How to Make Brazilian Brigadeiro Chocolate Truffle

How to Make Brazilian Brigadeiro Chocolate Truffle

Posted by Unknown on 7:54 PM in #JuntosConNestle, Brazilian recipes, Christmas, fun food for kids, Nestle.USA, Recipes,

Do you want to WOW your family and guests this Holiday Season? How about treating them with a decadent Brazilian chocolate dessert? 

Brigadeiro (BREE-GA-DEY-RO) is a popular soft chocolate sweet made with condensed milk, powdered chocolate (or cocoa), and butter. It's common at Brazilian parties, from birthdays to Christmas, and even weddings! If you ask Brazilians about brigadeiro, they will tell you how amazing and delicious it is! 

Brigadeiro comes from a presidential candidate in Brazil in the 1940s named Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes. His wife would make this chocolate fudge sweet and serve it at parties as part of a fundraising campaign. The guests loved the treat and started asking for it at events: “Where's the Brigadeiro chocolate sweet? Can we have more of Brigadeiro's chocolate candy?" Since then, brigadeiro became a sensation throughout the whole country! 

I make brigadeiro pretty often in my house and everybody who tries it (husband's family, sons' friends and teachers, co-workers and friends), loves it!

While the brigadeiro recipe is simple and easy, it can be tricky to get the perfect consistency. No worries! My son and I created a how to video with a simple step-by-step guide and a few tips, so you can make a perfect brigadeiro dessert to WOW your guests! 
Here's the video:

This article is part of Nestlé Hispanic Holiday campaign, #JuntosConNestlé, so we're going to use La Lechera condensed milk, which is available at Walmart  stores. 

My son and I had a blast making this video! 😃 The fun part about brigadeiro is that you can get your kids involved in the cooking and decorating process! We hope you enjoy this video, and let us know how your brigadeiro turned out!

Here's the recipe: 

Brigadeiro

Serving: 9-20 (based on size) Total Time: 25min

Prep Time: 5min Cook Time: 15min

Ingredients

• 1 can of Nestlé La Lechera (sweetened condensed milk)

• 6 tbsp of Nestlé Nesquick chocolate powder 

• 2 tbsp of unsalted butter

• chocolate sprinkles

• non-stick pan

• wooden spoon

• mini baking cups

Cooking Instructions

• Set stove on medium heat

• Put 2 tbsp of unsalted butter in a non-stick pan

• Add a whole can of Nestlé La Lechera condensed milk into the pan

• Add 6 tbsp of Nestlé Nesquick chocolate powder chocolate into the pan

• Stir with the wooden spoon for about 15 minutes. Don't leave the pan unattended 

• Brigadeiro is ready when it starts leaving the pan (the video will show this!)

• When your brigadeiro is ready, remove from the stove and stir it for a few seconds

• Take the pot to the freezer for about 5 min

• If the pot is too big, transfer brigadeiro into a container and put it in the freezer

• You want it nice and creamy before you roll it into balls

• To make the balls, spread a little bit of butter on your hands 

• Using a spoon, scoop some brigadeiro, and using your hands roll it into a ball

• Roll the ball in the chocolate sprinkles to cover it completely

• Place finished brigadeiro into a banking cup and roll some more

• Makes between 10 to 20 brigadeiros, depending on the size of mini baking cups

• Enjoy!😋

*Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Nestlé. All opinions are my own.

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"Berry" Your Sweet Cravings With This Simple, Easy Snack!

"Berry" Your Sweet Cravings With This Simple, Easy Snack!

Posted by Unknown on 3:06 PM in Health Tips, Recipes,

It's 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and your stomach is growling embarrassingly loud! You're getting so hungry that the last stale donut left on the table in the lounge looks like a million dollar dessert. Or, the cookies in the pantry you swore you wouldn't touch, since they're for your kids' lunch, are now on the endangered species list. Perhaps the ice-cream in the freezer reserved for surprise guests or special occasions, now changes to reserved for your "not-so-welcome" hungry tummy guest.

So, caving to your cravings, you go ahead and eat them! It might taste amazing at first, but 30 minutes later, you notice you're hungry again, tired, and moody. Why? While these sweet snacks might seem like a good idea at first, they lack the satisfying nutrition your body actually needs!

