give them a try !






12  hard cooked eggs + 2 extra, just the boiled yolks
2/3 cup thousand island dressing (more or less)
salt and pepper to taste
 Paprika, for garnish (optional)


Cut eggs in half lengthwise, and remove the yolks.  Mash yolks with a fork and add salad dressing, salt, and pepper.

Put the yolk mixture into a plastic zip-top bag and snip the end off one corner.

Pipe the mixture into the whites.

Sprinkle with paprika, if desired.

Cover and chill for at least one hour.

*** I like to use a piping bag with a large ti…

This chicken salad is amazing and one of my favorites! It has the perfect combinations of flavors and textures–sweet and salty, soft and crunchy. Made with simple ingredients, chicken, slivered almonds, spring onions, and dried cranberries. It’s quick and easy to prepare, and really delicious. I hope you give it a try !






2-3 chicken breasts cooked and shredded
1/2 cup dried cranberries (Craisins)
3 spring onions finely chopped
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1-1.5 cups of mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
salt and pepper to taste

Shred the chicken breast (pulse in food processor) and put into a large bowl. Add the craisins, spring onions, and almonds and toss together. Add the mayonnaise and dijon mustard and mix until combined. You may want to add a little more mayo, depending on your taste. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon into  bread of your choice.


** you can add celery if you like, and use a Deli cooked chicken to shred instead.

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 large bowl then pour in the …

Please be gentle with me, the next few days are always so very cold and grey, and  hard to get through. Please be kind with your words, they have the power to open all my wounds once again. Please don´t be angry with me, if I don't answer the phone, I just need to be alone right now. Please don't ask me not to cry, I need to cry, every tear helps to soothe my pain. Please let me rest, I am tired, it has been such a long journey, and I still have miles to go. Please don't rush me, there is no time frame for grief, I must heal at my own pace.  Please understand, I miss Emma, it's her birthday, and she isn't here with us. Please don't be upset if I go quiet, you see, in my head there is so much noise. Please forgive me if I seem distant, I am lost in my thoughts. Please don´t be frustrated with my sadness, it comes in waves. Like I have been dragged to sea and I just have to keep swimming, and when I can no longer swim, I just have to float, and let the sadness wa…

For those of you who share my love for all things cheese, here is a recipe for baked Camembert. Super easy to make, and so delicious. The Camembert  melts into a hot, cheesy dip. Pure heaven. Scoop it up with some crusty bread, or crackers. A great Saturday night snack for two, or if your not in the mood for sharing, just for one.












 a box of Camembert Cheese (250g)
 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely minced
 1 sprig of fresh rosemary, pick the leaves off the woody stalk
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
 extra virgin olive oil
red peppercorns optional


 Open the box of cheese and unwrap it. Place it back into the wooden container ( mine did not come in a wooden container so I placed it in a oven safe dish).
 Score a circle into the top of the skin, then lift it off and discard.
 Lay the garlic on top of the cheese, sprinkle some pepper and drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil.
 Scatter the rosemary leaves over the top and gently pat with your fingers to coat them in the oi…

Who loves French Toast? Better question is who doesn’t? Now imagine french toast that is stuffed with  ricotta cheese and chocolate chips. This is such  a simple idea, but it's big on flavor. It literally takes minutes to prepare and will turn breakfast into something outstanding. Now here's the thing, this recipe is perfect for two people..you and someone special. Great for a lazy Sunday morning, when breakfast in bed is an option. Don't forget the maple syrup and the icing sugar, it brings it all together.






1 cup ricotta cheese (I used low-fat)
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup regular or mini chocolate chips
2 large eggs
1/4 cup heavy cream or milk
4  large, thick slices of bread ( I used 4 thick slices of massa sovada/sweet bread)
2 tablespoons butter
powdered sugar, for serving
syrup, if desired

In a small bowl, combine ricotta cheese, powdered sugar & vanilla.  Stir in the chocolate chips and set the mixture aside.

In a shallow bowl, whisk togeth…