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Diana Laskaris

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Carne De Porco Alentejana

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carne de porco alentejana in Mealhada Portugal

Carne de Porco à Alentejana is a traditional Portuguese Pork and Clams dish originating in the Alentejo region.  It was one of the first dishes we tried when we arrived in Portugal, and we have been enjoying it in many places across the country.

carne de porco à alentejana

What Is Carne De Porco Alentejana?

The name Carne de Porco Alentejana means that it is a dish of pork meat prepared in the style of Alentejo. We like to call it the Portuguese answer to surf and turf because of its unique combination of meat and seafood. In this case, carne de porco (the pork meat) is paired with sweet tiny littleneck clams. The combination might seem to be a strange one, but in reality, the subtle flavors pair very well and add depth to the rich flavorful sauce laced with pickled vegetables. Typically served with roasted potatoes or French fries, this dish is a winner every time.

A Recipe You Can Try At Home!

Because Portuguese restaurants are not readily available in many places, we thought it would be fun to recreate this typical dish at home. While there are a few steps to making this classic dish of Portuguese cuisine, we’ve made a straightforward recipe so that you can try making Carne de Porco Alentejana for yourself. Once you get a taste you’ll see why it’s so popular.

potato chunks

Carne De Porco Alentejana

Serves 4

Ingredients

For The Marinade

1 tsp mashed garlic or garlic paste
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/8 tsp black pepper
¼ cup white wine vinegar
1 ½ cups white wine
2 bay leaves

giardineira

For The Carne De Porco Alentejana

2 Tbsp tomato paste
3 large garlic cloves, minced
2 ripe tomatoes, diced
large onion, chopped
1 ½ pounds boneless pork loin, cubed
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (for cooking pork)
1 pound littleneck clams, scrubbed and clean
1 ½ pound gold potatoes cut into chunks or French fries

carne de porco alentejana in Mealhada Portugal

For The Potatoes

water for boiling
1-2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (for cooking potatoes)
Salt, pepper, herbs, spices to taste

To Finish

black olives, chopped cilantro, pickled vegetables (giardiniera), lemon wedges for garnish

Directions

Marinate The Pork

1. In a large bowl combine mashed garlic or garlic paste, paprika, olive oil, salt, and pepper into a paste.
2. Add cubed pork and massage paste into the meat.

pork cubes

3. Add vinegar, bay leaves, and wine to the bowl and toss the meat until it is completely coated.
4. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let marinate in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours, stirring occasionally.
5. When marinated, remove the pork cubes and dry them off with paper towels.
6. Set aside the extra marinade for use later, discarding the bay leaves.

Cook The Pork

7. Heat 3 Tbsp of olive oil in a deep pan or large heavy skillet over medium-high heat.

8. Place the pork in the pan to cook through and brown on all sides. When fully cooked, put the pork into a separate bowl.

cooked pork cubes

9. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the reserved marinade, tomato paste, minced garlic, and chopped onion to the pan, scraping up any crispy bits from the bottom, and stir together. Cook to integrate the flavors for about 10 minutes.
10. Add the cooked pork cubes back into the pan, reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer lightly for 1 to 1½ hours until the pork is fork-tender. During the last 30 minutes, turn the oven on to 425 F/ 220 C.

The Potatoes

11. Once you have the oven heating, fill a large pot with water and heat on high to a boil. When the water is boiling, add potato chunks or fries and cook for 5-6 minutes, until slightly tender but still firm inside when poked with a fork. Be sure not to overcook the potatoes or they will be limp or fall apart.

French fries

12. When the potatoes are ready, pour them into a colander and run cold water over them to cool then drain completely. Dry the potatoes with paper towels to be sure to remove all of the water and place them in a large bowl.
13. Add 1-2 Tbsp of olive oil to the potatoes. Mix to coat the potatoes.
14. Place potatoes on a large baking sheet or jelly roll pan, being sure to keep them separated and only in one layer. If necessary, you can cook in batches. Bake at 425 for 20-30 minutes, then flip to ensure crisping on both sides and cook for another 10 to 15 minutes. You may need to adjust the timing depending upon your oven, so check on your potatoes to keep them from burning. If you like you can add some herbs such as cilantro or parsley or spices such as garlic, paprika, and pepper toward the end of cooking the potatoes.

Littleneck clams

NOTE: You will want to work your timing so that the potatoes are cooking at the same time as the pork is finishing up. It takes about 45 minutes to boil and roast the potatoes, so be sure that they are in the oven when you’re steaming the clams. Alternatively, you can boil and then roast potato chunks in 1-2 Tbsp of olive oil in a skillet on the stove, which should take about 20 minutes.

Add The Clams

15. When the pork is tender, increase the heat to medium-low, open the lid, and add the cleaned clams. Spread them evenly around the top of the pork mixture and return the cover to the pan and simmer/steam for 20-30 minutes until the clam shells open up.

carne de porco alentejana

To Serve  Carne de Porco Alentejana

Put potatoes on the bottom of a large serving platter or dish. Pour pork, clams, and sauce over the center of the potatoes. Top off with a few tablespoons of giardiniera and add some black olives. Finish with a sprinkle of chopped fresh cilantro or parsley and place a few lemon wedges around the edge of the platter.

Carne de Porco Alentejana goes quite well with a green salad and some warm crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.

Check out these other yummy Portuguese recipes

Caldo Verde Soup

Areias De Cascais Cookies

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Carne de porco alentejana carne de porco

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In Appetizers

Beet Soup

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Blend In Sour Cream Or Greek Yogurt

Beet soup is one of the easiest and most delicious recipes you can imagine. It’s totally flexible depending upon what you have on hand as well as your personal preferences.

Ukrainian Origin

Ukrainian food may seem unfamiliar, but you may know it better than you think. While beet soup, also known as borscht, is found in many Eastern European countries, its place of origin is Ukraine. The bright red beetroots are a main ingredient and give the dish its recognizable color. Made with meat stock or bone broth and various sautéed vegetables such as carrots, onions, potatoes and others along with the beets, Ukrainian borscht makes a hearty meal.

Beet Soup Makes a Great Meal
Beet Soup Makes a Great Meal

Flexible And Delicious

You can eat beet soup hot or cold. If you prefer a smooth soup you can blend it.

Or leave in chunky vegetables for a bit of chew.

Leave Chunky Veggies
Leave Chunky Veggies

You can make your own roasted beets for that earthy flavor.

Roasted Beets Are Full Of Nutrition
Roasted Beets Are Full Of Nutrition

Or just grab some canned bees from off the pantry shelf.

