Strawberry Bonbon (Bombom de Morango)

Strawberry season is upon us, and to celebrate one of the most beloved fruits in the culinary world, I want to share one of my favorite sweet recipes of all times.

Strawberry Bonbon (or Bombom de Morango, in Portuguese) is the Brazilian “improved” version of a simple chocolate dipped strawberry. In Brazil - especially in the southern part, where strawberries can be more easily found than in the North - we have these bonbons commonly sold at bakeries and pastry shops (called confeitarias, in Portuguese).

So, our “improved” version, receives an extra coat of sweetened condensed milk-based custard around the strawberry, before getting dipped in the chocolate bath. That extra layer adds richness and creaminess to the dessert, which makes it taste sweeter and even more decadent. Therefore, it does get improved :)

I love this so much! I grew up eating this bonbon at birthday parties (but they would be served only at fancy parties, due to the price of the fruit that could get expensive), and at pastry shops. It was a widely available treat. Well, not in the US… And, once again, I was craving something that I had never tried to make.

I looked at several recipes, and the method is simple. The only tricky part was to find out the best way to do the chocolate covering. If I used real chocolate, which would have the best taste, I would have to temper the chocolate… I was not quite sure if I was willing to endure such a fussy method. So, I skipped that. After doing some tests, I chose Baker’s dark chocolate dipping as the winning method – it was easy to use, it tasted great, and the bonbons looked smooth and glossy!

This Brazilian strawberry dessert proves that the extra sweet cream coat takes this traditional treat to the next level! I wish everyone a delicious strawberry season!!

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Brazilian Veggie Pot Pie (Empadão de Palmito)

During the colder months, I feel like we eat a lot of pot pies here in the States – at least, that’s when I more often see recipes of it being taught on cooking shows or shared on magazines. Creamy and comforting, the (allow me to call) American pot pie is a perfect dish for when it’s cold outside.

In Brazil, people are obsessed with pot pies. I am obsessed with pot pies! Our version, though, is more adaptable to, let’s say, a wider variety of climates… Most of the country is warm year-round; therefore, our very own version of the dish has a filling that is moist and creamy, but not as soupy, which tastes great either warm or at room temperature. Since the filling is less runny, the pie can be assembled in a springform and unmolded in a serving platter – which is my favorite way to present it. But setting it up in a deep-dish is also fine (and easier).

If you haven’t yet met my Brazilian Chicken Pot Pie or my Shrimp and Hearts-of-Palm Pot pie, please let me introduce you to my Brazilian Veggie Pot Pie! This recipe has hearts-of-palm as its main star which gives this pie its distinct zesty flavor. Black olives, corn, and green peas are some of the other featured ingredients, but you can add or subtract accordingly to your taste (just keep proportions balanced so you don’t end up with less – or too much – filling).

I truly enjoy this recipe since I have been a little girl, at any season of the year. I hope you do too!

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Brazilian Jeweled Rice and Lentils (Arroz à Grega e Lentilhas)

I am going to start this conversation with a very straight forward question: “Do you want to be as lucky as a Brazilian in the next year?”. Ok, let’s assume that your answer is: “Yes, I absolutely do!”. I am so glad that you have chosen the only right answer to my question!!! So, I am going to tell you exactly what to do – or eat – to achieve such good fortune in the upcoming year.

People might roll their eyes at us, Brazilians, since we have this reputation for being superstitious. But… It doesn’t hurt to try, right?! And in this case, the worst that can happen is that you will end up enjoying some really delicious food over the New Year's Eve – or Réveillon, as we call it.

Traditionally, Lentils and Brazilian Style Jeweled Rice cannot be absent from our New Year's feast – which happens only after midnight (yes, we do not eat until after the new year has made its debut). Both dishes are normally served as sides to proteins such as pork or seafood (no chicken or beef allowed in the occasion). This side dishes are colorful, tasty, and they can be prepared somewhat quickly, although their best feature is to bring good fortune in the upcoming year.

I wish everyone a happy and healthy year! Peace, love, and joy. XO- Cynthia

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Avocado-Chimichurri Skirt Steak with Mashed Cauliflower

Red meat isn’t always seen as a healthy meal choice. A juicy and delicious steak is, many times, seen as a heavy, hard to digest, fatty kind of dinner. As much as I love steak, I do find myself avoiding from “Monday-through-Friday”, which gives it the status of a weekend indulgence.

