Category: Photo Gallery

Holiday Recipes / Photo Gallery

Festa de Sao Joao – Old Traditions in Porto, Portugal

saojoaofireworksThere’s an old saying in Portugal that says; “Porto works while Lisbon plays”.  However during the Festa de Sao Joao – St John’s Festival, which is held on June 23-24th the city celebrates the birth of Saint John the Baptist.

On that day, the city of Porto comes alive and puts on one of Europe’s best summer festivals.

Porto is the second largest city in Portugal.  It’s one of Europe’s’ oldest cities and in 1996 it was registered as an official UNESCO World Heritage site.

porto

The name Porto is said to have originated by the Roman’s Latin world  Portus Cale –  meaning the name of a settlement along the river Douro “Port of Cale”. Some historians believe that it’s where the county’s name “Portugal” came from.

As many of you know, the infamous “Port Wine” derived it’s name from the area where it is produced.

Many traditional pagan rites connected with fire, water, and love are observed celebrating the “Summer Solstice”.

The festivities begin on the 23rd, the night of St. Johns Eve. In the afternoon the Avenida dos Aliados is filled with a parade of “Marchas” folk music, singing and dancing until the hour of midnight where there is a spectacular fireworks display on the “Ribeira” the coast along the Douro river. Visit Porto Tourism Official site for information on the planned events.

When the firework display finishes, singing, dancing, and the traditional marches continue as the people dance their way from Ribeira up to Foz on the Atlantic coast where they wait for the sun to rise.

SaoJoao_d3 Here they follow an ancient folklore tradition by bathing in the ocean before sunrise to ward off evil since it is believed that the water on St. John’s Eve has spirit healing quality.

Porto-Sao-Joao-2

sao joao

Along the streets you’ll find cafes and booths offering the traditional foods such as the most favorite food, sardinas assadas as well as many souvenirs.

sardines2

In old folklore it was custom to hit each other on the head with “garlic flowers” but in Porto these days they use plastic hammers.  Potted basil plants (manjericos) with a short poem of four versus, are exchanged as a ritual.

Basil

On the 24th the  Regatta of Rabelos Boats parade takes place along the mouth of the Douro river. These wooden boats have been used for centuries to transport the world renowned Port Wine.

I learned many things that I didn’t know about the “Festa de Sao Joao” which my mother had always reminded of every June. It amazes me how the Christian celebrations are closely tied into the old pagan rituals.

I know that’s how they were able to convert many people to Christianity by allowing them to observe the rituals of Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice for Christmas, Spring Equinox for Easter, and so forth…

I’m glad that I remembered this year and I was able to share with you some of the traditions of our native home- Portugal.

Listen to one of the classic songs of the celebration –  “Sao Joao Bonito”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Main Dish / Photo Gallery / Recipes / Side Dish

Spaghetti Pizza Pie!

Yes, it’s Spaghetti Pizza! You won’t believe how deliciously easy this recipe is.

You will never waste leftover spaghetti again, and best of all your family will love this.

I learned this recipe many many years ago from an Italian friend.

At first I was skeptical about making this because I had never heard of anything like before but I’ve been making it for many years.

This recipe  is very versatile because you can use whole wheat pasta for a healthier crust, add your favorite toppings like pepperoni, chourica, cooked meats and variety of cheeses.

Great for your “Meatless Mondays” Enjoy!

 

Ingredients

4 cups leftover cold spaghetti (preferably capellini)

2 eggs

2 tsp dry oregano

1 tsp black pepper

1 cup any shredded cheese

1 – 2 cups any favorite spaghetti sauce

chopped fresh basil

Parmesan cheese (crated)

1/2 cup of thinly sliced chourica or pepperoni.

 

Instructions:

In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the pepper and oregano. Add the pasta and mix well until coated. Heat the olive oil in a medium non stick skillet on high.

Add the pasta. Lower heat to medium and cook pasta until a crispy golden brown coating forms on the bottom. (check bottom regularly to make sure it does not burn).

Turn over pasta and cook until bottom also forms a crispy coating. Top with sauce, cheese and desired vegetables or chourica toppings and cover.

Lower heat to low, and cook until cheese melts. Add basil and shredded Parmesan before serving. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Desserts / Holiday Recipes / Photo Gallery / Recipes

Tia Maria’s No Oil Carrot Cake

 

Carrot cake is easy to make and I can bet that most of you have all of the ingredients in your pantry right now!

