Gathered

posted on: Wednesday, August 31, 2011


For the past two months we have been living out of our suitcases traveling Western USA and Eastern Brazil. Today, looking back at our two month vacation I can't help but feel like the luckiest gal alive. We have seen so much. And more importantly we have seen so many. My kids saw all 14 of their cousins, both of their grandmas, and all three of their great-grandmas. The picture above is at great-grandma Mimi's house in Sacramento, a little piece of Heaven on earth. In my mom's apartment in Sao Paulo we also made pizza. There was no backyard for us to sprawl at but the company was also good. I'm completely over joyed because my younger sis, Iris, has decided to come live with us in Bahia. Yesterday I was looking a a video of when we were younger, I was 12 and she was 2, and I remembered (not that I ever really forgot) how she was my first baby and how I loved her to pieces. Now she treats my kids like her own babies and she loves them to pieces. Families can be so great.

Early tomorrow morning we depart to Bahia, a Northeastern Brazilian state where the weather is always warm and the food is oh-so-good. We're staying at a vacation rental for a week but it's not really going to be a vacation since we're going to be out looking for a permanent address to finally unpack all our stuff.

Good thing that I'll always have my Christian to keep me company and his pizza making skills to keep a crowd fed. We hope you can come visit us.


{Foodbuzz 24x24} A Guide to Street Food in São Paulo Brazil

posted on: Sunday, August 28, 2011

São Paulo is my home town. In fact it is the home town of millions of people with the largest Japanese population outside of Japan, a rising Korean population, an established Arabic, Italian, and Bolivian, community to name a few. Think NYC, only much larger. São Paulo is great not only because of all the international influence but also because people from all different regions in Brazil migrate to São Paulo, bringing with them tastes from back home.

This month I was selected to participate in the Foodbuzz 24x24 event, where 24 bloggers create 24 meals in the space of 24 hours. Normally I would cook something but since I'm on vacation I decided to take you a long with me, on a little trip around the city of São Paulo. I've highlighted 10 of my favorite street foods around the city, all of which I was able to eat as I walked and took the metro around the city on Saturday. I'll show you pictures and give you a brief description of the food and the places where you can find it. I have made a more extensive album of pictures on my Facebook page and a subway guide here which you can print so when you get a chance to come to Brazil you won't get lost in São Paulo, and I promise you won't get hungry either.


My favorite place to hit up on a Saturday morning in the city is Praça Benedito Calixto. It's located in one of my all time favorite neighborhoods, where street art is celebrated, and cool little shops are the norm. Every Saturday from 9:00am-7:00pm the square is full of vendors selling antiques and hand made crafts. Praça Benedito Calixto not only has vinyl records galore it also has a big selection of street food. 

First up is the booth called Natural Dazu, where Diego, his mom, and Diego's friend all work together to make whole grained baked goods. Natural Dazu was the first street booth to sell salgadinhos made from whole wheat. Salgadinhos are baked or fried doughy snacks with some type of savory filling. The one I ate is called chinelinho, sandals, and it's filled with fetta and spinach. It's perfect for an early morning snack.

Paper Popsicle Memory Game

posted on: Tuesday, August 23, 2011

We sure love popsicles! I just bookmarked this DIY Paper Popsicle Memory Game by Eat Drink Chick for a future homeschooling game to do with Baby Maria and Enzo. The wheels are turning in my head and I think I'll decorate with prints of Brazilian fruits so not only will my kids learn the concept of remembering but will also learn the name of different local fruits in Bahia.

On September 1st we move to Itacare, Bahia for a year. We are thrilled to move to somewhere so beautiful and so warm with an abundance of tropical fruits. Enzo was going to start school this Fall if we were in the States but because the school year is different here in Brazil he probably won't get to go to school until February. So we decided to homeschool. At first I was freaked out at the idea of homeschooling but now I'm actually pretty excited. For one thing Enzo is eager to learn (yes, I'm counting my blessings!) and for another it will give me more time to spend with my kids doing something besides just beach bumming all day long.