Instead of going for the first empty calorie snack you see in front of you, make plans ahead of time and opt for a healthy snack full of protein, simple carbs, and healthy fats. It will boost your concentration, provide energy, and keep you fuller, longer!

This snack recipe is really simple, quick, and easy to prep! You can store everything in a container, leave in the fridge, and grab when you need it! Plus, did I mention it's absolutely delicious?

It's composed of berries, greek yogurt, nuts, and a drizzle of raw honey. That's it!

Berries will help provide you with some of the quick energy you need, plus they're full of antioxidants, fiber, minerals, and vitamins, such as C, B, and K. Greek yogurt has protein, which is good for your focus. It also has calcium, vitamin B-12, and probiotics, which contributes to a healthy gut.

Almonds contain healthy fats that will satiate your hunger. Besides keeping your tummy happy, almonds have vitamin E, which is great for your skin and helps to regulate hormones!

Raw honey is a natural energy source, antioxidant, and a great substitute for sugar!

What you need:

• 1 cup of 2% fat greek yogurt 
• 1/2 cup of strawberries
• 1/3 cup of blueberries
• 1/4 cup of blackberries
• 12-15 almonds (chopped)
• 1 Tbsp raw honey 

How to prepare:

• Wash your berries (strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries) thoroughly with water
• Remove the strawberry stems and slice the strawberries in half
• Add strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries in a bowl
• Top the berries with greek yogurt 
• Chop the almonds (*tip: place them on a cutting board, take a knife, place the tip of the knife on the board, above the nuts, and slice the almonds in a "paper cutter" motion, from up to down. Keep slicing the almonds until they are all chopped)
• Sprinkle almond pieces on top of the yogurt
• Drizzle honey on top
• Enjoy!😊

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Iced Lemon Waffle

Iced Lemon Waffle

Posted by Unknown on 3:51 PM in Brazilian recipes, fun food for kids, Recipes,

Who is hungry for waffles? How about a waffle topped with a bright and citrusy, sweet and zesty lemon glaze? Sounds amazing, right?

This light and fresh lemon glaze recipe is simple, quick, and easy! Your family will love a new twist on waffles and will definitely ask for more!

All you need for the lemon glaze is 1 can of condensed milk, lemon juice from 2 lemons, and lemon zest! That's it! Simple as that! The trick is in the lemon juice. As you add lemon juice to the condensed milk, it will thicken. Continuing to stir, it turns into a beautiful, creamy glaze.

It's unbelievable on top of waffles, pancakes, cakes, and even fruit salads!

Hope you enjoy this recipe! Here's a video on how to make it:

Here's the recipe:

Iced Lemon Waffle

Serving: 3-4 (based on size)  Total Time: 25min

Prep Time: 10min Cook Time: 15min

Ingredients:

Waffles

• 2 cups Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake Mix
• 1 1/2 cups cold water
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil

Lemon Glaze

• lemon juice from 2 lemons (drained, without seeds)
• 1 tsp of lemon zest
• 1 can of condensed milk
• 1 lemon to use to garnish

Cooking Instructions:

Lemon Glaze

• *Prepare lemon glaze first, before cooking waffles
• Add 1 can of condensed milk into a bowl
• Add lemon juice slowly into the bowl with condensed milk 
• Stir until it starts to thicken
• Lemon juice will thicken the condensed milk and turn into a glaze
• Add the lemon zest and stir 

Waffles

• Blend all waffle ingredients together in a bowl (pancake mix, water, egg, and oil)
• Grease waffle iron with vegetable oil (*tip: use a cooking brush to brush oil on the waffle iron)
• Preheat waffle iron
• Cook waffles until golden brown
• Set waffles onto a plate
• Drizzle lemon glaze on top of waffles and garnish with lemon (see video to learn how to make an easy lemon garnish)
• *Tip: Squeeze fresh lemon juice from the garnish over the glaze just before eating for an extra pop!
• Eat and enjoy! 😋

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Banana & Cheese French Toast

Banana & Cheese French Toast

Posted by Unknown on 3:20 PM in Recipes,

Yes!!! It is THAT good!!! :D You can make it in less than 10 minutes!