Canned Beets Make It Easy
Canned Beets Make It Easy

You can even use pickled beetroot if that’s what you have or like. It will give an extra tang to the recipe, so you can probably omit the vinegar that’s otherwise added and simply include the juice that comes in the jar or can of pickled beetroot.

You Can Use Pickled Beetroot
You Can Use Pickled Beetroot

Elegant Or Rustic

Beet soup is a beautiful dish that you can dress up and serve as an elegant starter.

An Elegant Bowl
An Elegant Bowl

If you’re looking for a satisfying and rustic meal, get some hearty bread to serve with it. Toppings you can use to finish it off include crispy croutons, sour cream or yogurt, chopped chives or scallions, fresh dill, or hard boiled eggs. Ukrainian food includes some perfect side dishes such as small dumplings called Vushka or small donuts called Pampushka that make excellent companions to beet soup.

Traditional Ukrainian borscht may be made with beef stock but you can easily make vegetarian borscht by simply swapping out the beef stock with vegetarian stock or broth.

Blend For Smooth Beet Soup
Blend For Smooth Beet Soup

Use What You Have For Our Beet Soup Recipe

Our beet soup recipe allows you to use what you have. It makes a great hearty cold-weather dish and equally refreshing dish when the temperature warms up. All you have to do is serve it hot or cold and make it hearty or light. The choices are up to you.

We provide you with a basic beet soup recipe with a few ideas for garnish that we consider tried and true. But you can experiment and change it any way you like.

What To Do With All Those Beets
What To Do With All Those Beets

Beet Soup

Here’s our recipe that you can use as a template to make the beet soup of your dreams.

Ingredients

Use Roasted Beets Or Canned Beets
Use Roasted Beets Or Canned Beets

1 pound fresh beets for roasting (2-3 beets) or 1 can or jar (15 oz.) canned beets or pickled beetroot
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 Tablespoon marjoram (you can use whatever herbs you prefer, fresh or dried)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
4-5 cups vegetable, chicken or beef stock (you may add more to adjust the thickness)
1 medium onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 large cloves garlic, smashed or minced
1 Tablespoon honey
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar (omit if using pickled beetroot)
1 apple, diced or julienne (any apple you prefer, tangy or sweet)
2 Tablespoons fresh dill or one 1 Tablespoon dried dill
Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt, and scallion, parsley, chives, or herbs of choice for garnish

A Colorful Dish
A Colorful Dish

Directions

For Roasted Beets

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Clean the beets with water and scrub skins.
3. Place cleaned beets on a large piece of foil
4. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with 3 Tablespoons olive oil.
5. Wrap the foil loosely around the beets and place them on a baking sheet.
6. Bake  1 hour until beets are tender. Check tenderness by opening foil and poking with a fork
7. Allow beets to cool for about 10 minutes, then peel off the skins.
8. If you want to keep the beet soup chunky, cut into bite-sized pieces or julienne. Cut into chunks if blending.

Note: If using canned or jarred prepared beets you can skip this step.

Dill Is A Great Herb For Beet Soup
Dill Is A Great Herb For Beet Soup

For The Soup

1. Bring the broth or stock to simmer in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
2. While the liquid is simmering, heat  3 Tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan or stockpot over medium heat.
3. Add the onion, carrots, 1/2 of the apple pieces, garlic, and marjoram (or herbs of choice, dill is great too).
4. Cook vegetables until starting to soften, stirring to keep from browning, about 10 minutes.
5. Add the warm stock or broth to the vegetables and simmer until the vegetables are tender about 15 minutes.

Apples Are A Great Addition
Apples Are A Great Addition

6. Add the beet pieces to the cooked vegetables, apple, and stock or broth.
7. If you want a smooth beet soup, use an immersion blender or regular blender (in batches) to blend until smooth. Add more stock or broth if the mixture is too thick. If using a blender, return blended beet soup to the stockpot.
8. Add the vinegar and honey, and stir until well blended. You can skip the vinegar if using pickled beetroot.
9. Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir gently together to incorporate all of the flavors.

Blend In Sour Cream Or Greek Yogurt
Blend In Sour Cream Or Greek Yogurt

For Serving

10. If you want to serve the beet soup cold, place in a container and refrigerate until chilled at least 1 hour.
11. Hot or cold, put into serving dishes. You can garnish with whatever you like, but we love to start with a big Tablespoon of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt. Then top with chopped apple, fresh dill, chives, scallions, or other herbs. You can also add fresh croutons, toasted pepita or sunflower seeds, or sliced almonds. If you want to blend the sour cream or plain Greek yogurt in, that makes for a beautiful color as well. Top with hard-boiled egg quarters and herbs for a beautiful presentation.

If you like this easy beet soup recipe, try some of our other easy pantry cooking recipes like our Easy Chili Recipe or Easy Butternut Squash Soup.

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In Greece

Greek Easter Bread A Colorful Treat

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Food Travelist Greek Easter Bread Single

Anyone who’s been around a Greek family at Easter knows that there are many traditions that continue down through generations. The dying of bright red Easter eggs (the egg is the symbol of rebirth and the red color signifying the blood of Christ) is one of them. Embedding some of the bright red Easter eggs into a tasty bread braid, ring, or wreath creating Greek Easter bread is another one.

Food Travelist Greek Easter Bread Single
Greek Easter Bread

We want to share with you a traditional but slightly updated recipe for the beautiful Tsoureki bread, Greek Easter bread that we’ve made into a wreath and adorned with a bright red Easter egg. It’s something we’ll have on our Easter table and if you want to make it yourself, you can too!

Tsoureki Greek Bread Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup butter
1  3/4 cups granulated sugar  + 1 teaspoon (for yeast)
5 packets (.25 oz each) yeast
1 cup milk (can use 2%) + 1/4 cup for egg wash
12 cups (approximate) of flour + about 1/2 cup for yeast starter
1 cup lukewarm water
1 teaspoon salt
6 large eggs + 1 egg for egg wash
1 Tablespoon vanilla, anise, orange, lemon or almond flavor extract, as you choose (traditionally, mahlepi, a flavoring made from the cherry pit was used, and you may still use it if you like, but some people don’t like the taste)
Sesame seeds (or almond slices if using almond flavoring) to sprinkle on top
1 red-dyed hardboiled egg per bread, or more depending on your decorating preference

Directions

1. Dissolve yeast in 1 cup of lukewarm water, warm to the touch but not too hot or the yeast will die.

2. Stir the yeast around to integrate into the water and add 1 teaspoon of sugar.

3. Add about 1/2 cup of flour to the mixture, enough to make a thin batter, and stir together ( you can use a whisk if it’s too clumpy).