In the next couple of weeks our family will be going through some exciting changes and so will this blog. I'm going to start a new series called Kitchen Schooling. Since I parent at my best when I'm in the kitchen I figured I'll probably teach at my best when I'm in the kitchen as well, using concepts I'm comfortable with, like popsicles for example :) Also, my blog template will be going through some major transformations thanks to Ana from Liven Designs and Erin Jane from Jane Reaction. Kitchen Corners will become a food+Design blog. I'll still post recipes and stories about the fam. In addition I'll share some of my favorite products and concepts, DIY and art installations, beautiful things that revolve around food. And as always I appreciate your feedback, so when the time comes to install the new template do let me know what you think.

Also, if you have any homeschooling tips or sites that you like or even fun projects you run across on the web please share them with me. I want to do a good job at this homeschooling thing. Good thing it's only Kindergarten. I figured if at the end of the day all I've done is cooking projects with him he'll still be o.k right?!

{image source}

Cake-in-a-Jar

posted on: Monday, August 22, 2011



I think that cake-in-a-jar is the new cupcake, friends, and frankly I'm OK with that. Containing messes is my thing, plus I think that cake-in-a-jar is much easier to transport. Imagine going on a picnic and busting out a cake in a jar, how charming would that be? Very, right?! I think so too. I made these a while ago as good-bye gifts to my my kids’ teachers and am thinking of making them again as soon for a picnic.


The bottom layer is yogurt cake, the middle is fresh strawberries, and the top is whipped cream sweetened with honey. I don’t use non-stick spray because I don’t like the taste of oil coating my food, unless it's fried chicken. However, if you don’t like washing out cake from glass jars then by all means use the non-stick spray. I use a wide mouth jar which makes eating the cake and cleaning the jar afterwards a lot easier.


The great thing about cake in a jar is that you can experiment and be creative. Use your favorite cake recipe and top it with your favorite frosting and/or fruit. I went for a lighter, less, sugary cake,  and strawberries because strawberries pair well with yogurt and honey. However, if you do decide to use different cake batter then keep an eye out for baking time. This yogurt cake was baked for half an hour. A lighter fluffier cake, like yellow cake, I would maybe bake for 20-25 minutes. Once the cake springs up and when you insert a toothpick in the middle and the toothpick comes out clean, that’s when you should take your cake jars out of the over. Be careful the jars will be very hot. After the cake cools down you’ll be ready to add any toppings you like. Enjoy your summer and enjoy your picnics.


Yogurt Cake in a Jar
(printable version)
makes 9 jars


1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
1 ½ cups brown sugar
⅔ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1 ½ cups plain whole fat yogurt
3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
5 large egg whites
9 glass jars with lids (wide mouth ball jars that holds 2 cups is ideal)
one pint fresh strawberries
2 cups heavy whipping cream
2-4 tablespoons honey

  • Preheat oven to 350*, wash and dry the jars and lids.
  • Beat the flour, sugar, butter, yogurt, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Scrape the sides of the bowl and them beat on high speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
  • Beat in egg whites on high speed for 2 minutes, scrapping bowl occasionally.
  • Pour in ¾ cup of batter into each glass jar. Place the jars on a shallow baking metal pan (a cookie sheet with sides) and put in the oven. Carefully add 3 cups water to the metal pan.
  • Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Carefully remove the jars from the oven and let them cool down for at least ½ an hour.
  • Wash and dry out the strawberries. Cut them into slices and and carefully place about ¼ cups of sliced strawberries on top of the cake.
  • Whip the heavy cream on high until it starts to harden. Drizzle the honey while the cream is being whipped. Add between 2-4 tablespoons of honey, depending on how sweet you like you cream to be.
  • Spoon the whip cream on top of the strawberries, leaving room on top so as to be able to close the jar.
  • Serve immediately or close the jar and keep refrigerated until consumed. If you are taking this for a picnic it’s OK to keep out of the refrigerator for an hour, more than that I would recommend putting it in a cooler.

Dear Brazil, I'm thankful for the stranger who helped Enzo when his cane juice at the market slipped out of his hand. She not only comforted him but went and got him a new one.

posted on: Wednesday, August 17, 2011


A daily read of mine is the blog thx thx thx: a thank you note a day, a simple reminder to be thankful for the things I'm usually not thankful for. In other words it's a good reminder that attitude is everything, or at least a whole lot. The microwave note made me smile, it's been almost 2 months since I've had my own kitchen and my mom's kitchen is the complete opposite of mine. My mom is a minimalist, I am not. I miss my KitchenAid a whole lot but it's hard to complain when my mom's maid bakes us cakes almost every day and they are way better than anything my KitchenAid can whip up.

