tastes just like the 90's.{ bolo de arroz: portuguese rice cake }

Bolos de Arroz, literally "rice cakes", are traditional Portuguese cupcakes, widely acknowledged as  a snack and not as a dessert. In Portugal, coffee is a formality after each and every single meal and it is drunk like a shot. The actual portuguese expression for drinking coffee is even - literally - 'taking coffee'. Yet the portuguese have a thing for coveting pastry trays while ordering their coffees, and when they lend more than two minutes to the act of washing them down, they might very well lower their voice a notch, gulp the guilt and order a Pastel de Nata or a Bolo de Arroz.

Usually served at breakfast and any time in the morning, while going out for an espresso after lunch, as an afternoon snack after school, but mostly appropriate for any occasion when hunger or a sweet tooth strike, these are nowadays probably one of the most simple, common and underrated cakes in the whole country.

I was curious to see if the batter would do well as a normal cake for slicing, so I decided to pour it into a loaf pan - and I have to say it worked just perfect. It is so simple to make it like this, that if you love Bolos de Arroz, or if you have never had one, you must try this recipe!

ideas and inspiration: brunch is the new black! { how to plan a brunch party }

Looking for a refreshing party theme? One that is unconventional without being too over-the-top? Fit for all sorts of parties, guests and venues? Easy to pull off, though exceeding expectations? One that requires low-key hosting and yet sets an upbeat mood? Throw a brunch!

You will find precisely null reasons brunches should be saved for baby showers or limited to sleepy hungover chatting with the girls. I like brunches so badly that I'll sleep in on the weekends just to merge breakfast and lunch together. So badly, that I decided to throw one for my birthday. Booze included - of course!

have a christmassy tea time treat! { gluten-free mini cinnamon rice gugels }

'Bolo de Arroz', the portuguese rice muffin, ocasional replacement for a Pastel de Nata as a side for an espresso or a meia-de-leite, was the inspiration behind these mini gugels. I have spiced up the original recipe up and made it totally gluten and lactose free! Mini lemony cakes, with a texture similar to that of madeleines, they are the perfect as a coffee or tea-time treat and for sharing with friends!

autumn aura. { gluten-free spiced pumpkin-carrot cupcakes with vanilla cream cheese frosting }

Miniature sized cupcakes are a whole lot of cute. I called these mini stunners 'autumn aura' because if autumn were a pallet of flavours, that of this cupcakes would be there, side by side with roasted chestnuts and pear compote. Behold the beauty of these tiny things, the dash of coconut on top lending them a snowish appeal. Bite into the delicious balance between a moist peppery pumpkin cake and a thick vanilla cream cheese frosting. And you wanna know what...? They are also gluten-free.

it's freaking snowing on my brunch. { gluten-free pumpkin kaiserschmarrn }

Kaiserschmarrn is a staple dessert in Austria and South Germany, where it recalls sweet memories from a day out skiing in the Alps. Basically a fluffy pancake that is shredded, caramelized, dusted with powdered sugar and typically served with plum or apple compote, it got its name from Kaiser Franz Joseph I of Austria, for his love of it. I am not Kaiser Franz Joseph, but I also love it. I had already had the though of making pumpkin pancakes this satuday, but some enlightenment suddenly came to me that this was what I ought to make: pick a famous recipe and turn it around by tossing pumpkin into it. And here it is. Kaiserschmarrn... reinvented!

bite sized frosted babies with golden sparkles. { gluten-free vegan devil's food mini cupcakes }

How could one guess these decadent looking tiny beauties would hide such a secret under their golden shimmer? They are healthy, packed with good stuff, vegan, gluten-free and not any less delicious than their regular counterpart! Wanna bake something you can eat without any bit of guilt yet still looks sexy and sinful as heck? This is it!

