Jamaican Style Fish and Shrimp with Coconut Milk, Papaya and Plantains

This light, slightly sweet Jamaican Fish and Shrimp recipe was created after an incredibly tasty dish that my husband and I had during our visit to Jamaica. We love traveling and we are the kind of people who go out and explore, so we had the chance to try all kinds of different dishes during our stay. We tried from the simplest and also the most elaborate Jamaican delights and, hands-down, this recipe was our favorite. So once I got back home, I HAD to replicate it.

Figuring out the flavors in Jamaican cuisine is not that hard for me – Brazilian cuisine is quite similar – which means that both cuisines use plenty of tropical fruits, herbs, coconut milk and seafood. The techniques are simple too. Although, in the recipe that I am sharing here, I tried papaya and bananas (plantains) for the first time mixed in a savory sauce – and it was phenomenal! In Brazil, papaya and bananas are typically served in desserts and cakes, so I loved to have tried something unexpected!

I want to say a big THANK YOU to Chef Shane Thompson from Blue Mahoe (at the Spa Retreat Hotel, in Negril) for serving me something that delighted and inspired me. ONE LOVE.

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Panqueca de Carne Moida (Brazilian Crêpes with Meat Filling)

Crêpes are really thin pancakes and they can be used in both savory and sweet recipes. I grew up eating them at home – my Mom makes the best ones! In fact, this is a very special recipe post because during the testing and photo shoot I had the chance to be hands-on in the kitchen with my Mom; and since she is the crêpes expert, this time I could take a step back and watch the process, photograph, and take some really good notes. We had a lot of fun! The whole family ended up getting involved: my husband, my 4-year-old, and even the baby ended up participating on the process.

Cooking with my Mom is an opportunity that I unfortunately do not have very often. She still lives in Brazil and I live in the US. But I just recently had my second baby boy so she flew to Indiana to spend some time with us. When baby William give us a little break, I often ask her to help me prepare some of the recipes I grew up eating.

My Mom’s “Brazilian Crêpes with Meat Filling” are delicious and fairly simple to make (the step-by-step with pictures is helpful!). You can make the crêpes in advance and store in the fridge for a couple of days. You can also be creative with filling: besides the meat and vegetables, I also love to use shredded chicken with corn. For the sweet lovers, my absolute favorite is dulce de leche. Once you have the crêpes ready, the possibilities are endless and SO GOOD!!!

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Butternut Squash and Sage Risotto

Slightly sweet and nutty, this risotto recipe is one of my favorites. If butternut squash is in season, I always make sure I include this recipe when I teach a risotto class. People usually like it a lot!
Also, nowadays we hear a lot the concept “Meatless Monday”… I don’t necessarily cook vegetarian food every Monday, but I think that this is a great recipe for those who like the idea of eating without any kind of meat once a week or more. The reason why? This risotto is rich, decadent, and the cubed butternut squash have a meaty texture that replaces the meat texture well.
Finally, I want to encourage you to try making risotto the traditional way – which means standing next to the stove and stirring pretty much constantly for a perfect al dente rice texture. Believe me, it’s more fun than you think; especially when wine and friends are involved ;) Happy fall!

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Avocado Brigadeiros (Brigadeiro de Abacate)

Rich and sweet with a hint of lime, my Avocado Brigadeiros are super simple to make and definitely a crowd pleaser! The famous Brazilian chocolate bonbons called Brigadeiros were the sweets that inspired me to make this avocado version. Guess what else served as an inspiration for me? The Incredible Hulk – yes, he did! I know there is nothing sweet about Hulk’s personality, but my son really wanted a superhero party for his 4th birthday this year, so I created several different kinds of flavored Brigadeiros to go with the party theme. Of course that somehow the Incredible Hulk Brigadeiro would HAVE to be green! That’s how my delicious Avocado Brigadeiro was born! Kids and adults loved it, and my husband even said it was his favorite out all the other flavors I made!! Now, if you look at the picture above, you can definitely notice that its looks are classy enough to go with any party, and not necessary with just a crazy kid's party. So make it for your next event, but be sure to eat in no longer than 48 hours after the preparation time. Enjoy!

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Pumpkin Flan

Pumpkin is a very popular ingredient in cakes and pies, but not many people know how wonderful it tastes when added to a flan. In Brazil, pumpkin flan is just yet another variation of a classic dessert. I like to think that anything goes well when mixed with a classic flan recipe, so it could not be any different for this one. Creamy, sweet, with a hint of cinnamon, this Brazilian dessert is a must try for pumpkin lovers. Serve with freshly shaved coconut flakes on top, adding a twist on this delicious and unusual fall recipe. I hope you enjoy!