Growing up in the Southern part of Brazil, where meat is the go-to protein, I used to not think of meat that way at all. We had red meat on our table almost every day. It wasn’t a crazy, gigantic 16 ounces portion of rib-eye; at a daily basis, smaller portions of meat were served as the main course at every table. Forget about those standardized, all-you-can-eat, Brazilian steak houses. Those are, indeed, a weekend indulgence. On week days, steak is always portioned right.

November is celebrated as the “Eat Smart Month” by the American Heart Association, and I was thrilled to be invited to be part of it. Their big fundraising event was sponsored by NBC Channel 8 in Tampa, and my job was to show viewers how to prepare a colorful and healthy meal. They asked me if I could look at their recipe file to possibly find something we could develop together. Since the cause is one worth embracing, I decided to be open minded.

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Coconut Frapê Cake (Bolo Frapê da Tia Dorian)

Fall has just started and, although it barely feels like fall in Florida, our brains have that shift of mood and we begin to crave comfort foods. This is the season to get cozy with family and friends, and everything remind us of that feeling of togetherness. It is so nice!

I learned to love fall once I moved to the US, since in Brazil we don’t truly have all the four seasons. For me, fall sometimes makes me miss my family in Brazil even more. It also makes me crave the sensations and flavors that I experienced with them growing up.

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Salt Cod with Potatoes and Olives (Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá)

Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá is a very traditional dish from Portugal that Brazil decided to make its own – like all the other salt cod recipes ever invented in Portugal. 

The method of salting fish or meat, was widely used during the time when Brazil became Portugal’s colony. Therefore, the different recipes and ways to prepare the salt cod were fully embraced by the Brazilians. Wonder why? It’s very tasty and much easier to make than most people would think. 

This recipe is called Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá, but if you can’t pronounce that, simply call it Salt Cod with Potatoes and Olives. It is a simple dish that uses only a handful of ingredients. Just watch for timing: it can be prepared in advance, but the salt cod must be soaked for at least 24 hours before cooked. Using salt cod just takes a bit of planning. 

Another important thing: use high quality olive oil and olives. I feel like that, besides the salt cod, the stars in this dish are the olive oil and the olives. Good quality, pungent, rich varieties of olives will work best here. The slightly caramelized onions bring a touch of sweetness, and the potatoes will balance everything out and add sustenance to the dish. The eggs make for a pretty topping – and a delicious one – do not skip it!

A big prove that Brazilians have fully embraced salt cod dishes is that these recipes became an Easter tradition down there! On Easter Sunday, a large casserole or skillet is one of the most popular main courses served at the occasion. It has become that kind of special food that everyone looks forward to.

Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá is simple to prepare and full of flavor. I promise that salt cod is really easy to handle! Give it try and maybe you will also want to incorporate this new dish into your traditional repertoire - at Easter or at any time of the year!

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Brazilian Baked Cauliflower “Rice” (Arroz-de-Forno de Couve-Flor)

In the last year or so, cauliflower has become a trend ingredient for healthy lifestyle. With this versatile vegetable, people have figured out ways to make low carb recipes in which the cauliflower usually replaces the flour, or rice.

I don’t always go for those trends, but this time I believe this fashion will survive the test of time and simply become a regular item on people’s diet. The reason? Cauliflower makes truly delicious tacos, pizza doughs, fried rice, etc… It’s not something I eat just because “today is Monday so I will try and cut my carbs”. I make and eat recipes in which the carbs are replaced by cauliflower because I enjoy them!

In Brazil, rice is on our table every day. And oh my, we tend to make a boat load of rice at once! So, of course, this often leaves us with more rice than the family can possibly eat. To put those leftovers to good use, Brazilians usually make “Arroz-de-Forno” which consists of leftover rice that is mixed with ANY other ingredient that is available, then baked in the oven with a ton of cheese. It’s comfort food that is often served for Sunday lunch. It’s creamy and cheesy – and by using those two words to describe this dish, you already know that it is delicious! 

I recently used cauliflower in lieu of rice on this recipe, and it turned out just as good! My mom said that she found it comforting, yet lighter if compared to the regular recipe. But she said that she did not miss the rice at all.

You can use all sorts of pantry ingredients that you like. I keep mine very Brazilian – well, I tend to have a very “Brazilian pantry” – so hearts-of-palm, corn, chicken, tomatoes, media crema, and scallions are always there, but you don’t have to limit yourself to those. When I have olives, split peas, and other fresh herbs, I like to throw in the pan too. And lots of cheese of course – which can be any kind that you like – in this case I used a mix of gruyere and swiss that I found in my fridge, but you can use mozzarella, provolone, cheddar, or whatever you have on hand.

