Category: Holiday Recipes

Banana Cream Cake with Bolacha Maria Cookie

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For banana lovers! This cake recipe tastes just like banana cream pie with and added fluffy and moist cake layer.

Perfect for party, pot luck and a summer picnic. I placed it in the refrigerator which gave it a cold sweet taste. It was a big hit with the family and bananalicious!

Ingredients:

1 boxed yellow cake mix recipe (follow package directions)

1 package of instant Vanilla pudding (follow package directions)

3 bananas (sliced)

10 Maria Cookies

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 and 1/2 tablespoons confectioners sugar

Preparation:

Prepare cake as per directions in a deep baking dish.

While cake bakes prepare the pudding as per package directions. When slightly cooled poke holes with a wooden spoon.

DSC06394Spread pudding evenly over the cake and into the holes.

DSC06395Top forming a layer with 1/2 of the banana slices over the pudding.

DSC06396 Prepare whipped cream by beating until soft peaks form. Add the sugar and vanilla and beat until stiff peaks form. Spread gently over the banana layer.

DSC06398Gently cut the Bolacha Maria in half leaving the Maria letters. Crush the remaining cookies to fine crumbles.

DSC06397Top the whip cream layer with cookie crumbles.

DSC06400      Top with the remaining bananas.

DSC06401Arrange the cookies on top with the Maria name exposed.

DSC06404Cool cake in the refrigerator for a few hours if desired. Serve cold

Mariscada – Portuguese Shellfish Stew

Mariscada - Portuguese Shellfish Stew

Mariscada

This is my family’s favorite seafood dish which I learned from a Portuguese chef many years ago. I make it for Christmas Eve dinner every year. The combination of ingredients and spices blend perfectly with the fresh seafood and creates a rich flavorful broth. The seafood will pair perfectly with Portuguese rice.

This recipe is the main dish image page in my; Taste Portugal | 101 easy Portuguese recipes cookbook.

Recipe #47  ————– PORTUGUESE SHELLFISH STEW

mariscadaServes 2-4

Ingredients:

1 whole uncooked lobster (chopped into quarters)

1 pound raw, peeled and de-veined Shrimp

1 pound little mussels or little neck clams (washed)

½ pound scallops

½ pound of squid (cut into rings) (optional)

1 small onion (finely chopped)

2 cloves garlic (minced)

¼ cup olive oil

1 cup Vinho Verde or white wine

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon paprika

1 cup chicken broth

2 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (garnish)

Squeeze of lemon juice

Dash of hot sauce (if desired)

Preparation

Saute the onions and garlic in the olive oil in a large heavy skillet on medium heat for one minute. Add lobster, and saute for a few minutes on low heat. Add clams, wine, paprika, salt and pepper, cover and let cook for 5 minutes.

Add the chicken broth, shrimp, squid, and scallops, cover and cook on medium heat for another 5 minutes or until the clams open.

Add butter and continue cooking for another 5 minutes for the butter to thicken the sauce.

Taste for saltiness and add hot sauce or more seasonings if desired.

Add the chopped cilantro and top with a squeeze of lemon juice before serving.

Serve with rice.

Note: You may substitute chicken broth with 1 chicken bouillon cube and 1 cup water.

Cranberry Lemon Scones

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Invite your friends over for these Cranberry Lemon Scones and enjoy the company! They’re a perfect breakfast or anytime treat.

I served mine with Lemon Balm Tea (Cha de Cidreira) which is my favorite tea. My mother made this tea just about every day and grew her own lemon balm in her garden. She dried the leaves to make tea all year long. I also grow my own now and make tea on a regular basis. It’s a soothing calming tea and good for when you have an upset stomach as well.

“A member of the mint family, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) has a lovely lemon flavor and the ability to gently calm the nerves and lift one’s mood. Native to the Mediterranean, lemon balm’s medicinal and culinary use dates back over 2,000 years. Avicenna, the 11th-century Arab physician, wrote that lemon balm “causeth the mind and heart to become merry.” http://www.thekitchn.com

How to dry the lemon balm leaves for tea:

Cut the branches and trim off the larger stems. Wash and dry them and lay them out on paper towels or newspapers. Place in a dry place for about 1 week or more until the leaves are dry and brittle. Break the stems and leaves into small pieces and place in ziploc bags or a jar. Store in your cupboard.