If shredding the carrots intimidates you, don’t kill yourself, or your arm, just shred them in your food processor!

I find that using oil in carrot cakes often leaves the cake greasy, so I use margarine and yogurt for moistness instead.

After you try this recipe and see how deliciously easy it is to make, you’ll never buy a store carrot cake again!  Enjoy!

 

Oil – Less Carrot Cake

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

3 eggs room temp

3 cups shredded carrots

1 stick margarine (soft)

1/2 cup Pineapple fruit on the bottom yogurt (or any you prefer)

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1 cup raisins (optional)

 

 

Frosting:

1 Package cream cheese (room temp)

2 cups confectioners sugar

1 tsp  vanilla

 

Instructions:

In a large mixing bowl, mix eggs, sugar, and margarine until creamy.  Add Carrots and yogurt. Combine all other ingredients except walnuts in a bowl. Add dry ingredients to the wet batter and mix for about 5 minutes.  Add the walnuts and raisins if desired and fold into batter.

Poor into 2 greased 9 in round cake pans. Cook in 350 degree oven for 30 -40 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool and frost with desired amount of cream cheese frosting. Top with more walnuts!

(If you like lots of frosting, double the frosting recipe)

Perfect cake to have with some Organic Gorreanna Tea from the Azores, Portugal.

Watch this promotional video from Goreana Tea which uses my photo that I took of their tea last summer on my patio table.

 


Photo Gallery

Chef Luisa Fernandes Named Executive Chef – Robert Restaurant – Museum of Arts & Design NYC

Chef Luisa Fernandes continues her successful journey in the Culinary world by recently being named Executive Chef of Robert Restaurant atop The Museum of Arts and Design on Columbus Circle in NYC..

The restaurant offers diners beautiful and stunning views of Central Park, Broadway, Central Park West and Columbus Circle with window front dining. You can relax and enjoy your meal while sitting at a comfortable lounge like atmosphere with sofas. The next time you’re  in New York City and find yourself in the mood for some great ART and good FOOD don’t forget to visit.

Read my past article about Chef Luisa for more information about this uniquely talented Portuguese Female chef.  Good luck Chef Luisa!

 

 

Robert Restaurant

2 Columbus Circle, 9th Floor
Museum of Arts and Design
New York, NY 10019

212-299-7730

 

Lunch 11-3 M-F

Brunch 11-3 Sat & Sun

Diner 5:30 –

 

Wed – Sat 8-11 pm live pianist with diner

Jazz brunch on Sunday

Private  dining, catering and special events

Make your reservations at Open Table

 

Holiday Recipes / Main Dish / Photo Gallery / Recipes / Traditional customs / Video Collection

Bacalhau à Brás – Cod Fish and Egg Scramble

image credit: http://bacalhautuga.blogs.sapo.pt/2004.html

This video for the recipe of Bacalhau à Brás, (Cod Fish with Potato Sticks) by Michelin Star Chef Jose Avillez  is from Taste Portugal. The recipe for this dish is said to have originated hundreds of years ago in the Estremadura (meaning extremities), the coastline region of central Portugal known for its consistent wind and ocean waves. The Chef’s restaurant, Belcanto, Lisbon Portugal has been awarded a Michelin Star for 2013. Congratulations to the Chef!

This popular Euro windsurf and surf destination has great beaches which has hosted many surf championships including the IFCA wave championships.

It’s interesting to note that last month,  The Guinness World Records confirmed that Garrett McNamara broke the record for the biggest wave ever, a 78-foot wave (23,7 metres) in Nazaré, Portugal by riding the wave in November of 2011. Read the article in Surfer Today.

 

Estremadura, Nazaré historical coastal province of central Portugal that contains Lisbon and the Tagus River estuary.

The landforms of Estremadura are geologically younger than other parts of the Iberian Peninsula, containing sandstone, limestone, and volcanic rock instead of granite and schist. The peninsulas of Lisbon and Setúbal are divided by the lower Tagus River valley. Land use north of the Tagus is diverse. Vineyards, olive groves, and cereal plots are found on the hilly slopes, and the Cartaxo and Torres areas are known for their wines. South of the Tagus the landscape is less tamed; much is still unproductive or in extensive estates of cork oak forest. Along the Tagus valley, corn (maize), grapes, rice, and wheat are cultivated, and some of Portugal’s finest horses and fighting bulls—both used in Portuguese bullfights—are raised there. A bullfighting museum is near Sintra.