4. Set the yeast mixture aside. While you’re working on the next few steps, the yeast will get bubbly.

Food Travelist Yeast-Bubbling
Yeast Bubbling

5. In a stand mixer, cream the butter sugar, and salt.

6. When creamy, add the eggs, flavor extract, and milk. Mix on medium speed until well blended.

Food Travelist Making the Dough
Making the Dough

7. Into the mixer, start with about 2 cups of flour to avoid making too much of a mess.

8. Next, add the yeast mixture and mix thoroughly.

9. Change your paddle to a dough hook for easier work now, and begin adding flour about a cup at a time until the mixture becomes thick and dough-like. When it pulls away from the sides of the mixing bowl (rather than sticking to it), the dough has been kneaded sufficiently for your bread.

10. Form a large ball with the dough (roll around and pat with your hands) and place the dough into a lightly oiled, very large bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and put in a warm place to allow the dough to rise for 2-4 hours. It will rise faster in a warmer place.

Food Travelist Bread Dough
Bread Dough

11. When the dough has at least doubled in size, remove it from the bowl and cut it into pieces, depending on the size of bread you would like to make.

Food Travelist Bread Dough Will Double When Rising
Bread Dough Will Double When Rising

If you want large bread, cut it in half; for medium, cut it into quarters. For smaller bread, you can cut it into 6 pieces. (We’ve done quarters here).

Food Travelist Bread Dough Quartered
Risen Bread Dough Quartered

12. Then cut each piece into thirds and roll the thirds into long logs of dough of relatively equal size.

Food Travelist Pre-Braiding Dough
Pre-Braiding Dough

13. Pinch the ends of the three pieces together and braid, alternating the three pieces, right over the one you just moved to the center, then left over the next new center and repeat until you have braided the entire length.

14. If you want to make straight braids of bread, just pinch the last ends together. If you want to make wreaths, bring the ends together into a circle and pinch the top ends with the bottom ends to connect both ends and close the circle.

Food Travelist Braiding Bread
Braiding Bread

15. Now you can put either some flour or even better some parchment paper onto large baking pans and put the bread on them. Leave enough room between each bread so that it will be able to expand without crowding the other bread.

16. Cover the bread with a clean kitchen towel and keep it in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours until they have risen again to about 1.5 times their current size.

17. Mix 1 egg with 1/4 cup milk and blend. The milk will help your crust turn brown.

18. When your bread has risen, remove the kitchen towel and brush each bread’s top and sides with the egg wash.

Food Travelist Egg Washing Bread
Egg Washing The Bread

19. Sprinkle with sesame seeds or sliced almonds, as desired. You can also leave the bread without garnish if you prefer. Add the egg decorations. You can place one red egg in the center of a wreath, or snip parts of a wreath with scissors and push 3-6 eggs into the cradles you have made. Be sure that you don’t crack the egg, but you must push it into the bread or it will roll off during baking. For straight braids, you can add one or more eggs by snipping through the center of the braid and likewise making one or more cradles. The bread will expand slightly during baking to hold the egg when it has been properly placed.

Greek Easter Bread Prepartion
Adding The Toppings And Eggs

20.  Bake the bread in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 45 minutes, until the bread has expanded slightly and the top is golden brown.

21. Remove from the oven let cool. Once cool, you can wrap the bread in plastic wrap and save it for use on your table or give it to friends as gifts!

Food Travelist Greek Easter Bread
Greek Easter Bread

This delicious bread will surely make for a happy Greek Easter or any other time you want a delicious Greek bread to go with your meal.

Pin to your favorite recipe board on Pinterest

THE QUICK BITE:    We want to share with you a traditional but slightly updated recipe for the beautiful Tsoureki, Greek Easter bread that we’ve made into a wreath and adorned with a bright red Easter egg. It’s something we’ll have on our Easter table and if you want to make it yourself, you can too!

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In Americas

Polish Paczki in Chicago and Madison

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Paczki from Delightful Pastries in Chicago, IL

Updated February 2023

It’s that time of year when many people start preparing for a season of spiritual rigor and renewal. That means parties and festivals and, of course, lots of amazing annual food treats like…paczki! Paczki pronounce like Poonch-Key, they are spongy, round-filled donuts, richer than regular jelly donuts.

The Lenten season begins with Fat Tuesday followed by Ash Wednesday the next day.

Fresh made paczki at Delightful Pastries.
Fresh made paczki at Delightful Pastries.

What Is A Paczki?

Originated in Poland during the Middle Ages. At the time of King Augustus III, when French cooks came to Poland, the dough was made lighter and spongier. According to Dobra Bielinski of Delightful Pastries in Chicago, the main difference between typical jelly-filled donuts and paczki are that the paczki dough will bounce right back when you take a bite. There is also less filling and more of that lovely dough. To the Polish people, the dough is the central delight while the filling is an accent.

Dobra Bielinski
Photo Credit: Cindy Kurman

There are many delicious fillings, from traditional jams like plum and rose hips to fresh strawberries and whipped cream, and even “drunken” versions like those from Delightful Pastries, including Jameson Whiskey with Chocolate Custard, Vodka and Custard with Madagascar Vanilla and Lemon Curd with Moonshine.  And our very favorite apricot jelly – with Dobra’s hand-created delicious filling.

Delightful Pastries Paczki
Delightful Pastries Paczki. Photo Credit: Cindy Kurman.

This family-owned Chicago bakery has been creating tasty treats for more than 20 years. They use only the finest local ingredients they can find and you immediately taste the difference – no skrimping here.

We think Delightful Pastries makes the best paczki in Chicago. Dobra and her staff have been making over 50,000 each year for Fat Tuesday for Chicagoland fans. Get your order in early so you won’t be disappointed!

Apricot Paczki from Delightful Pastries
Apricot Paczki at Delightful Pastries

Want to learn more about how they’re made just watch this short video of paczki being made at Delightful Pastries below:

Paczki History

In Poland, Paczki Day is generally celebrated on Fat Thursday, the last Thursday before Lent. In the U.S. and other Polish communities, it is often celebrated on Fat Tuesday (Shrove Tuesday) the day before Ash Wednesday begins the Lenten season. The traditional reason for making these rich yeasty dough delights was to use up all the lard, sugar, eggs, and fruit in the household before the Lenten fast when their consumption was forbidden.

More Paczki in Chicago

Another Chicagoland favorite is Reuters Bakery. For over 85 years they have been making bread, cakes, and more on the far west side of Grand Avenue.