When ready to make tea, boil 1 tablespoon of the dry tea leaves per 1 – 2 cups of tea for about 5 minutes. Let seep for another 5 minutes or longer depending on how strong you like it

Lemon balm tea

Cranberry Lemon Scones

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1/3 cup sugar

1 stick cut into chunks (8 tablespoons of very cold butter)

1/2 cup sour cream

1 egg

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 teaspoon of coarse natural sugar

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Mix all dry ingredients and cold butter food processor or mixer until well blended.

(do not over mix)

Add remaining egg and sour cream to mixture and pulse until well blended and crumbly.

Add the cranberries and lemon zest and give the processor a few pulses just to mix slightly.

DSC05845Shape into a circle of 3/4 inch thickness on a slightly floured surface.

Sprinkle with the coarse sugar.

DSC05846Cut into 8 equal pieces.  DSC05848Place on lightly greased cookie sheet.

DSC05850Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden brown.

Look at that beautiful golden color.

DSC05851Light and flaky!

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30 Minute Shrimp Scampi Linguini a Piri Piri

I love Shrimp and I love pasta that’s why I make this recipe very often. I had a few drops of piri piri for kick but this is  optional to your taste buds.

This savory recipe cooks in 30 minutes so it’s a perfect weekday meal. However, it’s decadent enough to serve for special occasions. Enjoy!

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 pound of medium shrimp (devained with shells on or off)

1 pound of Linguini pasta

6 cloves of garlic (finely minced)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

Crushed black pepper

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

1/2 cup of vinho verde or white wine

1/2 teaspoon paprika

Piri piri or (hot sauce) to taste

Chopped parsley

Lemon wedges for garnish

Preparation:

Prepare the linguini per package directions, drain and add a drop of olive oil. Stir and keep warm for adding to the shrimp.

In a large deep skillet, cook the garlic with the olive oil and butter for a few minutes until translucent but not browned.

Turn heat to high and add the shrimp, and cook for about 2 minutes turning them over to cook on all sides.

Add the salt, paprika and wine, and cook for about 3 – 5 minutes to reduce liquid.

Turn heat to low and add the pasta. Stir to incorporate. Add the piri piri,  parsley and lemon wedges before serving.

Note: If you find the sauce has reduced to much add more butter.

 

 

 

 

 

Carne Vinha d’alhos – Garlic Wine Marinated Pork

In the Island of Madeira, during the family reunion on Christmas Eve it is customary to have chicken broth, apart from other meat dishes. Also, families usually drink the typical homemade tangerine, orange and anise liqueurs or even a glass of Madeira Wine.

On Christmas Day, a dish of Vinho d’ Alho,  pork loin marinated in wine is served.

Ingredients:

2 pounds of pork loin (with some fat cut into 2 inch cubes)

1 cup of red wine vinegar

1 cup of dry white wine

2 tablespoon of kosher salt

10 garlic cloves (chopped)

3 Bay leaves

1 teaspoon black Pepper

1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon of paprika

1/4 cup olive oil

Preparation:

Cut the meat in cubes and season with salt. Let marinate for 12 hours. Make marinade with the vinegar, wine, garlic, bay leaves, pepper, pepper flakes, paprika and 1/4 cup of the olive oil.

Place the meat in the marinade for at least three days in the refrigerator. The traditional way is to marinate in a food safe clay pot but you can use a ceramic bowl or plastic bag.

Drain the meat from the marinade and cook in hot heavy skillet in a little olive oil. Cook in batches until browned on all sides and fully cooked.

The traditional way to serve the pork is with crusty bread that has been fried in the same pan using any leftover oil.

Serve with bread, potatoes, or rice.

 

 Image credit: portuguesefoodrecipes.com

Holiday Berry Nut Salad

Start your New Year’s Eve festivities with this healthy Holiday Berry Nut Salad. I’m still finishing up with the leftovers from Christmas so I made this healthy salad using all of the leftover fruits, nuts, and specialty cheeses and cold cuts!