let it fall, let it fall. { zwetschgendatschi: german streusel plum cake }

'Zwetschgen' (bavarian name, 'abrunhos' in portuguese) are a unique kind of plums, characterized by its elongated shape, dark amethyst peel and ideally golden flesh. For being seemingly less watery than other plums and for their deliciously intense flavour, they are perfect for baking. This cake is a German classic that combines several things that I personally adore, and that I guess are favourites for many of you as well: a buttery yeast dough, an awesome layer of juicy baked fruit, my own very favourite recipe of spiced crumble... plus it's easy to prepare and quicker than a normal bread! Made with seasonal fruits, this recipe couldn't be better suited for this well settled Fall.

impressive party recipes, the easy way. { garlic herb butter pull-apart brioche }

'Pão de alho' - or garlic herb butter bread - has long taken its place as staple party appetizer back in Portugal, greatly owing to two facts: first, everybody loves it; second, even the laziest and messiest cook can pull it off, as you can easily buy it frozen and pop it into the oven right before your guests arrive. However, if you're looking to step up your 'pão de alho' game a little bit and impress your guests - without getting way too adventurous for starters - I've got just the thing for you.

in praise of slowness, making the plan as you go and sparking creativity { lemon poppy seed pound cake with blueberries and basil }

For its exquisite yet crowd-pleasing flavour profile and its laid-back yet preppy looks, this cake suits any occasion or table just perfectly. It brings that extra something to a picnic-style brunch in the balcony with plenty other things to choose from, it is just as good for packing and taking to the park to share with friends on a sunday afternoon, or it can just as well be the star of a fancier dinner. Do not skip the glaze and the lemon zest on top, for they are not only a final decorative touch, they actually change the experience of biting into a slice.

tarte aux framboises { french raspberry tart }

When I was a toddler, and until I started elementary school, my then only brother and me had a very sweet french lady taking care of us and helping around the house. I have to admit that, besides her tanned face and her kind smile, which she managed to pull even when we young brothers had our share of fun plotting against her, I can't quite recall these days. They say we start collecting memories around that age, right? Well, I was a bit too young back then to remember everything clearly.

it's THAT chocolate cake! { chocolate-cherry cake with mascarpone-blueberry filling and brigadeiro frosting }

It happens that, sometimes, I find myself in the need of baking or cooking something for some special occasion, and yet I have absolutely no clue of what I intend to do exactly, or even the desire to do anything at all. I know... coming from me, it may sound a bit odd. But, even if seldom, it happens.

para a minha mãe. { clafoutis dutch baby pancake }

She is a one in a zillion kind of woman.

She may not be easy to deal with at times, for she has the boldest of personalities. She will teach you how to stay strong no matter what, how to stand up for your ideas and ideals. She is the strongest person you will ever meet. She will, without even knowing it, show you to be that woman - in a man's world. She will teach you not to care about petty things and to treasure authenticity and essence. She is not afraid to speak her mind, and although she is transparent as she can be with her emotions, she will always remain a mystery to you.

That makes her infinitely sexy.

She may seem unattached at times, but she has the biggest heart you could ever imagine. She will come off as though she won't easily get off her own track for something or someone - yet she definitely will. Don't let the looks fool you and make her regret that later on. If you find her, beware that you have found a rare gem. You will have to - and you will want to - catch up with her unique pace.

She's not for the faint of heart. 

She embraces challenges and change. And she likes to live with her head up in the clouds. She is a dreamer. She will tell you all about some crazy idea she has had, right in the haze of it, and then she will leave you puzzled as she moves on to the next one, for her mind is both restless and reckless. Don't be fearful and don't try to stop it, it's not like she cannot commit or care. She is merely capable of seeing countless roads at the same time. She's witty and creative and she will definitely inspire you. Her endless unfinished projects may always remain so, for she has already accomplished so much. She has achieved so much in her life, you can only feel profound admiration for her. That is both insping and intimidating, for it's not easy to live up to that standard.

She is larger than life.

We do have a lot in common, and I am glad for it.

