Farmer Markets, a Brazilian tradition (Feiras) and Avocado Shake Recipe

These days many in the US are turning more and more toward buying fresh food from local farmers and neighborhood street markets. Brazilians have been doing this forever. Street markets, “feiras” as Brazilians call them, have always been where we shopped for much of our home goods. Sure, retail chain supermarkets are increasingly gaining in popularity for the same reasons of convenience they've always been a hit in the US, but feiras are still are the preferred source of fresh produce for the majority of Brazilian homes.

All over Brazil, every neighborhood has a weekly street market that sells fresh produce, meat, poultry and fish, spices, and other things such as dairy products and flowers. As a child, I really enjoyed these visits to the feira with my mother because I couldn't wait to visit the lady that sold handmade clothes for my Barbie dolls.

White Chocolate Custard (Brigadeirão Branco)

It is wonderful to go back to the place you grew up and be together again with loved ones. Being with family is truly the best place to be!

And of course there is no family reunion without a lot of food, at least when it comes to my family. From my first meal back in Brazil I bring you a dessert prepared by Odete who has been helping my family for over 20 years. Her food is delicious and her desserts, amazing!

Almond Cake Roll with Dulce de Leche

This week was my first grader's first field trip to a pumpkin farm. He was very excited that I was leaving his twin brothers with a good friend so that I could come along with his class. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and the field trip to the patch was cancelled due to the crazy "Cyclone" that hit Chicago.

Walnut Milk Fudge - Camafeu de Nozes

This is the last week of Ramadan so if I don’t have time to post again, Eid Mubarak! InshAllah I hope you and your families were able to reap the great rewards of this past most blessed month of Ramadan.

As our family gears up to celebrate the end-of-Ramadan holiday of Eid-al-Fitr, sweets are on my mind. Because, as we all know, you can't celebrate Eid without some serious dessert on hand. I thought this recipe would make a nice addition to your confection table. Called Camafeu de Nozes, literally translated as walnut cameo brooch, these Brazilian sweets are traditional at weddings and, where I grew up, at birthday parties as well. The inside is a walnut fudge (no chocolate) covered by fondant and decorated with a walnut. Served individually on candy cups (mini-muffin liners), these treats are both elegant and delicious.

Rice Pudding

Rizogalo in Greece, Budino di Riso in Italy, Arroz con leche in most Spanish speaking countries, Roz bil Halib in the Arab world - baked or boiled, these are all slight variations of simple, yet delicious rice pudding dessert. In Brazil every family has its own recipe and tricks for turning out this fabulous treat we call Arroz Doce but most always include the following main ingredients: milk, sugar, cinnamon and of course rice.

Brazilian Condensed Milk Flan

I must admit I wasn’t very happy when Brazil got disqualified from the World Cup. Not to worry though, I moved on by taking comfort in a dessert filled with fabulous childhood memories. A classic Brazilian Flan can lift anyone's spirits.

Fresh Fruit Tart

Recipe Updated!

Sorry for not posting anything in a week. Summer is a busy time for mamas. But stay on the lookout for new and delicious recipes coming this week to Halal Mama’s World Kitchen.

Yesterday I made this fresh fruit tart again but used a new tart shell and changed a bit the cream. The result was a much tastier and egg-free tart. So I have made changes to this recipe to reflect this new version.

One of my favorite things about the warm weather months is how perfect the timing is for fruit desserts! I made a festive fruit tart as one of my dessert options for last weekend's picnic. I love this fresh alternative for a summer dessert because you can top it off with a variety of favorite fruits of the season and it is always visually impressive.

Brigadeiro

My taste in cuisine is just as diverse as my background. Having grown up in São Paulo, probably the most ethnically diverse city in Brazil, I have been exposed to a great variety of food from early in life. And, now, living in Chicago I find that not too far beyond my front door is authentic food from just about any country in the world. My passion for traveling and exploring different cultures have helped fuel what I like to cook and eat.