Peach Paczki Open from Reuters Bakery Food Travelist
Peach Paczki from Reuters Bakery

They have a full selection of the classic paczki but their strawberry and peach are split in half and stuffed with juicy fresh fruit. If you get there early you’ll see the ladies slicing the fresh strawberries by hand. These little pastries are a bit messy and not the traditional paczki but they sure are tasty.

Paczki from Reuters

Paczki in Wisconsin
The Rolling Pin, Madison, Wisconsin

In Madison, if you’re looking for paczki your selection may not be as plentiful but you can find some tasty paczki. Try one of our local favorites The Rolling Pin. It’s a European bakery that’s actually in Fitchburg (a small suburb just south of Madison). If you’re a Good Trouble fan you will recognize Fitchburg as the hometown of one of the characters. They have some pretty authentic tasting paczki and in quite a few varieties too.

Paczki Rolling Pin

We also like the paczki from Grebe’s Bakery in West Allis near Milwaukee. We haven’t had the good fortune to get to the bakery in MKE but our local grocer Metcalfe’s saves us the trip and brings lots of Grebe bakery goods in their stores – especially around the holidays and Paczki Day is no exception. You have to get there early before they’re all gone.

Paczki from Grebes Bakery at Metcalfes

 

Where ever you pick up your plumb delicious paczki enjoy it. You’ll discover why so many people indulge in these sweet treats every year on Fat Tuesday or Fat Thursday.

This year we’ll be scouring the streets of Cascais, Estoril, and Lisbon looking for our Fat Tuesday menu treats. Stay tuned for what we discover here in Portugal.

THE QUICK BITE: Poland’s special filled donuts called paczki have made their way into the hearts and hands of pastry lovers around the world. They have become modern taste treats with delicious dough and memorable fillings – even some boozy ones.

Save It For Later – Pin it!

Paczki pin

Updated February 2021

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In Appetizers

Winter Comfort Food Recipes – Caldo Verde Recipe From Portugal

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Caldo Verde closeup

Caldo Verde, Portugal Green Soup

Caldo Verde means “green soup” in Portuguese. It’s a traditional Portuguese food. From Braga up north to the Algarve down south, people will happily enjoy this soulful and iconic sausage kale potato soup. It’s one of those winter comfort food recipes that are good any time of the year.

 

Caldo Verde Soup

 

The Green In Caldo Verde

In Portugal, one sees Portuguese kale or cabbage (“couve” in Portuguese) grown just about everywhere. It’s a green leafy vegetable with thick white stems that can grow quite tall. It’s very similar in color and texture to collard greens and other types of kale, which make good substitutes. The method used by the Portuguese in a recipe for Caldo Verde is to cut the greens into very thin slices or shreds, julienned like little ribbons. They provide color to the soup while making it easier to eat than dealing with larger pieces of thick leaves.

 

Portuguese Kale

 

Sausage Makes A Great Accent

This hearty soup is good for easy meals at any time. It has a thickened texture that comes from potatoes and sometimes white beans, blended with the broth. It can easily become one of your favorite dinner recipes. To make this delicious soup spicy and a real tummy warmer, many versions include an accent of Portuguese sausage. Typical Caldo Verde recipes use linguiça sausage, which comes in either mild or picante (hot) types. If you don’t have access to it Polish Kielbasa sausage or Spanish chorizo make fine substitutes. Some folks even use andouille sausage, but you’ll want to like your soup spicy for that one. You can easily make this recipe for Caldo Verde vegetarian by skipping the sausage and using vegetarian bouillon, stock, or just plain water.

 

Linguiça - Portuguese Sausage

 

This Caldo Verde recipe takes just about an hour in total time. It makes six servings and if you have leftovers you can keep them in the fridge for a few days or put them in the freezer for several weeks. It’s one of those easy winter comfort food recipes that are super convenient to have on hand when you want a quick and hearty meal without waiting. This is why you’ll find Caldo Verde in just about every Portuguese home, restaurant, and even grocery store-prepared food section. Enjoy this little traditional taste of Portuguese food you can easily make at home.

Makes 6 servings. Preparation is about 20 minutes. The cooking time is about 40 minutes.

Traditional Portuguese Caldo Verde

Potatoes Onions And Garlic

INGREDIENTS

 

  • cooked sausage (linguiça, Spanish chorizo, Polish Kielbasa sausage or other you like)
  • yellow
  • minced, smashed, or sliced (you can increase or decrease the amount – Portuguese use a lot of garlic but you can add it to your taste – you can even use garlic powder if you prefer, just adjust the amount to your taste
  • Kosher, Himalayan pink, or table salt to taste

 

Julienned Greens

 

Directions

  1. Warm the olive oil in a large stock pot over medium heat. Add the disks of sausage to the pot and cook until they get a little brown on all the surfaces. When ready, use a slotted spoon to remove the sausage, allowing the drippings to stay in the pot, and place sausage disks in a bowl.
  2. Add the diced onions to the pot and stir them around inhttps://foodtravelist.com/moving-to-portugal-6-months-later/ the sausage drippings and olive oil. Season with a little salt and cook until the onions are soft and opaque. Add the garlic and cook for another 2 minutes until fragrant.
  3. Place the potatoes in the pot then add the liquid and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to simmer and cook for 15 minutes or until potatoes are almost done, and still slightly resistant when poked with a fork. Remove from the heat and cool for 5 minutes.
  4. Now you have a choice, for a smoother soup, you can mash the potatoes completely or partially. For a soup with more texture and chunks, you can leave them alone. They will continue to cook a little longer in the next step and be very tender.
  5. Drop the greens into the pot with the rest of the soup and bring it up to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to simmer and cook until the greens are bright emerald, and tender, about 5 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper if desired.
  6. Add the sausage back into the soup and stir to incorporate and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes to make sure everything is warm.

Serve with some crusty bread or your favorite crackers. This Caldo Verde also goes nicely with a side salad.

 

Nice warming Caldo Verde

 

This is one of our favorite winter comfort food recipes ever. Enjoy it with some Portuguese wine and you’ll feel transported.

 

Did You Know We Moved To Portugal?

To learn more about our move to Portugal, check out some articles about our experiences:

Moving To Portugal

Life In Portugal: The First 30 Days

Moving To Portugal – 3 Months Later

Moving To Portugal: 6 Months Later

What It’s Like To Live In Portugal For 9 Months

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In Desserts

Areias De Cascais Portuguese Cookies Recipe

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The Best Little Cookie In Portugal

Upon moving to Portugal, we promptly inspected every Portuguese bakery possible. Of course, the first item on our list was the delightful Pastel de Nata, creamy egg tart. But once we began to branch out, we discovered that there are so many other bakery goods. Almost every city or town has its own special treat. As we live in Cascais, a beautiful seaside resort, we tried one of its local specialties, the Areias Portuguese cookies. Our favorites come from the Sacolinha bakery there, home to many delicious pastries, cookies, cakes, and bread.