INGREDIENTS (*for 1 serving):

• 2 slices of wheat bread
• 1/2 banana
• 1 slice Gouda cheese
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp milk
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon 
• 1/2 tsp butter (room temperature)
• 1-2 tbsp maple syrup
• powdered sugar (about 1 tbsp)

HOW TO MAKE IT:

• In a 8-inch skillet, add butter and spread evenly onto skillet. Set aside. 
• In a bowl, add the egg and milk. Beat the mixture in the bowl with a whisk or fork until they're well blended. 
• Take the slices of bread and dip them in the bowl of egg and milk. Turn the slices of bread and dip the other side. 
• Place banana in a bowl and smash the banana with a fork.
• Spread the banana paste on one slice of bread and then top it with cheese. Cover with another slice of bread. Set the sandwich aside.
• Heat skillet at medium heat for 1 minute.
• Slowly place sandwich in the skillet with the melted butter. Sprinkle one side of the sandwich with 1 tsp of cinnamon. Fry one side for about 3-4 minutes or until golden.
• Using tongs or spatula, carefully turn sandwich over and sprinkle it with the remaining cinnamon (1 tsp). Fry the other side for about 3-4 minutes or until golden.
• Remove sandwich and place it on a plate. 
• Drizzle maple syrup on top of the sandwich.
• Pour powdered sugar into a strainer and gently tap the side of the rim to dust the sandwich with powdered sugar. 
• Enjoy!

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Quick & Easy Brazilian Black Bean Stew

Quick & Easy Brazilian Black Bean Stew

Posted by Unknown on 5:45 PM in Brazilian recipes, Recipes,

We could all use a few cooking shortcuts, right? With the chaotic work schedule, kids, homework, house cleaning... By the end of the day, we just want to drive through the first fast food place we see and grab food to go! We just gobble it down and barely taste what we just ate...

Alright, but sometimes, don't you crave something a little bit more homey? Something not loaded with grease? Then you'll say, "Yes, but I don't have time to spend hours in the kitchen and then hours cleaning up all the mess!" I get it! Me too! I love, absolutely love a Brazilian dish called, "Feijoada." It's a savory Brazilian black bean stew, usually with pork, served with garlic rice, sautéed collard greens, and a chunky dressing with cilantro, tomatoes, and green onions. It's amazing!!!! But, when I make it for my family on Sundays, it usually takes me all day to prep and cook. It's wonderful but very time consuming...

So, a few days ago after taking the boys to football practice, it was already getting dark, and I was craving feijoada. I really didn't want to get the usual, drive-thru or pizza, for us. I knew I didn't have hours to cook, so I thought, "Maybe I can pull it off with a can or two of black beans." I know canned is not exactly like cooking from scratch, but probably better than pizza or chicken nuggets from a fast food place. Right?

I asked my husband to stop at the grocery store to grab a few ingredients (really, it took us 5 minutes), and when I got home, I was able to prepare a pretty yummy dish in about half an hour.

Now, for this post, I will show you how I was able to prepare the Brazilian black bean stew in a super easy way, where the additional ingredients masked the somewhat unpleasant can taste. I'm not going over the other dishes like sautéed collard greens, garlic rice, or dressing, but if you check out my other recipe post called "Hungry for Brazilian Food?" under Brazilian recipes, I listed the garlic rice and dressing recipe over there.

Ok, for the Brazilian black bean stew you will need the following ingredients:

• 2 cans of low sodium black beans
• 2 Tbsp of Olive Oil
• 2 Tsp of minced garlic
• Half small onion (chopped)
• 2 Beef Smoked Sausages or Turkey Smoked sausages (slice them in quarter-inch circles) 
• 3/4 cup of chopped cilantro
• 2 Tsp Beef Flavor Bouillon (I use Knorr-Caldo Con Sabor de Res)

HOW TO PREPARE:

