Wednesday, January 1, 2014

A very sweet 2014!

I know that many of you are making plans to cut on sweets for the new year.
But wishing to be a nice daughter-in-law to my Mother-in-law, I made two typical portuguese deserts: Papo d'Anjo (translated as angel's double chin) and Molotov (an egg's whites pudding).


Papo d'Anjo:
10 egg yolks
2 cups of water
2 cups of sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
butter

Yields around 24 (will depend of the size of the forms/tins used)

Turn the oven to 350F (180C). Butter small forms, if you don't have them, use small cupcakes forms or mini-muffin tins.
Whip the egg yolks at room temperature during 15 minutes in a small hand mixer or 5 minutes using a kitchenAid mixer. You will want to have the yolks doubled 4-5 times, obtaining a creamy mixture.
Fill the forms up to the top. Set tins/forms in a bain-marie (about one inch of hot water in a shallow pan)   Bake for 20 minutes. Let them cool down (is a very quick process). With a toothpick make 3-4 wholes on them. Put the Papo d'Anjo in a serving bowl and pour the sugar syrup over. refrigerate at least 12 hours.




Molotov:
10 egg whites
10 tablespoons sugar
Liquid caramel
Salt

Turn oven to 400F (200C).
Whip the egg's whites with a pinch of salt until they triple of size. Add the sugar one tablespoon a time. The whites will be done when you can have a clear cut done with a knife.
You can add at this point some liquid caramel, or not. Pour the caramel over a bundt-style pan. Add the beaten egg whites, and pressed them down. Set pan in a bain-Marie for about 15 minutes. Turn oven off , and let the pan inside for another 30 minutes. During this time do not open oven door.
Turn Molotov over a serving tray. If you are having issues,, release the top with a knife.

Bom apetite!


Sunday, December 29, 2013

Great finds at Goodwill

Finding Tiffany's candlesticks and a great bar on wheels at Goodwill is considered a good bargain finding day, right?



Friday, December 20, 2013

F&F Fashion Fridays: Resort Wear: Ready for a hot Christmas

This is my fourth time spending Christmas season in the South Hemispheric. To be honest, not really my first option.
Growing up in a sub tropical Island, Christmas was never like the postcards: covered with snow!
Y family is traveling to Gramado, a beautiful city with Northern European traditions. At least, I will be able to get a bit of taste of the kind of the Christmas I really enjoy!
In the meantime, I dream with resort clothes that are not maternity wear... maybe next year!



Resort Wear: Ready for a hot Christmas


Thursday, December 19, 2013

Chairs update: a very long engagement...

I (ab)used my dear friend K to help me out with the spray painting the chairs I have been trying to tackle for a while.
I left Baltimore with them painted, just in need of a new fabric!
The before: great bones, fugly 70's fabric!



 The idea: spray paint in black and use leopard with a green/greyish velvet:


The prep work:



As soon I get back, the reupholstering of these chairs are top priority, together with another ton of to do's before the baby's arrival.



Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Dining room wallpaper update: almost there!

I was in Baltimore for a quick visit, and with an extra pair of hands from my friend K, I was able to get the wallpaper in the dining room and almost finalized the roman shades. They just need to be hung! Yay!

The initial concept of using a striped wallpaper under the chair rail, together with an amazing fabric for the roman shades:


The "workstation": I covered the dining table with a paint drippings cloth, a sheet of MDF, and the wallpapering tools handy:

The before:



 And a preliminary after:



Using my wallpapering working station I was able to cut the fabric to be used as roman shades:



Watch this space for an upcoming reveal!







Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Quick dinner in less than 20 minutes!

My radio silence has many reasons, but not enough to keep me away any longer.
Being a mom of a tiny wannabe gourmet (my son has been smelling and tasting new food offerings before eating for a while, now...) forces me to take new approaches with basics.
I will call it M lasagna, it takes less than 20 minutes from preparing to putting on the table:

Step 1:
Boil 3 medium sweet potatoes, cut them in small pieces, add a pinch of sea salt to the cooking water
Cut 2 small/medium courgettes, and cooked them in olive oil and add some herbs
Cook 1/2 pound minced meat, with a drizzle of olive oil

Step 2:
Assemble the small oven bowl with butter, sweet potato puree, meat, courgette, and finally add shredded mozzarella cheese.











Step 3:
Put the bowls in small counter oven for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese melts.

Step 4:
Enjoy! Bom apetite!