Sacolinha Areias Cookies
Sacolinha Areias Cookies

Portuguese Cookie Flavor Bombs

These little flavor bombs are out of this world. Buttery shortbread balls rolled in sugar, flatten out to make little mounds of insane cookie yumminess. The word “areias” means sand, given to the cookie because the texture of the sugary layer feels like sand.

Butter!

We have made these for Christmas, given them to friends, and even just enjoyed them on their own with a cup of coffee or tea. They are absolutely fantastic! All we can say is that we like to make them pretty small because we can eat a few without too much guilt. This is a simple traditional recipe that showcases the butter, so don’t skimp when it comes to the quality of butter you use. Get the good stuff – you won’t regret it.

This recipe makes dough for 30-40 Portuguese cookies depending on size.

INGREDIENTS

140 g (1/2 c + 3 Tbsp) granulated sugar
250 g (1 c + 2 Tbsp) salted butter, room temperature
400 g (2  1/2  c) all-purpose flour
Extra sugar for rolling

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 190 °C / 350º F.

Beat the butter and sugar until well mixed and the color is pale and creamy.
Add the flour and mix until just combined (do not over-mix).
Roll into small balls about 1/2 Tbsp size (larger or smaller to your taste).
Place about 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment.
Refrigerate for 45 minutes or more until very stiff so cookies keep their shape.
Put the extra granulated sugar into a small bowl for rolling.
When ready, bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the bottom edges are golden.
Remove cookies from the oven when done and roll to coat thoroughly with extra sugar.
Let cool completely on wire racks.

Note: Every Portuguese bakery does things a little differently. Some like to add a little flavor to the sugar such as a little grated lemon peel or ground cinnamon to spice up these Portuguese cookies. We think they’re amazing as they are, but you can get creative however you like.

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In France

Magical Jazz In Marciac Festival

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Magical_Marciac_Jazz_Festival

 

If you’re a Francophile, you’ve probably already explored many amazing areas in France. We’ve covered a lot of territories ourselves. The excitement of Paris, the beautiful scenery of Alsace, delicious wines of the Loire valley, history and Calvados in Normandy, the canals of Burgundy, and much, much more.

 

Magical Marciac Town

 

One town we hadn’t visited was Marciac, France, a lovely little town in the Gers department of southwestern France that has a population of about 1,350 during most of the year. It’s about a two-hour drive from Toulouse and 45 minutes from Auch. At one special time of year, however, that tiny population is supplemented by some 250,000 visitors, many of whom come strictly to experience one of the best French music festivals – Jazz In Marciac, a glorious tradition that is coming up on 40 years celebrating that most American of musical genres.

 

Magical Marciac Jazz Festival Michel Camino
Michel Camino Band at the Marciac Jazz Festival

 

American Music Comes to France

French affinity for jazz may have started with the World Wars, but it has been elevated to an incredible passion. The Jazz In Marciac festival has grown from a tiny group of devotees enjoying performances in a makeshift venue to nearly 3 weeks of musical festivities that brings jazz lovers from everywhere to revel in the best of the best in various venues in and around town, including a massive open tented area that seats some 6,000 people and a beautiful auditorium for 500.

Magical Marciac Mayor Jean Louis Gilhaumon
Marciac Mayor Jean Louis Gilhaumon

 

Marciac jazz rise is due in no small part to jazz lover Jean-Louis Gilhaumon, who back when he was principal of the local high school started the now world-famous festival. His love of jazz started when he heard Ella Fitzgerald perform in the nearby city of Toulouse. He began the Marciac Jazz Festival as his way to share his love for American jazz which he calls “the music of freedom”.

He invited American trumpeter Bill Coleman who was living nearby to play, and Coleman brought his friend Guy LaFitte, a french sax player and jazz composer. A great time was had by all and they decided that it should be done every year, using a former furniture factory as the concert site.

Magical Marciac Jazz Festival
Lucky Peterson & Wynton Marsalis at the Marciac Jazz Festival

 

Jazz Stars in Marciac

Today, Gilhaumon is mayor of Marciac and the festival has been hosting every jazz legend you can imagine, from Dizzie Gillespie, B.B. King and Stan Getz, Diane Reeves, Chick Corea to Sonny Rollins, Lionel Hampton, Oscar Peterson, Diana Krall, and Herbie Hancock. Ahmad Jamal who generally stopped performing live couldn’t resist the call of Marciac and recently played there. The list is like a who’s who of the genre. And, the up and comers are there too. Some of them are studying jazz in a program created to train new generations of jazz lovers, some of whom may become artists in their own right.

 

Wynton Marsalas at Magical Marciac Jazz Fest
Wynton Marsalas at Magical Marciac Jazz Fest

 

Wynton Marsalis Jazz In Marciac Supporter

But the list of Jazz In Marciac luminaries wouldn’t be complete without one of its greatest ambassadors, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. A serious and devoted musician, jazz runs through Marsalis’ veins. And it should. His father, Ellis Marsalis, counted among his students Harry Connick Jr. and other greats as well as his talented sons Branford, Wynton, Delfayeo, and Jason.

 

Wynton Marsalis Magical Marciac
Wynton Marsalis

 

On our visit, we were treated to time with Wynton to talk about his background and interests, his craft, the French passion for jazz and the festival. He was candid and warm, seriously committed to jazz and the Franco-American musical relationship. We also learned that, not unexpectedly, his time growing up in New Orleans has made gumbo his go-to dish!

The festival itself occurs in several places. The whole town center seems to vibrate with music and activity. We were treated to concerts in the main tent, where we heard amazing performances by saxophonist David Sanchez, pianist Michel Camilo, organist Lucky Peterson and, of course, the incredible trumpet works of Wynton Marsalis.

 

Jazz Museum Magical Marciac

 

Lots of History

While you’re visiting you won’t want to miss the Museum of the Territoires du Jazz. Even if you’re not a jazz aficionado you will be impressed by the number of mementos that are housed in this museum. You’ll wear headphones as you tour the museum listening to  Dixieland, blues, big band, classical and modern jazz.  This is truly a wonderfully curated look at American music.

 

Magical_Marciac_Jazz_Festival
Enjoying some libations and music at the Marciac Jazz Festival

 

Tasty Local Bites

With all that jazz, you’re likely to get hungry. Fortunately for all concerned, the food in Marciac is just as delicious as in every other part of France that we’ve chomped our way through. There are plenty of open-air spots where you can drink wine, get a meal or a snack and enjoy the ambiance thoroughly.

