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 »
One of my favorite things about the fall season is the arrival of pumpkins. I personally enjoy them cooked in so many different ways — in soups, roasted in the oven, and baked into desserts. But this Pumpkin Jam recipe is a special treat, and one that isn’t nearly as common as it deserves to
Pumpkin Jam / Doce de Abóbora Read More »
Cavacas have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. These light, airy Portuguese Cavacas are a beloved treat from the Azores — crispy on the outside, hollow inside, and finished with a sweet lemon glaze. Every time I make them, I’m transported straight back to the festas of my
Portuguese Cavacas – Portuguese Popovers Read More »
