Azoresgal~Life on an Island

We're about two weeks into summer vacation and the kids are eating us out of house and home! They are hungry all the time, especially after swimming. So I always have something they can munch on for snack.  Last week I baked these twice, two batches were gone before my very eyes. They loved them, and I am happy because I get to use up the growing number of zucchini in our garden. I have a feeling I will me baking these muffins very often during the summer months, to help fill up the my kiddos bellies!








3 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 1/3 c. sugar
2 eggs
2/3 c. butter, melted (plus 1 Tbl. for later)
2 tsp. vanilla

3 c. grated un-peeled zucchini

Whisk together, flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg; set aside.
 In a separate bowl, beat together sugar and eggs until creamy.
Add the 2/3 cup melted butter, vanilla and mix well.
Add the shredded zucchini and mix to combine.
 Last, add the dry ingredients and mix just un…

This very simple 3 ingredient recipe is perfect for a fruit plater and perfect for summer ! Yes you read that correctly, 3 ingredients, cream cheese, marshmallow fluff, and vanilla extract. I serve this creamy dip with strawberries, but you could add pineapple, apples, other fruit or even cookies — I barely need the fruit,I can eat this with a spoon !







1 8 oz. pkg cream cheese, room temperature
1 jar marshmallow fluff
1 tsp vanilla extract

In a medium bowl whip with beaters the room temperature cream cheese, until completely smooth. Add marshmallow fluff and vanilla extract and whip very well to combine until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight. Serve with cut up fruit of choice.

My kids are all home for summer vacation, and I am over the moon about this! It's our time to unwind and take it slowly, or in other words be lazy. We do however need to eat while being lazy, and egg salad sandwiches are just the perfect thing !This egg salad is creamy, chunky, and easy ! Consider this a basic recipe, and feel free to add, anything you like to it. Paprika, dill, celery, olives, even some curry powder will change it up, and add some extra flavor. Serve on your choice of bread, along with your favorite chips and drink, then kick up your feet and relax.




6 hard boiled eggs
2 green onions finely chopped
2 teaspoons dijon mustard
1/4 cup mayonaise or more
salt and black pepper to taste

In a bowl, mash the peeled hard boiled eggs with a potato masher ( or dice), add the sliced green onions, the dijon mustard, and enough mayonaise to hold everything together. Give it a quick mix, add salt and pepper to your liking. Serve on slice bread, or pita bread, or croissants, with …

I’ve made this dish several times and it’s one of our favorite things to eat when we light up the grill. The salty-sweet marinade is delicious, it helps to tenderize the meat but also infuses it with wonderful  flavor.  The sugar in the marinade will caramelize a little when grilled, so you must watch the ribs, so they don´t burn. If you really  don´t feel like grilling, not a problem, you can pan fry them, in a nice hot fry pan. These are finger licking good, and will gone in no time at all !







1/2 cup soy sauce
3 1/2 tablespoons  sugar
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 cloves garlic, pressed/ minced
2-3 green onions, thinly sliced
1 kilo//2 pounds short ribs


In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, pepper, garlic and green onions.
In a gallon size Ziploc bag or large bowl, combine soy sauce mixture and short ribs; marinate overnight, turning the bag occasionally.
Preheat grill to medium high heat. Add sh…

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 cancount 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 your work surface and roll the dough out to …

Yes, baby food, well to be more exact, baby fruit in a jar. I have had this recipe for a really long time now. They are real quick to put together, so they are great for a snack, or a quick breakfast.  That the recipe only makes twelve muffins, is nice too, less muffins hanging around, (not that muffins, last very long around at our house ). So give them a try, when you get a chance :)