Known as the Portuguese Riviera, the coastal region west of the city of Lisbon has important resort centres, including Estoril, Cascais, and Sintra. Apart from Lisbon, other chief towns include Setúbal, the main sardine port, with canneries; Barreiro and Almada, suburbs of Lisbon; and the fishing towns of Peniche and Nazaré.

“Estremadura”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 21 May. 2012

Now that I shared a little bit of Portugal’s geography with you let’s get back to the recipe for this centuries old, yet one of Portugal’s most popular dishes!

 Recipe:

Bacalhau à Brás

Ingredients:

4 oz of hydrated salt cod finely shredded

1 small potato cut into small match stick size

1 egg + 2 yolks

1/4 cup thinly sliced onion

1 clove garlic

2 bay leaves

1 tbsp chopped parsley

5 olives

Salt & Pepper to taste

2 tbsp olive oil

 

Preparation:

Fry the potato sticks in very hot oil and set aside. Saute onions Garlic and Bay leaf until translucent (about 2 minutes) in olive oil.

Stir the cod fish into the onions and cook for about 1 minute. Remove Bay Leaf. Add eggs on very low heat until cooked leaving a creamy texture.

Stir in the potato sticks and parsley.  Reserve a few sticks to use as garnish. 

Add salt and pepper to taste.  Garnish with olives and parsley. Enjoy!

Photo Gallery / Recipes

No Reservations – Lisbon, Portugal

 

Anthony Bourdain taped his Travel Chanel show; “No Reservations” in Lisbon” last fall, but the episode finally aired on April 30, 2012. I enjoyed watching the variety of the rich cuisine, the culture, and I even learned a  little bit of history. Portugal, as Anthony and I discovered is experiencing a culinary and cultural rebirth as it embraces it’s past tradition and culture.  Here’s a link to the No Reservations Youtube Channel.

No Reservations Lisbon Episode

 

Anthony holds a press conference in Lisbon in Nov 2011.

 

 

No Reservations

Restaurants visited by Anthony in this episode:

 

O Ramiro

Tony meets with local chefs Henrique Sa Pessoa and Jose Avillez at O Ramiro. Specializing in seafood, O Ramiro has become one of the most popular spots for seafood in Lisbon. O Ramiro Av. Almirante Reis n_1 – H, 1150-007 Lisbon, Portugal

Both chef Avillez, and Pessoa, will be welcomed by Chef Anthony Goncalves, Executive Chef of 42 The Restaurant/Bellota at the Ritz Carlton Westchester NY ; this year where they will prepare a joint menu. Dates have not been specified yet but I will post them when finalized.

 

Alma

Calçada Marquês de Abrantes, 92 Santos District, Lisbon, Portugal

Tony dines at Chef Henrique Sa Pessoa’s restaurant Alma with local comedian/actor Zé Diogo Quintela.

 

 

Henrique Sá Pessoa – Executive Chef –   Alma, Lisbon, Portugal –  RTP cooking site –  www.ingredientesecreto.tv

 

Cantinho do Avillez

Rua dos Duques de Braganca 7, 1200-162 Lisbon, Portugal

Tony dines with local producer/musician Tóze Brito at Chef Jose Avillez’s restaurant Cantinho do Avillez.

 

José Avillez – Michelin Star Chef

 

 

 

 

100 Maneiras

Rua do Teixeira, 35, Bairro Alto — 1200-459 Lisbon, Portugal

After a great match of Chinquilho, Tony and his new found friends head to chef Ljubomir Stanisic’s 100 Maneiras for lunch.

 

Sol e Pesca

Rua Nova do Carvalho 44 | Bairro Alto, Lisbon, Portugal

Tony meets up with the Lisbon-based band Dead Combo (Tó Trips and Pedro V. Gonçalves) for some drinks at Sol e Pesca, a tackle store turned bar.

 

O Trevo

Praça Luís de Camões, 48, 1200-243, Lisbon, Portugal

Tony has a Portuguese version of a pork sandwich topped with chili oil and mustard, with a side of beer.

