Guava and Cheese Cornmeal Cake
In Brazil, the pairing of guava paste and cheese is called Romeu e Julieta. Here it becomes a cornmeal cake with sweet pockets of guava and a savory Parmesan note.…
Everyday Recipes
Approachable recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and dessert.
Orange-Soaked Cornmeal Cake
Fresh orange juice goes into this cornmeal batter and a light syrup goes over the warm cake. It is a simple way to make each slice fragrant and moist without…
Ground Beef Lasagna
This lasagna layers ground beef sauce, a simple white sauce, and cheese. My grandmother’s rule was to start and finish with sauce so the noodles never had dry edges. Read…
Creamy Brazilian Chicken Stroganoff
Brazilian chicken stroganoff is a creamy, tomato-tinged dish often served with rice and crunchy shoestring potatoes. Brown the chicken in batches first, then build the sauce. Add the cream over…
Brazilian Cinnamon-Sugar Doughnut Bites
Bolinho de chuva means little rain cakes: spoonfuls of batter fried and rolled in cinnamon sugar. My grandmother would set out the sugar and cinnamon as soon as the sky…
Creamy Passion Fruit Mousse
Passion fruit brings a bright, tart note to this simple Brazilian dessert. My grandmother liked a cold dessert after Sunday lunch, and this mousse gives you that feeling with just…
Banana Cinnamon Cake
This is the kind of cake my grandmother made when several bananas ripened at once. Mashed banana moistens the batter, and slices on top make it look inviting without a…
Easy Brazilian Cheese Bread
Pão de queijo is Brazilian cheese bread made with tapioca starch. This practical version is blended and poured into small molds, so there is no kneading or shaping. The outside…
Brazilian Ground Beef Crepes
In Brazil, panquecas often means thin savory crepes filled, rolled, and baked with tomato sauce. These are not fluffy breakfast pancakes. Resting the batter for 10 minutes helps the flour…
Creamy Baked Rice
My grandmother could turn lunch’s rice into a comforting dinner with a little sauce, vegetables, and cheese. This bake follows that practical idea. The cream should coat the grains rather…