The dressing is a simple and light Balsamic Apricot dressing that pairs perfectly with the saltiness of the cheese and cold cuts!

Ingredients:

4 – 6 cups of Organic Spring Mix lettuce

1 carrot (sliced thinly into shreds) (optional)

6 – 12 blackberries

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup dried cherries

6 -12 dried figs (cut in half)

1/4 cup almonds

1/4 cup walnut halves

1/8 cup cashews

1 or 2 oz. of Goat or Farmers cheese (crumbled)

2 slices of Gouda, Portuguese cheese or any other you prefer

3 or 4 slices of presunto (or Italian prosciutto) (rolled)

3 or 4 slices of any specialty cold cuts of your choice cut into strips

 

Dressing:

1/8 cup of olive oil

1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar

1/8 cup of Apricot preserves

1 drop of mustard

1 pinch of salt

1 dash of crushed black pepper

Preparation:

Place the spring mix on a large platter and arrange the ingredients on top. Mix all of the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and serve over the salad directly before serving.

You can make this salad in the morning and serve later. Enjoy!

 

Maria’s Seafood Rice – Arroz com Marisco a Maria

I make this Seafood Rice dish for every family celebration since we are all seafood lovers! The recipe is very versatile so you can change up the seafood ingredients to what ever you prefer. Sometimes I also add lobster when it’s in season.

I like to cook the rice separate from the seafood because the rice comes out fluffier. Some people cook the rice in with the seafood but that may leave the seafood dry too. You can also use only regular long rice if you prefer,  but increase it to 3 and 1/2 cups.

Serves 10-12

Ingredients:

Rice:

2 cups long grain rice

1 (8 oz) package of Goya Yellow Rice mix

1 medium onion (finely chopped)

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 teaspoon of paprika

1 chicken bouillon cube

6 cups of boiling water

1 teaspoon salt

Seafood ingredients:

2 pounds of uncooked peeled shrimp

1 pound of little neck clams  (washed)

1 pound of mussels in or out of shell

1 pound of squid (chopped into rings and pieces)

1 pound of scallops

1 small onion (finely chopped)

2 cloves garlic (finely minced)

2 tablespoons of olive oil

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup of vinho verde or dry white wine

1 cup chicken stock

Dash of Piri Piri or hot sauce

2 cups frozen baby peas

2 tablespoons of chopped parsley or cilantro for garnish

Lemon wedges for garnish

Preparation:

Step 1:

Make the rice first by sauteing the onion in a heavy medium pan with the olive oil for a few minutes until translucent but not browned. Add the long grain rice to the onion and stir to coat with the olive oil. Let brown for 1 minute stirring often.

Add the boiling water, salt, paprika and bouillon cube. Let come to a boil and add the Yellow rice. Stir, cover and reduce heat to medium. Let cook for about 15 – 20 minutes stirring once in a while. Add more boiling water if you find the rice is getting to dry. Taste and add more salt if desired.

Step 2:

In a medium skillet, saute the onion and garlic in the olive oil until translucent. Add the clams, squid, and mussels and cook for one minute. Add the wine, butter, paprika, piri piri, salt, stock and shrimp.

Cook for about 5 minutes on high until the seafood is cooked and clams open. Taste and add more seasoning if desired. Add the peas and cook for 1 minute. Set seafood aside until rice is fully cooked.

Step 3:

Place the rice into a wide paella pan or oven proof serving tray. Pour the seafood over the rice spreading the seafood evenly. Place in the oven at 350  degrees f for a few minutes for the flavors to incorporate. Keep in the warm oven until ready to serve but not too long or the rice will become dry.

Step 4:

Garnish with lemon wedges and cilantro or parsley. Serve and enjoy!

Pão de Ló de Alfeizerão – Portuguese Sponge Cake Alfeizerão Style

This is a cake which was once served to a King of Portugal has become the traditional cake of AlfAlfeizerão and is famous throughout Portugal.