 

 

Desserts / Holiday Recipes / Photo Gallery / Portuguese Christmas / Recipes

Portuguese Lemon & Vanilla Torta

This recipe for Torta (similar to a Jelly Roll) is easy to prepare and only takes 15 minutes to bake.

What’s great about this recipe is that you can change the fillings to any that you prefer such as; chocolate pudding, flavored jams, or fresh chopped fruits like strawberries, peaches, berries etc.

 

Lemon Vanilla Torte

 Ingredients:

5 room temp eggs separated

3/4 cup flour

1 tsp baking  powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp crated lemon rind

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 package instant Vanilla or Lemon pudding mix

1 1/2 cups milk

3/4 cups sugar

 

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease (Pam spray or margarine) and line a large sheet pan with parchment paper. Combine flour, salt, baking powder in a bowl.

In a large bowl beat egg yolks with 1/4 cup of sugar until lemony. Add flour mix, lemon zest and lemon juice and mix well for about 5 minutes.

In a separate bowl beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Add the 1/2 cup sugar gently into the whites until stiff peaks form.

Gently fold the egg whites into the eggs with a rubber spatula. Pour into the sheet pan spreading evenly. Cook for about 15 minutes or less depending on your oven. The cake should be golden light brown in color.

Prepare the pudding by mixing the contents of the package with only 1 1/2 cups of milk (not 2 cups as package directs).

Mix for 2 minutes, then place in fridge to thicken.

Place a clean linen white kitchen towel on the counter and sprinkle generously with granulated sugar. Slowly flip the cake pan onto the towel with the sugar.

Peel the parchment paper off the cake, then roll up the cake with the dish towel and let it sit for 5 minutes for the cake to cool.

Unwrap the rolled up cake let sit for a few minutes and spread the pudding (or any filling you prefer) evenly over the cake.

Gently roll up the cake without the towel leaving the edge on the bottom.

Sprinkle more sugar on top of the Torta to serve. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Holiday Recipes / Photo Gallery / Recipes

Portuguese Easter Bread – Folar de Pascoa

 


“Folare da Pascoa” –  “Easter Bread” is a symbolic bread made for Easter celebrations.

There are many different versions of the bread made in the Christian, Catholic, and Orthodox communities around the world.

They all have the common theme of a cross, or Chris-crossed, shape made on top of the bread with dough to represent the crucifixion of Christ.

Sometimes eggs are baked inside the bread to represent rebirth or fertility.

In Medieval times eggs were exchanged to represent seasonal rebirth. When Christianity evolved, the eggs significance changed to represent the rebirth in man as Jesus Christ was reborn on Easter Sunday.

Chef Luisa Fernandes  Executive chef at Robert Restaurant/MOD Museum of Art & Design made these Easter Breads.  I was so happy that she gave me her recipe to share with you.

Watch the chef in a recent interview on Portuguese TV:

 

Recipe Folar de Pascoa by Chef Luisa Fernandes.

Ingredients:

4 cups flour
1 1/2 cups flour to begin starter dough
3/4 cup margarine
4 eggs
2 packages dry east
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tbsp Anise seed
1 tsp salt
2 cups warm milk
crated rind of 2 lemons

Instructions:
In a large bowl dissolve yeast in a 1/4 cup of warm water. Add the 1 1/2 cups flour, knead well and set aside.
Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl. In a mixing bowl with a dough hook,  mix eggs and warm milk, margarine, then add dry ingredients and the prepared dough.

Continue mixing until the dough feels like soft bread dough.  Place dough into a large bowl that has been coated with flour, cover with saran wrap and a warm towel. Let the dough rise for about 3 hours in a warm area.

Meanwhile boil the 4 eggs in onion peels (yellow onions for golden eggs, red onion peels for red eggs) for about 10-12 minutes which will make them get a golden color. Set them aside. (This step is optional, you can leave out the eggs.)

When your dough has risen remove from bowl and place on a floured surface.

Divide the dough in half or quarters depending on how big you want to make each bread. Form into round loaves then place 1 or two eggs in the center.

Make a cross with at strip of the dough and place over the eggs.

Brush the bread with egg wash. Cook at 375 degrees for about 1 hour or until the bread is golden brown.
Watch Chef Luisa on Chopped

 

 

Appetizers / Holiday Recipes / Main Dish / Photo Gallery / Recipes / Side Dish

Baked Lobster a Maria

Happy New Year 2014 to all my fans and supporters of Tia Maria’s Blog!

