First the Portuguese encountered the natives. Pero Vaz Caminha, the chief scribe of the first Portuguese fleet that docked in the lands of Brazil in 1500 mentioned that the natives did not cultivate or raise animals, nor were there any oxen or cows, goats, sheep or chickens or any other animal which were accustomed to man’s way of life. Instead he…
I was born with a sweet tooth. To judge by the love of all Brazilians for sweetened condensed milk it must be genetic. Brazil’s most traditional dessert is called Romeo & Juliette and consists of a thick slice of Minas Cheese with an equally generous slice of guava paste (Goiabada) to form the perfect sweet…
I grew up with six brothers and learned baking skills from my mother. As you can see it is difficult to find a picture that shows all of us. For more on our large family check here. No, I was not the princess in case you were wondering. My brothers were the perfect public for…
Our first batches of our Jalapeño Pão de Queijo were a little on the hot side. We have since tweaked the recipe to make it milder. It was back then, to cool the heat, that my brother Harald suggested to pair the Jalapeño Pão de Queijo with regular guacamole. It was an instant hit! When I…
Brazilian desserts are famous for being rather sweet. Brazilians love anything made with condensed milk. I am no exception. Add the tartness of passion fruit and you have one of the country’s favorite desserts. It is served at dinner parties and appears on restaurant menus across the country. There are a number of Brazilian desserts that use…
Brazilians like to eat pomegranates for New Year’s celebrations to ensure good luck in the coming year. Pomegranates are considered a symbol of fertility, prosperity, abundance and generosity. We think they are perfect for Valentine’s Day, as well. Bake your Pão de Queijo; and let them cool. Mix fromage blanc with chopped rosemary, lemon zest,…
My family on my father’s side hails from the state of Minas Gerais, where Pão de Queijo (also known as Brazilian cheese bread), originated. From early on, I watched my grandmother (the lady sitting on the left in the photo above), boil the milk, grate the cheese and mix the dough by hand in large…