 

Magical_Marciac_JGo_Restaurant
The lovely courtyard a J’Go Restaurant in Marciac.

 

J’GO Restaurant

We want to share with you an amazing meal that we had that is worth pointing out so when you go to visit you won’t miss it. J’GO Restaurant in Marciac has several different dining areas, including one in a lovely garden that epitomized the open, casual elegance and incredible culinary delights waiting to be discovered. You’ll sit outside in a patio-like setting, surrounded by a garden of herbs and edibles like squash.

Magical Marciac Slicing Pork Noir JGo Restaurant
Slicing Pork Noir at J’Go Restaurant

 

All of the ingredients come from local producers. Their images and stories are placed on the walls and on little postcards around the restaurant. You feel as though you’re sitting with them, tasting their hard work. The images of the person who grew the tomato, farmed the pork, planted the rice, or made the goat cheese that is on your plate surround the courtyard. You can taste the care and the freshness in every bite.

For our lunch, we started with a  refreshing zucchini soup sprinkled with crispy Jambon Noir de Bigorre. A side note – this is the French equivalent of Jamón Ibérico de Bellota. In fact, at a recent international competition the French beat out the Spanish in their own tastiest cured ham game with this baby. The soup, needless to say, was delicious, especially when we accompanied it with a slice of fresh-baked rustic French bread.

 

Magical_Marciac_Pineapple_Tomato JGo Restaurant
Pineapple Tomato J’Go Restaurant

 

A Memorable Tomato

We then experienced a tomato revelation. They served a “pineapple heirloom tomato”. We had a single slice of tomato, topped with a mild sweet-sour mango vinaigrette. Topped with fresh herbs from the garden. These tasty local tomatoes could have made a meal all by themselves, startling but true.

 

Magical Marciac Pork Noir Jgo Restaurant
Boneless Pork Noir Chop at  J’Go Restaurant

 

The main course was a juicy boneless pork chop. Made from the same porc noir (black pig) as used in the jambon. Expertly prepared and seasoned, the chop was served with a very mild green pepper strewn across the top. It was perfection.

Dessert was a dazzlingly simple fresh fruit sorbet served with a sprig of mint pricked into the top. Each of our courses was accompanied by an appropriate wine. Starting with a local specialty called Percher Mignon, made from white Roussillon peaches. To lovely dry white and tasty red for the pork. A small strong coffee was the perfect finish for us, java lovers.

J’GO in Marciac is one of a group of J’GO locations that include Toulouse and Paris. The chefs and owners spread themselves around. Of course, when Jazz In Marciac hits full stride, you can imagine that it’s all hands on deck in Marciac. Chef de cuisine Régis Daudignan, who spends most of his time in the Paris restaurants. Often is in town during the Jazz in Marciac Festival.

Marciac Jazz Festival

If you go off the beaten path away from some of the larger French destinations and you’re are a jazz lover – or even if you’re not – you’re going to find music and magical meals in Marciac that are worth exploring. Now’s the perfect time to start thinking about Marciac Jazz Festival 2022.

To learn more about Marciac a visit and to get the latest information on the Marciac Jazz Festival visit their site at JazzInMarciac.co.

Updated January 2022.

 

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In Living In Portugal

Take A Walk On The Wild Side In Portugal’s Sintra-Cascais Natural Park

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Life in Portugal

We’ve talked about how much we love the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Cascais, Portugal. The incredible dining, beautiful scenery, cultural exhibits, and luxurious shopping. But there’s another side to Cascais that we love equally as much. It’s the wild side of Cascais in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park where Mother Nature rules.

Nature lovers can experience the best of Cascais through a program designed to explore in harmony with nature. Cascais Ambiente now offers the Rota do Occidente, or The Western Route. This new addition is a pedestrian program that is designed to promote “biohappiness,” a way to be happy while respecting nature. We love how it offers a way to see the natural beauty of Cascais walking or biking, and experience some amazing activities interspersed.

Rota Do Occidente

The Western Route connects the coastline and the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. This spectacular area is prized by locals and visitors alike. There are beautiful views, historical monuments, and Nature Interpretation Centers throughout. The rich variety makes this a totally engrossing and enriching experience. Bird-watching, tree-climbing, and personal interactions with nature are part of the experience. The route is designed to enable guests to enjoy nature while not leaving a negative impact on it.

Cascais Ambiente has carefully crafted a three-day/two-night program that offers visitors a chance to enjoy the spectacular scenery, taste the flavors of Portugal, engage in learning opportunities with knowledgeable guides, and experience overnight glamping along some of the most interesting terrain in Portugal.

Cascais Portugal

Hiking Along The Western Coast

Our visit included trekking through the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park with some of the most gorgeous scenery we’ve encountered yet in Portugal. We thrilled at seeing hidden golden sand beaches at the edge of rocky cliffs. Our senses went wild for the windswept hills covered with foliage and flowers. The trails were clearly marked and easy to follow. What was difficult for us was trying not to stop every few minutes. Each bit of walking gave us a new perspective and another jaw-dropping view. We did our best not to dawdle too much, but it was a challenge, that’s for sure. The scenery is breathtaking and ever-changing. You can take as many photos as you like. And we took plenty.

After our scenic tour on foot, we had a chance to try some of the special offerings that come as part of the package. There are five different options and visitors can choose three to include in their program. We love the fact that visitors can tailor their program to suit their own interests. Each experience has its own unique pleasures so we think there are enough options to make a completely satisfying visit for anyone.

Exploring the Dunes

We had the chance to take a long walk on a well-kept boardwalk through the Dune of Cresmina, an area marked by moving sand dunes that shift and change. Some of the dunes move slowly over time and others look different from day to day. We enjoyed meeting a Biologist, who accompanied us on the walk and pointed out various plants and flowers. We learned which plants were native to the area and which species had come from somewhere else.

Duna da Cresmina Cascais Portugal
Duna da Cresmina Cascais Portugal

It was fun to look out over the landscape and see it literally shift before our eyes and learn about how fires and weather events impact the local environment. At the top of the walk was a lookout point where we could take in another stunning view and get a snack or drink if we wanted.

Quinta do Pisão

We visited Quinta do Pisão, a unique nature park environment that houses an ecosystem incorporating sustainable farming practices, preservation, and education. A human presence at the park can be traced back to some 5000 years ago. Archaeologists discovered a cave that contained the bones as well as utensils thought to date back to the bronze and iron ages.