This recipe for Lobster Maria, Baked Scallops wrapped in Bacon and Brocolli Rabe with Presunto, will be a hit for your New Years Celebrations! Enjoy!

Since I began making this easy recipe, I rarely order lobster out unless I’m dining at the shore.  I know you’ll never have to go out to a restaurant for lobster again!

If you have a hard time killing the lobsters yourself, just ask the Seafood clerk to split them in half for you (however, be sure to have them put the lobster on ice for you, and cook it within a couple of  hours).

My family exits the kitchen, thus leaving me with the honor of performing the evil dead of splitting the lobsters in half.

I don’t enjoy this and I admit that I do it as quickly as possible closing my eyes when I feel the knife cracking the shell.

Since I usually make this recipe for special occasions, I also make other family favorites; Bacon Wrapped Scallops and Sauteed Broccoli Rabe (Grillos) with Presunto.

This meal is simple to make, but it has a very upscale restaurant look for your next diner party when you want to treat your guests to something special! Enjoy!

Recipe:

Baked Lobster a Maria

Ingredients:

4 Lobsters split into halves

1 cup Panko Bread crumbs

10 Ritz crackers

4 cloves garlic

1/2 cup Italian parsley

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 stick butter or margarine

 

Instructions:

Place all ingredients into a food processor and pulse about 6-8 times until all of the ingredients are fine.

Place the lobster halves in a large baking dish facing shell down.

Spread the breadcrumb mixture over the lobsters and bake for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve warm with melted butter.

 

Bacon Wrapped Scallops:

Ingredients:

8 large fresh Sea Scallops

4 slices of thick cut bacon

Instructions:

Slice bacon strips in half and cook until slightly browned.

Wrap each piece around the scallop and secure with a toothpick.

Cook at 350 for about 10-15 minutes.

 

Broccoli Rabe with Presunto

Ingredients:

1 bunch of fresh Broccoli Rabe

1/4 cup of minced onion

3 slices of chopped presunto

1/4 cup of Olive oil

Instructions:

In a large pan bring water to a boil. Add the Broccoli Rabe and cook for about 5 minutes. Take out the Broccoli Rabe and strain in colander to remove excess water. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute the onions and Presunto until crispy. Add the Broccoli Rabe and continue sauteing for about 10 minutes until the Broccoli is tender. Drizzle some olive oil over the top when ready to serve. Enjoy!

 

 

Desserts / Holiday Recipes / Photo Gallery / Portuguese Christmas / Recipes

Bolo de Bolacha Maria – Maria Cookie Cake

Maria Cookie Cake

 

Carla Almeida sent me her recipe for Bolo de Bolacha Maria. “This is usually the recipe made by mothers in Portugal, especially in the summer. It’s fresh, easy and kids love it! It’s one of those Portuguese desserts that everyone has at one point or another tried. It is, probably, the dessert most loved by kids in Portugal. I remember that my mother baked it for special occasions, when she wanted to surprised us” She said.
Bolo de Bolacha Maria

Ingredients:

1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 can (same can)  milk
5 eggs
2 big packages of  Bolacha Maria (Maria Cookies)
4 – 6 cups of strong black coffee
1 pint whipping cream
1 tsp of sugar or brown sugar
Cinnamon powder

 

Instructions:
In a large bowl beat together the condensed milk, milk and egg yolks until creamy. Pour mixture into a pan on low heat and stir well until the mixture comes to a boil. Turn off heat.

Meanwhile dip cookies one at a time into coffee for about 5-10 seconds to coat with coffee, but don’t let them get soft. In a spring form pan or large platter, begin layering the cookies one a time then topping each with the egg cream until towers of your desired height form.

In small bowl beat the whipping cream with sugar until whipped. In separate bowl, beat the remaining egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold the egg whites into the whipped cream gently. Top the cookie cake with the cream. Top the cake with desired amount of cinnamon and crushed Maria cookie crumbs. Put it in the fridge for about 5 hours, or overnight for best results.

Visit this youtube video Bolo de Bolacha for a demonstration of how to assemble the cake. The recipe is different but there are many variations of this classic. Carla’s recipe is unique!… Enjoy