• Sauté the olive oil, garlic, and onions in a 3qt pot in medium heat until it caramelizes (yellow color). 
• Stir in the sliced smoked sausage circles and cook for about 4-5 minutes over medium heat. 
• Add the 2 cans of black beans and half can of water. 
• Add the cilantro and beef flavored bouillon.
• Reduce heat to low and let simmer for about 15-20 minutes. The ingredients plus the bouillon  help get rid of the unpleasant taste from the can. 
• Remove from heat and serve just like that, or serve with rice. Another option, is to serve with garlic rice, sautéed collard greens and the dressing on top (check my other recipes... :D). 
• You can also add a little bit of Cayenne Pepper Sauce or Tabasco Sauce on the beans to "kick it up a notch!"
• Next time, I will show you a great crunchy ingredient to add to the black beans and rice. It's a modified version of an amazing and delicious dish called "Farofa". Since we don't have the manioc flour, I tweaked a little bit, but it's still amazing!

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Caramel Hazelnut Stuffed French Toast

Caramel Hazelnut Stuffed French Toast

Posted by Unknown on 1:26 PM in Recipes,

Super easy, yummy, melt in your mouth french toast recipe that you can make in about 10 minutes! Wishing you and your kiddos a happy tasty brunch! Or breakfast! :D

INGREDIENTS (*for 2 servings):

• 4 slices of white bread
• 4 tbsp Jif Caramel Hazelnut Spread
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon 
• 1 tsp butter (room temperature)
• 6 medium strawberries (washed and without stems)
• powdered sugar (about 2 tbsp)

HOW TO MAKE IT:

• In a 10-inch skillet, add butter and heat at medium heat. 
• Spread 1 tbsp of caramel hazelnut spread on one slice of bread and then cover with another slice of bread. Repeat the steps with the other 2 slices of bread. Set both sandwiches aside.
• In a bowl, add the egg, milk, and cinnamon. Beat the mixture in the bowl with a whisk or fork until they're well blended. 
• Take the sandwiches and dip them in the bowl of egg, milk, and cinnamon. Turn the sandwiches and dip the other side. Slowly place sandwiches in the skillet with the melted butter. Fry them for about 3-4 minutes or until golden. Using tongs or spatula, carefully turn sandwiches over and fry the other side for about 3-4 minutes or until golden.
• Remove sandwiches and place them on a plate. 
• Pour powdered sugar into a strainer and gently tap the side of the rim to dust each sandwich with powdered sugar. 
• Add 2 tbsp of caramel hazelnut spread in a microwave safe bowl and heat it for about 40 seconds. 
• Using a spoon, drizzle the warm caramel hazelnut sauce on top of the sandwiches.
• Slice the strawberries in half and place them either on top or next to the sandwiches (3 whole strawberries per sandwich). * I know half of a strawberry is missing from this picture... I ate it...
• Serve them immediately. Enjoy!

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Easy and Fun Waffle Recipe: "Puppy Eggo"

Easy and Fun Waffle Recipe: "Puppy Eggo"

Posted by Unknown on 8:03 AM in fun food for kids, Recipes,

Last year, I submitted this fun, easy, and yummy recipe called "Puppy Eggo" in Kellogg's "The Great Eggo Waffle Off!" contest. The inspiration came from my boys and their love for chocolate chip waffles. It became an instant hit at our house! 

I remembered the first time I made this special treat for them... They laughed and said, "It's a puppy!" That's how the name came about. Of course, they stared at the puppy waffle for a few seconds and went straight for the chocolate candies. The taste is amazing! The sweet creamy whipped cream blends delightfully with the chocolate syrup and the chocolate chip waffle with Nutella. Plus, a yummy salty bacon is added to balance the sweet. Of course, to make it a more complete and "healthy" meal, bananas and strawberry were included. 

I hope this special breakfast treat becomes your kids' favorite puppy too! Have fun! :)

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Eggo Chocolate Chip Waffle
• Hazelnut/chocolate spread
• 1 tbs whipped cream
• Chocolate syrup
• 2 slices of banana
• 1/2 slice of a small strawberry
• 2 chocolate candies
• 2 slices of bacon

DIRECTIONS

1. Toast the Eggo Chocolate Chip Waffle.
2. Spread the Hazelnut chocolate on the waffle.
3. Spread the whipped cream on the waffle in the shape of a small circle.
4. Eyes/Pupils: place 2 slices of banana about one square apart and put one chocolate candy on top of each banana slice.
5. Mouth/Nose: carefully pour the chocolate syrup on top of the whipped cream to resemble a dog’s mouth/nose.
6. Cut the 1 strawberry in the shape of a tongue and put it on top of the whipped cream (under the nose).
7. Ears: cook 2 slices of bacon (or turkey bacon) in the microwave for about 1-1/2 minutes. Place 2 slices of cooked bacon on the left and right sides of the waffle.
8. Enjoy!