Quinta do Pisao Cascais Portugal
Quinta do Pisao Cascais Portugal

A garden produces wonderful fruits and vegetables that are for sale at the farm store. Segway and bicycle rentals are available. There are also interpretive tours that help deepen understanding and appreciation of this remarkable place and the natural environment of this special area. The farm is a great place for Portuguese families as well as visitors like us to come and learn about habitat management practices, biodiversity, nature preservation, and eco-stewardship. We experienced some of the fantastic learning activities for ourselves.

Meeting A Beekeeper

Our day included the fun and informative Meeting a Beekeeper workshop where our guide showed us the inner workings of bee society and the role each type of bee has in the hive. We saw how honey is made and processed and learned about the importance of bees to the balance of nature. We saw firsthand how the bees create the honeycomb structure of the hive and the care that goes into ensuring the hives are safe and thriving. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and answered all of our questions.

Learning about bees at Quinta do Pisao
Learning about bees at Quinta do Pisao

We learned about the domain of the bees and why honey that is made by the bees using different plant sources tastes different as well. We also had a chance to taste some of the pure honey produced by the bees at the hives we saw around us and it was delicious. This was a great way to learn more about how important bees are to the development of a healthy and diverse landscape – as well as producing a naturally wonderful sweet treat.

Glamping In Sintra-Cascais Natural Park

Though we did not spend the night, we did get a chance to see the glamping setup that is included in the full two-night program. We also enjoyed the hospitality of a hosted meal. The full program is all-inclusive of food, and we can definitely say that guests will not go hungry. The Portuguese passion for glorious food and drink does not skip even rustic visits to the great outdoors.

Glamping in Cascais Portugal
Glamping in Cascais Portugal

The complete program includes two overnight stays in two different locations so that visitors can enjoy the distinctive scenery of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park each night. The roomy glamping tent we saw had many amenities and creature comforts. We can imagine taking in a beautiful starry night, reading a favorite book, and finally snuggling down in a warm and comfortable tent while still being able to feel part of nature.

We sampled a gorgeous buffet that gave us an idea of what the food in the full program would be like. Delicious sandwiches, fresh fruits, cakes, veggies, and even roasted chestnuts filled a large table. Many of the fresh flavors we enjoyed came from the vegetable garden and local producers. Options for vegetarians as well as those following a gluten-free diet were available so those with allergies or special health considerations will be well cared for in the dining department. We also enjoyed water, coffee, tea, and fresh juices to complement our culinary experience.

Meeting A Ranger

There are birds, animals, insects, and all kinds of creatures that call the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park area their home. One of our favorite parts of our visit to the Quinta do Pisão was meeting a ranger. We learned about all the other animals that are in the park, including sheep, horses, and our favorite, donkeys. There are over 20 donkeys now living in the Quinta do Pisão. We also learned that Portuguese donkeys are strong, stout, and quite woolly with their long, soft hair. We had the privilege of not only seeing the donkeys all together in a group (including a few youngsters) but we also got a chance to walk with two of them along a trail. It was a highlight of our visit.

Diana with donkey friend at Quinta do Pisao
Diana with donkey friend at Quinta do Pisao

Choices To Suit Every Taste

The Rota De Occidente or Western Route program offered by Ambiente Cascais has plenty of options to suit every taste. The pedestrian route itself begins at the Eco-cabana at the entrance to beautiful Marechal Carmona Park and encompasses some 50 kilometers and consists of five different stages:

Ecocabana – Cresmina Dune (10 Km)
Dune of Cresmina – Quinta do Pisão (10 Km)
Quinta do Pisão – Peninha (10km)
Peninha – Duna da Cresmina (10km)
Cresmina Dune – Ecocabana (10 km)

Rota do Ociente Sign

Guests can also choose from a variety of activities at various times during the program, including Mountain Bike, Electric Bike, Donkey Ride, Horseback Riding with a Guide.

Nature At Its Best

There is so much to see and do in the developed areas of Cascais. It would be easy not to go beyond the beautiful hotels, spectacular beaches, glamorous shops, and elegant restaurants. But a visit to the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park including the Rota de Occidente is well worth including. It provides more than enough reasons to add a little off-roading to any trip in the area. With top-notch hospitality, remarkable scenery, ample opportunities for learning something new, and, of course, the presence of donkeys, we think a deep dive into the wild side of Cascais is an adventure well worth taking.

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In Travel

8 Great Resources For Virtual World Tours

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Lisbon Holiday Lights

Travel around the world certainly looks different these days. Sometimes we brave the process of showing vaccination certificates, taking rapid tests, and wearing surgical masks. But if we want to experience the joy of travel freely, virtual tours online provide a great alternative. Some amazing resources are available online. We want to share a few of them with you to explore.

Nazareth

1. Girl Travel Tours

Looking for a new place to explore or a chance to revisit one of your favorites? Girl Travel Tours has virtual city tours for many wonderful destinations to satisfy just about every travel itch. We recently took a virtual tour of Nazareth and Bethlehem that was amazing. The guides do the world tours for free but if you like what you experience you can provide a tip, which we think makes it a win-win for everyone. The company would love to give you a live tour around the world, and if virtual travel is any example, they likely do a great job on the ground as well. New virtual tours are offered on Facebook through a sign-up and there are lots of recorded tours already available on the website. There is a great library of virtual tours that include big destinations like Paris and Rome as well as unique experiences such as Ecuador & Galapagos, an African Safari, or a ride on the Trans Siberian Express.

American Cemetery Normandy France
American Cemetery Normandy France

2. France.FR

Francophiles will be delirious with the massive library of virtual tours available on the France.FR Facebook page. Whatever your interest in France, there’s bound to be a tour video that will let you explore your passion. These are recordings of live experiences, most of which are an hour or so long. So you won’t be getting just a hop, skip, and jump but a chance to really see what the area you’re looking at is like. World War II buffs can see the Caen Memorial and learn more about war history in Normandy. Art lovers can explore Van Gogh’s Arles. And food lovers can take a tour of  Paris. Food Travelist favorite Darley Newman hosts an inside look at Tour De France and other great French experiences. We look forward to getting back to France as soon as possible. In the meantime, we can enjoy virtual visits through these great videos.

Lisbon Holiday Lights
Lisbon Holiday Lights

3. Lisbon With Pats

It’s no secret that we’re absolutely crazy in love with our new home base in Portugal. And one of the people who helped us satisfy our desire to explore every nook and cranny of the capital city Lisbon is Pats Madeira who offers in-person and live virtual tours through Lisbon With Pats. We took a virtual Christmas walking tour with a group of friends when we couldn’t leave our home in Wisconsin. And, once we made it to Portugal we took a live Christmas tour with her to see and taste everything we had been dreaming about in the meantime. Pats focuses on customized experiences, so if there’s something you want to see, you can be sure she’ll accommodate your every desire. For her live virtual tours, Pats charges a single reasonable rate for up to 10 people in your group. We had fun directing Pats to show us every beautiful pastry that caught our eye. She is a true professional who is both super knowledgeable and wickedly fun.

