week Tweenty-twO: Seven Roses Cake

 I've never heared about this cake ever in my live, but it has a cute family story.
This cake is an ancient recipe from the south of Portugal.
While baking all the traditional Christmas treats, my mum remembered about this cake. She used to eat it during her chilhood and had never had it after that period of time.
Luckly, we managed to find the original recipe in an old cooking magazine.
I think we made a great job baking it because I couldn't stop eating it.

week Tweenty-onE: Pumpkin dreams

Sonhos. Son.yus. Dreams.
Dreams are present in all portuguese christmas' table. Every family bakes them differently, claiming their own particular secret whispered between a smile and wink. We decided to try an old recipe of dreams made with pumpkin because there are so many types around. with different colors, sizes, flavors and textures!
But more than anything else and as the wise Calvin told his friend Hobbes:
'I think we dream so we don't have to be apart so long. If we're in each other's dreams, we can be together all the time. Hope we will always keep close.... even if only in dreams.'

week TwentY: Chocolate-mousse cake

'the' chocolate cake. I love chocolate cake. I have been always looking for the best chocolate cake. Some years ago I started a quest of baking the best chocolate cake. I tried different recipes - some successfully others not really. Some cakes were ok. others were not enough 'chocolaty'. too crumbly. too dry. too sweet.
... until I got this recipe! This is just perfect! dense. not too sweet. rich chocolate flavor. great consistency. easy to bake!
.... goes really well with strawberries... and is great to bake for someone you love!

week NineteeN: Bolo de Bolacha - Portuguese Cookie Cake

This is one of those Portuguese desserts that everyone has at one point or another tried. It is, probably, the dessert that kids loved most. I remember that my mother baked it for special occasions, when she wanted to surprised us… It really ensured moments of delightful, sharing and love!
It is a cake made of Maria Biscuits and a cream made of butter, sugar and eggs. Before using the biscuits for the cake they are dipped into some strong coffee. The crunching feeling, the mix between the sweetness of the cream and the sour flavor from coffee makes it irresistible. The problem, is that it's so good it never last more than one day!
I learn how to do it, and recently arrived to San Francisco It was my time to surprise two (not that little) boys with this Bolo de Bolacha (Cookie Cake) and I could see in their expressions, the happiness and enchantment that only childhood memories can bring to you. I finally understood the big smile in my mother's face when she observed me and my brother eating wildly a "Bolo de Bolacha" just like this one…