This “clean your pantry” meal is easy, low in carbs, and lighter than its regular version. So, if you haven’t yet tried riced cauliflower, you are missing out! Enjoy!

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Queijadinha (Brazilian Coconut and Cheese Sweet)

Queijadinha (pronounced quei-jad-in-ha) might be one of the easiest and most delicious sweets I have ever posted! Made with only 4 ingredients, this dessert had its origins in Portugal. But once it was brought to Brazil during the colonial period, the African slaves added coconut to the original recipe turning it into a true Brazilian delight. And oh, how much do I love anything with coconut??!!

This centennial dessert is like a cross in between a cake and a flan. It holds its shape enough to be eaten without the use of utensils, but it has an extra creamy center. Naturally gluten-free, this Brazilian traditional sweet can be found at any bakery down there.

If you are a coconut lover, you will absolutely love the smell in your house after you bake the Queijadinha. Enjoy at room temperature, if you can be strong enough to resist the temptation of eating just right off the oven.

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Blood Orange and Mint Caipirinha (Caipirinha de Laranja Vermelha e Hortelã)

Caipirinha is the signature drink from Brazil. I believe that most of the people who enjoy a good drink – and know a little bit about Brazil – agrees with that statement.

The traditional Caipirinha consists of muddled lime and sugar that is mixed with cachaça and ice. It is refreshing with the perfect balance in between tart and sweet. I like to say that “caipirinha makes me dance” – and that is very true! Caipirinha has the power to make anyone dance.

Of course, that such marvelous drink has its variations… Besides the classic Caipirinha, I have other recipes for this concoction - such as Passion Fruit, and Pineapple-Mint - but there is always room for something new.

Taking advantage of the different citrus we can find in the US now, I created something with an original twist: Blood Orange and Mint Caipirinha. It’s a great drink, less acidic than the original version with a hint of fresh sweetness.

Since blood oranges are very hard to find in Brazil, I can say that, this time, I am putting an American twist into a Brazilian classic. And I like it!

Be aware: this drink can bring out the best qualities that the Brazilian people are known for! So, if you start to dance after a couple of sips, just embrace it! And enjoy being a Brazilian with an American twist for a little while.

Read more: Blood Orange and Mint Caipirinha (Caipirinha de Laranja Vermelha e Hortelã)

Brazilian Strawberry and Chocolate Trifle (Pavê Bombom de Morango)

If there is a dessert that reminds me of my high school years, it is this one! I remember this treat being the favorite of all my friends at that time… Today, when I take a bite, and taste the combination of flavors in this dessert I am immediately transported to a comfort place of lots of laughing, friendship, discoveries, and fun, just so much fun! Those were the years of no responsibilities – except school of course. Those were the days…

Being one of the first desserts that I ever learned how to make, I must confess that I made a couple of adaptations to better fit the American palate – and even my own now. Back on the day, I used to make it sweeter (by using milk chocolate for the ganache) and creamier (by skipping the layer of lady fingers). I felt that a more “adult” version needed to be developed. But I still wanted to keep the simplicity of the original method and flavors. So, I turned this dessert into what we call in Brazil a Pavê – a dessert that layers some sort of cookie and custard with different kinds of fruits, nuts, or other sweet creams. It is a Brazilian version of a Trifle.

For my Brazilian Strawberry and Chocolate Trifle (Pavê Bombom de Morango) I quickly dunk lady fingers into a mix of water and brandy (you can sub rum, whisky, or cognac) and place on the base of the dish. Then, I layer on top creamy custard, strawberries, and dark chocolate ganache. No need to bake, just refrigerate for a few hours and serve! It can’t get any simpler.

Also, this dessert can be a great option for a Valentine’s Day dinner – chocolate and strawberries, hello!!! “Impress” your love by making something from scratch. Even better yet, by making a “Brazilian Strawberry and Chocolate Trifle” from scratch!! If you are making for just two people, cut the ingredient portions by half and assemble in individual bowls – or use glass tumblers or mugs. You should have four portions - leftovers for the next day show that you care ;) Your valentine will feel the love. Enjoy!

Read more: Brazilian Strawberry and Chocolate Trifle (Pavê Bombom de Morango)