In Portuguese tradition, it is said that this cake has its origins from the Monastery of Stª. Maria de Cós, a nuns convent which was founded in the Twelfth century by Abott D. Fernando in Cós, Alcobaca, Portugal.

Around the Fourteenth century, the nuns of the monastery taught the Pão-de-ló , recipe to local women of the nearby town of AlfAlfeizerão which is a few miles from Alcobaca and was the home town of the Sir Knight Vitorino Froes, a close friend of the then King Don Carlos.

The King often visited Knight Froes estate S. Martinho do Porto, where the best delicacies and desserts where served. Pão-de-ló was a favorite and revered dessert at that time. The legend is that, on one occasion, the cake was served slightly unbaked which gave it a runny consistency in the middle upon slicing it. However, the king instantly fell in love with this cake and from then on insisted it be served in this same way.

The recipe below is in both English and Portuguese in (red) text. Enjoy!

Pão de Ló de Alfeizerão

Ingredients:

Ingredientes:

4 eggs – 4 ovos;

8 egg yolks – 8 gemas;

1 and 1/4 cup granulated sugar – 250 g de açúcar;

1 cup flour – 125 g de farinha;

1 teaspoon whiskey – 1 colher (chá) de aguardente; (optional)

Zest from 1/4 of 1 lemon – raspa de ¼ de limão; (optional)

Butter or margarine for greasing pan – manteiga (para untar)

Preparation:

Preparação:

Beat the eggs, egg yolks, sugar, with the lemon zest and the teaspoon of whiskey for about 10 minutes until light and fluffy and double the volume.

Bata as gemas, os ovos e o açúcar, com a raspa de limão e a colher de chá de aguardente, até obter um creme fofo e volumoso.

Fold in the flour gently until all incorporated.

Junte suavemente a farinha sem bater muito.

Grease a cake pan very well or use and bake the cake at 320 F. for about 15-20 minutes.

Unte uma forma com manteiga. Leve ao forno a 160ºC, durante cerca de 15 a 20 minutos.

Remove the cake slowly from the pan so it does not split open.

You may bake in a round cake pan which is lined with parchment paper.

Deve ser desenformado cuidadosamente para não abrir.

Nota: para o pão-de-ló de Alfeizerão há umas formas artesanais feitas propositadamente. Também o pode fazer em forma redonda lisa, forrada com papel.

 

Recipe credit:

https://www.facebook.com/deliciasdaestrela/app_160650480751745

https://artesviagensesabores.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/pao-de-lo-tipo-alfeizerao/

Peach Blueberry Tart – Pastel de Pêssego e Mirtilo

You’ll love this fresh summer tart. My daughter Lisa made it last weekend for my niece’s bridal shower and it was a big hit! In fact it was such a big hit we barely got a chance to try it. I looked over at the dessert table and noticed one little piece left, so I got up and took the last delicious square. We’ll be making a lot this summer during peach season. Lisa had many requests for the recipe and here it is! Enjoy it everyone!

Ingredients:

  • 1 package of puff pastry (I used pepperidge farm)
  • 1 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 3 large peaches (sliced into thin slices)
  • 1 cup blueberries (washed and pat dry)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons cream cheese (softened)
  • 2 tablespoon apricot preserves
  • 1 tablespoon water

Preparations:

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pre heat oven to 425 and set aside.
  2. The package comes with 2 sheets but I used only 1. (The dough should be thawed but very cold, store in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the tart.) Score the dough to form along the 1-inch border. Prick the remaining dough using the a fork.
  3. Gently toss peach slices and blueberries in a bowl, with 1 tablespoon flour and 1 tablespoon sugar and salt.
  4. Whip cream cheese with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and spread in a thin layer over crust inside border.
  5. Arrange the peaches layered into 3 sections with blueberries on the borders, or as desired. Place on parchment paper and bake 15-20 minutes until the crust is light golden brown. (check bottom of the tart, it should be golden and slightly crusty)
  6. Stir together apricot preserves and water until thinned and rush crust and fruit.
  7. Let cool slightly before cutting into desired squared. Serve warm or room temperature.

 

Recipe adapted from: http://foodbabbles.com/2013/08/blueberry-peach-tart/