And I hope and like to think that, one day, I will be worthy of these words of my own myself.

my blueberry nights { american-style blueberry pie }

i think i am in love.

i am in love with my new - still in the making - flat.

and with the blueberry pie that came with it.

enjoy ;)

baked porridge or the ultimate comfort breakfast. { three baked porridge recipes }

A sweet comment from my friend Laura on my facebook page today got me to share these three baked porridge recipes with you!

By coincidence... it's her birthday!

drops of jupiter handpies. { apple caramel handpies }

do you still remember my pie baking frenzy for this party i threw over last december? i think i baked around six or seven different kinds of savoury and sweet handpies! after having tried at least a bite of each different sort of them, these were definitely my favourite ones - and mostly the favourites of everyone else who was lucky enough to choose them first over the rest of the desserts before they were all gone in less than three minutes.

if you make these, make sure you have some friends around, because you may be tempted to eat them all on your own. in a matter of hours. you were warned...

have your blueberry scones: gluten, sugar, dairy and guilt free! ♥ { detox blueberry scones }

I am a firm believer that detox does not necessarily have to mean no-bake.

So if you are looking for a healthier breakfast that:

~ has all the appeal of its regular counterpart ~

~ is packed with flavour ~

~ is gluten-free, vegan and has no refined sugar ~

~ makes the perfect quick fix for any lazy weekend bread cravings ~

this variation on the traditional scones is all you've been looking for.

meet NOT your average bread { apple pie brioche }

I'm not superstitious when it comes to it, but this last Friday the 13th was exhausting. I don't know if it was because I woke up feeling suddenly ill, with a dull headache and a faint voice, or because I have slept an average of four hours a day, or even because my plans for the day got all mixed up, but by the time I got back home I was not feeling well at all. On top of all, and even though I undoubtedly urged for some sleep, I didn't feel like taking that mood to bed with me. Lucky me to know someone who knew how to fetch the sun for me in a rainy day. And even make me laugh. Out loud! :)

Feeling slightly better - and after being literally advised to go bake something - I ended up in the kitchen at midnight, preparing a dough starter (meaning no sleep till two). Oh, the magic power of leavening yeast... what a happy and relaxing scent it has. I knew exactly what I wanted to make. I had just finished all the homemade brioche I had sliced up and kept in the freezer, a french friend had just bragged about her own homemade ones the day before, and - oh, well - I had also been asked to make one. And I can't resist it when people like (and ask for!) my food. I ended up singing along and dancing to 90s songs, laughing in the kitchen, putting all my remaining strenght into blending those damn chunks of butter into a delicious dough.

And the next morning...

... oh well, you already know the story ;)

(no fuss, no muss) delicious and moist gluten-free brownies. { moist buckwheat brownies with cherries and white chocolate chunks }

I think I may be falling for buckwheat flour!

can you believe these are some of the healthiest brownies I've ever made?

gluten-free, much lower in sugar than usual and with less butter,

yet still surprisingly delicious!?

I came up with this recipe from scratch, and I'm quite proud of it!

they are a delicious combo of moist and chewy, packed with flavour

 and really easy and quick to make, hence perfect for any chocolate cake cravings.

to stir things up a bit, I loaded my batter with cherries and white chocolate chunks.

whatever you think, think the opposite. { buckwheat, oatmeal and coconut milk banana pancakes with morello cherry sauce }

I am not gluten nor dairy intolerant. I do have a couple of friends who are, to who I would like to whip up a batch of these right now, but unfortunately they live thousands of kilometers away. Nevertheless, I made these just for myself. You know, I like experimenting with new ingredients, I'm captivated by risk and fascinated by those deliberated walks on the wire of life where one can either go terribly wrong... or incredibly well. So I just decided to throw all caution out of the window (together with the gluten and the buttermilk) and turn my entire pancake recipe upside down, without having tried buckwheat flour a single time in my whole life.

Oh well, who cares if I'm starving for breakfast at three pm in the end?

I was way too sure it was going to work exactly as I wanted it to.

picture perfect american style brunch. { golden brioche french toast with diced apple, stewed on whiskey-orange infused maple syrup }

brace yourselves,

the weekend is coming...