It was one of those June days in New England when the temperature refuses to cooperate — hovering around 50 degrees when it should have been warm. I had fresh blueberries sitting on the counter meant for a cold fruit salad, and that plan was officially out the window. So I baked instead. These blueberry […]
Blueberry Biscuits with Lemon Glaze Read More »
Every year when November rolls around, I start looking for chestnuts. It’s not just a craving — it’s a ritual tied to São Martinho, the Portuguese celebration that marks the start of the chestnut season and arrives right alongside the first sip of new wine. My dad taught me to prepare them this way: boiled
This dessert is my all-time favorite dessert. Growing up, whenever my mom asked what I wanted, I never asked for cake — it was always Arroz Doce! This creamy Portuguese sweet rice pudding is a dish that holds so many memories for me, and this particular recipe is extra special because it comes from my
Arroz Doce (Sweet Rice) — A Creamy Portuguese Rice Pudding Read More »
These Lemon Coconut Delights came out of a filming session with some of the Portuguese Kids — young helpers who joined me in the kitchen to make a few quick recipes together. We wanted something simple, fast, and delicious enough that nobody would be waiting around. The combination of sweet shredded coconut and fresh lemon
Lemon Coconut Delights Read More »
When I found this recipe I actually said “Oh My Goodness” out loud — because it immediately reminded me of summers growing up, when my mom would make something very close to this. Her version used a graham cracker crust instead of pretzels, but the filling was that same light, fluffy strawberry cloud that I
Fluffy Strawberry Pie Read More »
These Chocolate Squares with Maria Biscuits are one of those recipes that looks like you spent hours in the kitchen but takes almost no time at all. No oven required — just four simple ingredients melted together, mixed with crushed Maria Biscuits, and left to set. My family asks for these constantly, and I’m always
Chocolate Squares with Maria Biscuits Read More »
I remember having this cake at pot-luck suppers — the kind of gathering where everyone shows up with a dish and you never quite know what you’re going to get, but somehow the table is always perfect. This pineapple coconut cake was exactly the kind of thing that disappeared fast. It’s simple, it travels well,
Pineapple Coconut Cake Read More »
Cold weather and a kitchen that smells like cinnamon and honey — that’s the combination that makes me want to bake. Bolo de Mel is a Portuguese honey cake that I came across and couldn’t wait to try. It’s a simple, warmly spiced cake made with honey, cinnamon, walnuts, and dried figs — the kind
Bolo de mel com nozes e figos secos / Honey cake with walnuts and dried figs Read More »
Growing up, nothing warmed me up after a cold day like a bowl of Papas Portuguese Porridge waiting for me at my grandmother Filomena’s. The moment I walked through her door, I knew exactly what that warm, creamy smell meant. This humble dish has been feeding Portuguese families for generations — and once you taste
Papas/Papinhas – Porridge Read More »
In Portugal, a proper Christmas fruit cake isn’t something you bake on December 24th. You make it a month in advance, wrap it carefully, store it in a tin, and wait. The waiting is part of it — the flavors deepen and the cake becomes something richer and more complex than it was the day
Fruit Cake From Christmas Read More »