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Spaghetti Squash Lasagna

Are you looking at the picture above and thinking “WOW! This lasagna looks yummy”? Now, I am going to break you the news: it is not lasagna, but a much lighter and healthier dish, that still has the heartiness and comforting flavors of regular lasagna. How? Thanks to a delicious vegetable that works very well with all kinds of pasta sauces: spaghetti squash! I often use this wonderful vegetable as a substitute for pasta with the addition of any pasta sauce, especially when I want something hearty, but gluten-free and light. I am not going to lie to you and say it tastes just like lasagna noodles, because it doesn’t. It is different, but it works in a way that adds flavor and texture to any “pasta-like” dish. It is gluten-free, lower in calories and carbs if compared to regular noodles. But above it all, it tastes really really really good!!!! I used sweet Italian sausage in the sauce, with the addition of carrots, onions, tomatoes, green peppers and fresh herbs and I layered with ricotta and mozzarella – just like regular lasagna. It worked!!!  My husband was licking the plate! Replace the Italian sausage with more vegetables, if you want something meatless. All the vegetables used in this recipe were locally grown (most of them organic) and they were delivered at the convenience of my door steps by Green Bean Delivery! To get a PROMOTIONAL CODE and learn more about this great service provided by Green Bean Delivery, read my Cook’s Notes on the bottom of the recipe…  Spaghetti squash is on season now and I hope you get to try it in this dish!

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Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Casseroles are the go-to dinner for weeknight family meals: they usually feed a ton of people and, even better, left-overs from casseroles are delicious the next day too! My Chicken Enchilada Casserole is definitely one of those meals. Yet pretty simple to make, I have decided to give you two alternative recipes for the method to use for preparing the chicken. You know me; I am a girl who goes for full flavors… So the first option involves roasting a whole bird, which results in a more flavorful and moister sauce. If you don’t have the time or patience, you can definitely use chicken breast instead. One last thing, this recipe was modified from the Chicken Enchilada Casserole I ate 3 weeks ago at my Husband’s aunt’s (Angie Dennig). Her good friend, Jean Ricchiute, made a recipe that had me craving more and more. I could not stop stop thinking about it, that’s how good it was (yes, pregnancy does that sort of stuff). So huge thank you to Jean for sharing the recipe that inspired me to make my own Chicken Enchilada Casserole. I hope you enjoy!

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Butternut Squash Quibebe with Chicken and Coconut Milk (Quibebe com Frango e Leite de Coco)

I was so excited to see the very first few butternut squash of the season showing up at the grocery store! I love all squashes, but the winter ones are my favorites! In Brazil, the varieties that we call winter squashes can be found year round. Every year, I look forward to this season to share some of our delicious recipes. So my first Brazilian recipe of this season will be Quibebe. Don’t be intimidated by the strange name, Quibebe is really easy and quick to make (prep time and cooking time shouldn’t take longer then 25 to 30 minutes). Now, you are thinking: “So what is this”? Ok, Quibebe is a delicious butternut squash stew, usually cooked with some spices and, sometimes, herbs. It is a typical dish from Northeastern Brazil. It is a side dish, but sometimes it is prepared with some kind of meat (very commonly jerk meat) and it becomes a main course. In this recipe, I made a richer version with the addition of chicken breast, coconut milk and fresh herbs. It is to die for! Quibebe is usually served with rice, but you can leave the rice out and make it a Paleo main course. If you are doing it the Paleo way, also remove the dark brown sugar. I hope you try this easy and flavorful Brazilian dish!

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Pulled-Pork Sandwiches

Pulled pork sandwiches have to be one of the most flavorful go-to meals of any casual party. Moist and delicious they are always a crowd pleaser. This version has an unexpected ingredient that leaves people wondering: red pepper jelly! Yet time consuming, this recipe is very easy… Plan well your time and you can make this a day or two ahead of serving. My favorite kind of bread for pulled pork is Hawaiian roll, which totally relates to the kid inside of me, but any kind of fresh bun will be great. Serve with tortillas and top with salsa and you will get pulled pork tacos. There is no way to go wrong with this one!

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Lime-Cilantro Rice with Corn and Jalapeno

I made this rice several times during this summer. Every single time it has been an absolute hit! In fact, I created this recipe for a Fourth of July party, about a month ago, and it was so popular among the crowd that it kind of became my go-to side for barbeque parties during this last month. It so delicious that both my husband and I have reheated left-overs and ate as main course, instead of a side dish! Fresh, a bit sweet and tart, this rice is just a guaranteed success! I have wanted to post it so bad, but all the commitments related to the release of my cookbook have been keeping me away from the kitchen and from posting on my website. Finally I had time today to share it with you. Corn season is not over yet, neither are the summer parties… I hope you think about this recipe for your next summer party, or just at any time!

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