Smithsonian

4. Smithsonian National Museum Of Natural History

The Smithsonian is a national treasure. When visiting in person, it’s often difficult to navigate through the embarrassment of riches that the many different museums offer. One of our very favorites is the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Learning about the dinosaurs, rain forests, fossils, and even our own bodies is a fascinating pursuit that can cause us to linger so long that we don’t make it anywhere else.  So the ability to explore by taking a self-directed virtual tour is perfect for those like us who want to take their time. You can go through every room or just those that interest you and explore the exhibits however you choose. If you want to get some behind-the-scenes information while you’re exploring the museum offers narrated virtual tours as well.

Again, we have to mention our friend Darley Newman who also does Livestream events at the Smithsonian check out her site for the latest so you don’t miss a thing!

5. Beeyonder

If you’re someone who likes to be on the go, you might be interested in Beeyonder, which offers live public and private tours for virtual travel around the world. You can join in a tour that is already planned or create a special one for you and your friends. Live virtual walking tour of Singapore’s City Center, Ireland Christmas Traditions Virtual Special, and Walking tour in the Jungle Cahuita National Park in Costa Rica are just a few examples. Prices vary and there is a subscription offering that provides savings if you want to continue with your armchair travels. There are also a number of perspectives you can choose from for your tours such as live from the street, art, cooking, or history and culture. Many languages are also available. The experiences are all live and interactive so you can engage with your guide while exploring at the same time.

Yosemite
Yosemite

6. Virtual Yosemite

We love the National Park system and one of our favorite parks is Yosemite. There are so many special places to explore and enjoy the beauty of nature. Virtualyosemite.org brings the breathtaking beauty of Yosemite right to you wherever you are. You just click on the part of the park you want to visit and you’re transported in an instant. From Tuolumne Meadows to Hetch Hetchy and the Half Dome Diving Board, you’ll get the incredible views that make Yosemite so special. Each location has several viewpoints that you can click on to get a full perspective of the area. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the glories of this natural treasure without having to pace yourself while navigating the terrain.

Acropolis in Athens Greece
Acropolis in Athens Greece

7. Clio Muse World Tours

Visiting the Acropolis in Greece was one of the most exciting tours of our traveling life. So whether you’ve been able to go there in person or have it on your bucket list for the future, there’s no reason to skip seeing it for free through the Acropolis: Free Virtual Experience offered by Clio Muse Tours. The tour includes several of the stops you would not want to miss on any visit, including the Theatre of Dionysus, the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, and, of course, the Parthenon. This is a go-on-your-own experience but there is audio guidance provided in English. Stories are combined with street and satellite views making this a full sensory experience of one of human history’s most interesting and important sites.

Louvre

8. The Louvre

Some of the most wonderful experiences you can have as a virtual traveller come from art museums virtual tours. Many art museums have adopted some form of the virtual visit so that art lovers can see creative treasures while staying safe at home. One of the most impressive and important museums is the Louvre in Paris. Home to such painting masterpieces as Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, and sculptures as Venus De Milo, the Louvre offers a unique opportunity to see some of the greatest artworks ever created. For this reason, Louvre visits feel like world tours, even the virtual ones. Art museum virtual tours at the Louvre include walks through important galleries and explorations of exhibits. There is also a Louvre at home offering that includes events, podcasts, and even a virtual reality Mona Lisa experience.

With things being what they are today, it can seem like world tours are out of reach for many of us who are used to regularly traveling. But through the wonders of technology, we can actually take world tours of many of the most interesting and exciting places on Earth right in our own homes. Though nothing can take the place of actually being where the action is, we hope these examples give you ideas about how you can still travel around the world without leaving home. We’ll continue to travel and explore food and cultures around the world in whatever way we can. We look forward to sharing more of our discoveries with you along the way.

For other ideas, check out our article on amazing virtual tours that you can take.

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In Desserts

Easy Chocolate Crinkles Cookie Recipe

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chocolate crinkles

 

Cookies are a universal taste treat. Many countries around the world have their own unique cookies – Italian Biscotti, Korean Yakgwa, Mexican Wedding Cakes, Balinese Jaja Lempog, Swedish Rosenmunnar, Greek Kourabiethes, Scottish Shortbread,  French Macarons, Chinese almond cookies, Dutch Stroopwafels, and more than we can count! Cookies are that sweet, delicious finger food that’s perfect to finish off a meal or just to have as a snack.

So we’re sharing one of our all-time favorite recipes, yummy Chocolate Crinkles. These sweet little chewy-crisp chocolatey delights are so easy to make and just as easy to devour. You’ll want to have them around for whenever the cookie monster strikes!

chocolate crinkles

This recipe makes about 6 dozen cookies, plenty for eating, sharing, and freezing some for later!

Easy Chocolate Crinkles Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (like Hershey, Nestle)
2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup confectioners’ (powdered) sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup safflower or canola oil

Directions

1. Mix cocoa, granulated sugar, and vegetable oil in a medium-sized bowl. Add eggs one at a time and blend until each is well combined.

2. Stir in the vanilla and blend until all are thoroughly combined.

3.  In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.

4. Add the dry ingredients mixture into the cocoa mixture and blend until completely mixed into a dough. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours until very firm.

5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or foil (shiny side up).

6. Take the dough in one-inch mounds and roll it into balls. You can use a meat/melon ball scoop of the appropriate size to start, but you’ll want to roll into a complete round ball with your fingers.

7. Pour confectioners’ (powdered) sugar onto a large plate and roll each ball over the sugar until thoroughly coated and place balls about 1 inch apart onto the baking sheets. If you don’t have a large oven, put the leftover dough back into the refrigerator while making each set of cookies so it doesn’t get too soft.

8. Bake at 350 for 11-13 minutes, until cookies flatten out and the “crinkles” appear showing the chocolate cookie through the confectioners’ sugar coating.

9. Let cool on the baking sheet for a minute or two to set, then transfer the cookies onto wire racks and let cool.

Enjoy!

THE QUICK BITE: Cookies are a favorite treat whether for dessert, snack, or just because. Our super-easy Chocolate Crinkles recipe is a delicious way to get a little sweetness into any day. If you’re looking for more cookies check out our matcha tea cookies recipe.

 

 

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