The bruised fruit note that Leah wrote today is perfect. Maybe I'll print it and hang it up in my new kitchen. Isn't it such a sweet reminder, literally a sweet reminder, to be thankful for the hard things?

On September 1st we move to Bahia. I've been looking for rentals online. I hate looking for rentals on line. Moving is hard for me but if it weren't for this move I probably wouldn't be in Sao Paulo right now and being here right now is exactly where I want to be.



Today I'm thankful for,

// Finding tickets to Bahia for $168. We've been looking every day online and there was nothing for less than $400 and then today BAM[!] a total deal.
// I'm thankful that my former student and now good friend Juliana is coming to visit tomorrow and that she is a total foodie. I plan on doing a lot of eating when she's here.
// I'm thankful that my grandmother is well and that there are 4 generations of women in my mom's tiny apartment and most importantly that we all enjoy each other's company.
// I'm thankful that every day my mom's maid, Zefa, makes lunch and that she takes the liberty to scold my children if they don't eat enough.
// I'm also thankful for bruised fruit.


{images: note 1, note 2, note 3, note 4}

Tomato Bread Salad

posted on: Thursday, August 4, 2011


On Saturday I had lunch with Amber from the blog Awake at the Whisk and let me tell you she can make a mean tomato salad. This is why she has one of the most amazing gardens I have ever seen, that and the fact that she was on Turf War one of those reality T.V shows where they come and remodel your house for free. Yes, the episode is online and it's awesome! The 10 ft waterfall that the crew from Turf War built in her backyard is definitely impressive, almost as impressive as her collection of tomato plants. 

I have always loved tomatoes but it was only after I moved to California that I experienced a wide variety of tomatoes and even had a chance to grow some of my own tomatoes in my little garden plot. O.K fine, Christian did all the planting I just did some of the picking. Is there anything better than picking tomatoes right from the vine and immediately popping them in your mouth? If you answered “no” then you’ll love this recipe. This is definitely for the tomato lovers. Amber shared this dish with me on Saturday and because she's so great she's letting me share it with you too.


Tomato Bread Salad
Serves 2-4


  • 1 Goliath tomato (or another type of large heirloom variety) 
  • 1 Abe Lincoln tomato (or another type of large, meaty heirloom) 
  • 8 Yellow pear tomatoes (or another cherry-type heirloom variety ) 
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil 
  • 1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 
  • Salt and pepper to taste 
  • 8 fresh basil leaves 
  • 1/2 cup chopped up fresh mozzarella (marinated mozzarella can also be used) 
  • Artisan bread cut into cubes (about 2 cups)


  1. Rinse off the tomatoes and cut them into thick slices and place in a medium-sized bowl. 
  2. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper to taste. 
  3. Rinse off the basil leaves and carefully chop them up and sprinkle on top of the tomatoes. 
  4. Add the fresh mozzarella and artisan bread to the bowl and carefully toss the salad. 
  5. Serve immediately.

Summer Eatin'

posted on: Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Recently at great-grandma Mimi's house, in Sacramento California, my kids survived off popsicles and popcorn, perfectly ripened peaches and juicy tomatoes, music and love from their extended family. You know, the kind of stuff memories are made of.

In one week we leave for Brazil. It's hard to believe. We're now back in Santa Cruz where Maria had another hearing test and to say we're thankful for our audiologist is an understatement specially because she's our good friend and because we're crashing at her house for the next couple of days.

The plan was for us to go to Santa Barbara tomorrow and for me to be in San Diego on Thursday so I could go to the BlogHer conference. However, bureaucracy hates us and even though we planned for Christian to have his Visa months ago it's actually only going to be ready on Monday, the day before we leave. He needs to pick it up in San Francisco. We were supposed to be in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara and San Francisco are not necessarily close to each other. So now I'm not even sure I'll go to BlogHer which is the reason we even stayed in the States this long anyway. Oh well, c'est la vie. And la vie is so good I can't really complain. Plus hanging out in Santa Cruz for a week doesn't sounds bad at all.

I'm off to have Japanese food with some friends. Unlike my children I need a little more than just popsicles and popcorn, though I like to steal bites from their popsicles any chance I get.

Tell me, how your Summer is going?
Do you have tomatoes in your garden?
I have a tomato bread salad to share with you soon.

xoxo
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