Personalized Story Book

Personalized Story Book

I strongly believe that by exposing Camila to a variety of texts she will grow to be an avid reader, good student, and successful individual. Well, to maintain my goal and add a little extra oomph to the reading materials we read, I composed a story book for my little girl. I combined my love for reading with a project--can't get better than that!Using Kodak Projects, I composed a fairy tale that blends text and photos. In the story, relatives and friends are transformed into magical characters who help Princess Camila along her journey. The end result is fabulous and we are having fun reading it.The photo book cost less than $30 and we love reading it :)

Homemade Beer

Hubby making beer:
Yes, I am the self-proclaimed best wife ever! Last September, I gave my hubby a beer making kit. From there, he began reading beer-making books, recruiting friends, and making his own beer!

I find it all so hot and sexy that I feel like a groupie at a concert. I ask questions; I'm an official testers, though I know nothing about beer; and I encourage him as much as possible. Best of all, his concoction is really catching on. My hubby and his beer-making partner served homemade beer at the Christmas party and will serve their home brew at my baby shower!

Here are a few informative beer-making resources--just in case you want to make your own beer.

Beer Wars:

Great documentary on the beer-making industry. I thought dancers were catty!

Beer-making kit:

I purchased the starters kit from a local beer-making supply store. Everyone was extremely helpful and friendly. In fact, I have noticed that those involved with the beer or wine making process are normally great people to be around. I wonder why?

Beer Making for Dummies:

Those familiar with the series know that this is an easy to follow and informative source.

Brewing TV:

I found this while looking for Podcasts. The hosts are informative and entertaining.

Beer-making shops:

• Oak Barrel in Berkeley
  
• San Francisco Brewcraft in San Francisco
• More Beer in Concord and Los Altos
  

Hubby and partner at Trumer Beer Company:

I love that my hubby's partner brought his little baby to the tour :)

Brazilian Desserts

Each week, I receive e-mails letting me know how my baby is developing inside of me. The posts are cute and often compare the size of the baby with a fruit or vegetable. Since this week the post compared my baby's size to corn and I feel like a little pamonhinha with a belt around my waist, I started to think of great Brazilian dishes.

Pamonhia:


Below are a few top recipes of Brazilian goods:


Pao de queijo or Brazilian Cheese Puffs/Bread:
Pao de Queijo is well known in the central region of Brazil. It's simple, easy, and tasty. Best of all, you can make the dough, roll the balls, and freeze until it's time to bake.

My family loves it and I often make it for breakfast on a lazy weekend morning!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup milk
  
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups tapioca flour
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 2/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 beaten eggs

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Pour oil, water, milk, and salt into a large saucepan, and place over high heat. When the mixture comes to a boil, remove from heat immediately, and stir in tapioca flour and garlic until smooth. Set aside to rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Stir the cheese and eggs into the tapioca mixture until well combined. The mixture will be chunky like cottage cheese. Roll rounded, gold-size balls of the mixture. onto a baking sheet. The best way to make the balls is to moisten your hand with oil, scoop a spoon full of the mixture into your hand, and roll the mixture into the size of a golf ball.
   
4. Bake in preheated oven until the tops are lightly browned, 20-30 minutes.

Brigadeiros or Chocolate Truffles
I love brigadeiro but noticed that non-Brazilians either love it or hate it. On special occasions, I make the truffles, roll it with cocoa powder, and serve it with strawberries...yum!

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan over medium to low heat, combine cocoa, butter and condensed milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Or scrap the spoon across the bottom of the pan. If the mixture takes a few seconds to once again cover the pan, it is ready (Sorry for my very scientific and detailed assessment strategy, but know that it works). Remove from heat and let it rest until cool enough to handle. Form into small balls, sprinkle the balls with chocolate sprinkles (if desired), and eat at once or chill until serving.
   
2. Note: At my home, I never roll the ball or add the sprinkles. I just use a spoon and surprisingly enough am able to eat it all during an episode of House.

Olho de Sogra or Coconut Candy

If you have not noticed, the method to make Olho de Sogra, which translates into mother-in-law's eye, is the same as the brigadeiro; you only substitute the cocoa powder for coconut flakes and stuff the coconut mixture into prunes, which you can omit if you prefer. This is a huge hit every time I serve it and the prunes...well, you know.

Ingredients

• 1/4 to 1/2 cup of coconut flakes
  
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• Whole Prunes
  

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan over medium to low heat, combine coconut , butter and condensed milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Or scrap the spoon across the bottom of the pan. If the mixture takes a few seconds to once again cover the pan, it is ready (Sorry for my very scientific and detailed assessment strategy, but know that it works). Remove from heat and let it rest until cool enough to handle. Once cool, scoop a small amount of the mixture and stuff it into a piece of prune.
   
2. Note: At my home, I just use a spoon and surprisingly enough am able to eat it all during an episode Desperate House Wives. Fortunately, House and Desperate House Wives are on different nights.
   

Pudim de Leite or Milk Flan
Pudim has to be one of the top Brazilian treats. It is always a hit, easy to make, and tasty.

Caramel:

• 1 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1 cup of water
  

Flan:

• 1 can of condensed milk
• 1 can of whole milk
• 4 eggs

Directions

1. To make the caramel, melt the sugar in a sauce pan at medium to low heat. Once the sugar has a golden color, add 1/2 cup of hot water and mix. Let mixture boil until the sugar has completely dissolved. Pour the mixture into a flan pan and set aside. For additional guidance, click on the link. Please know that the recipe and steps in the link varies a little. They add 5 eggs and omit the water.
   
2. In a blender, Cuisinart, or with a mixer, combine the condensed milk, milk, and eggs. Pour mixture over the caramel and cover it with foil. Place the flan inside a banho-maria, a baking pan filled 1/2 way with water. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes to 1 hour. The flan is ready when it develops a custard-like consistency. Let it cool in the fridge for up to 2 hours. Once cool, remove the flan from its baking pan and serve.

I love the above recipes and am always pleased with the results. As I mentioned before, it is easy, fast, and tasty. Enjoy!