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Molten Fudgy Flourless Chocolate Cake

Molten Fudgy Flourless Chocolate Cake

Posted by Unknown on 4:39 PM in Recipes,

INGREDIENTS CAKE:

• 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2/3 cups of butter
• 1 1/2 cups of sugar
• 8 eggs
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 1/2 cups of unsweetened cocoa powder

INGREDIENTS TOPPING (GANACHE):

• 7 oz Hershey's bar chocolate milk
• 1 can of table cream (creme media)

HOW TO MAKE THE CAKE:

• Leave both the butter and eggs out of the refrigerator (in room temperature) for at least 30 minutes 
• Butter a 9 inch round teflon baking pan
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
• In a bowl, add the chocolate chips and butter and heat it in the microwave for 40 seconds
• Remove bowl from microwave and stir it until smooth
• In a bowl, add the sugar, chocolate powder, and the mixture of chocolate and butter
• Use the mixer at low speed and stir it until blended
• In this bowl, add the eggs and the egg yolk slowly and continue mixing at low speed, gradually increasing the speed to medium high
• Increase the speed to high and keep mixing until all ingredients are well mixed
• Pour the batter into the buttered pan and bake in the oven for 25 minutes
•  Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes
• With a knife, separate the edges of the cake from the baking pan
• Place a serving plate on top of the cake and flip the baking pan

HOW TO MAKE THE GANACHE:

• Break the chocolate bar into small pieces (rectangles) and place them in a bowl
• Place the bowl in the microwave and heat it for 40 seconds
• Remove bowl, stir, and place in the microwave for an additional 40 seconds
• Remove bowl from microwave and stir the chocolate until smooth
• Add the table cream (remove the liquid that comes inside the can) and stir it until well blended
• Pour the ganache over the cake and let it fall on the edges of the cake (to create the "meltdown" effect)
• Smooth the top with a spatula
• Serve with some strawberries if you'd like. 

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Portuguese Pizza! Eggs and Ham, Yes I am!

Portuguese Pizza! Eggs and Ham, Yes I am!

Posted by Unknown on 3:29 PM in Brazilian recipes, Recipes,

I absolutely love this pizza! I was craving it so much that I had to call my mom to get the recipe. She also gave me 2 nice tips to make the pizza even more tasty! In Brazil, we call this pizza a "Pizza Portuguesa". What a delicious fusion of flavors from the ham, onions, boiled egg, and kalamata olives! Many might be tempted to leave out one of the ingredients like the boiled egg, onions, or olives, but please don't! All these ingredients are essential, as they work together to create an amazing, savory blend!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 individual size "ready to bake" pizza dough
• 1 tsp of olive oil
• 1 can of undrained whole peeled tomatoes (should create enough sauce for 4+ small pizzas; you will only need approximately 4 tbsp for each)
• 4 tbsp of  shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 thin slices of ham
• 1 hard boiled egg, sliced
• 5 round slices of yellow onion
• 14 half slices of kalamata olives
• 1 tbsp of oregano

HOW TO MAKE IT:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit
• Brush olive oil on the top of the pizza dough
• *TOMATO SAUCE: Pour the entire contents of the can of undrained peeled tomatoes into a bowl and squeeze them with your fingers leaving some thick, irregular chunks of tomatoes to make the sauce more robust. Spread approximately 4 tbsp of this sauce onto the pizza dough, making sure to add some of the tomato pieces
• Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce
• Top with the 2 slices of ham, onions, egg slices, and olives
• *OREGANO: Pour the oregano into your cupped hand and then rub the oregano using both hands over the pizza, making sure to sprinkle the oregano on all the toppings. By rubbing the oregano in your hands, you enhance its flavor.
• Place the pizza directly on the rack into the oven and bake for 9 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let it cool for 1-2 minutes before eating.

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