À semelhança da minha prima Inês, acho que caixas de bolos dão embrulhos bestiais.
Just like my cousin Inês, I think traditional cake boxes - the ones you find in Portuguese pastelarias -make great gift packages.
(image: Tiago Cabral)
31 December 2010
28 December 2010
Mesa de Natal :: Christmas Table
Para a mesa de Natal de casa da minha avó fiz um centro com urze, ilex verticillata e túlipas brancas. Há um ano que não entrava numa florista... fiquei com saudades do campo.
For my granny's Christmas table I made an arrangement with heather, winterberry and white tulips. It's been a year since I'd last been to a flower shop... it made me miss the countryside.
(images: Tiago Cabral)
23 December 2010
Feliz Natal! :: Merry Christmas!
Queria desejar um Natal cheio de alegria, paz e amor a todas as pessoas que lêem este blog. Cá nos voltaremos encontrar daqui a uns dias. Até breve!
I'd like to wish all of you who read this blog a very happy, peaceful and loving Christmas. We'll meet again in a few days. See you soon!
(image: Tiago Cabral)
21 December 2010
Doce de Abóbora :: Pumpkin Jam
Um dos meus doces preferidos (e parece-me que da maioria dos portugueses) é doce de abóbora, especialmente com canela e noz. Aquelas abóboras que comprei em Outubro foram a desculpa perfeita para abrir o Pantagruel e experimentar fazer mais umas conservas.
One of my favourite jams (and I think a high percentage of Portuguese people will agree with me) is pumpkin jam, especially when it comes with added cinnamon and walnuts. Those pumpkins I bought in October were the perfect excuse to try making my own pumpkin jam.
Li algures que nunca devemos dobrar as receitas de compotas mas achei que se calhar esse era mais um daqueles mitos sem fundamento nenhum... rapidamente se provou que estava redondamente enganada. Falhei o ponto de açúcar e o doce ficou com esta consistência estranhíssima: duro e impossível de ser aproveitado.
I've read somewhere that one should never double jam recipes but I thought that was another one of those myths... well, I was wrong! I totally missed the correct sugar stage and the jam turned hard and impossible to eat.
Na segunda tentativa usei apenas 1 kg de abóbora (e reduzi a dose de açúcar: o Pantagruel indicava 1,5 kg mas eu só utilizei 1kg) e o doce saiu bem! Eis a receita para quem quiser tentar:
Doce de Abóbora (adaptada d' O Pantagruel)
1 kg de abóbora
1, 5 kg de açúcar [eu usei 1 kg]
1 pau de canela [eu usei 2]
1 colher de chá bem cheia de canela em pó
[1 punhado de nozes partidas aos bocados]
Corta-se a abóbora em pedaços, que se descascam e cozem em água e pouco sal. Escorrem-se num passador, espremem-se num pano, passam-se por um passe-vite e mistura-se o polme resultante com o açúcar, mexendo bem para o dissolver. Põe-se então ao lume brando com o[s] pau[s] de canela e deixa-se ferver, mexendo sempre até fazer estrada. Tira-se, bate-se até abrandar o calor, liga-se com a canela em pó [e as nozes] e guarda-se em boiões.
The second time around I only used 1 kg of pumpkin (and decided to reduce the amount of sugar: the recipe calls for 1,5 kg but I just used 1 kg) and it worked! Here's a tradicional Portuguese recipe for pumpkin jam with cinnamon and walnuts:
Pumpkin Jam (adapted from O Pantagruel)
1 kg of pumpkin
1,5 kg of granulated white sugar [I used 1 kg]
1 cinnamon stick [I used 2]
1 rounded teaspoon of ground cinnamon
[a handful of chopped walnuts]
Cut the pumpkin in pieces, peel them and cook them in water and a pinch of sea salt until soft. Drain the pulp and pat it dry with a tea towel. Process the pulp using a mouli, place it in a preserving pan and add the sugar, mixing it with a wooden spoon until it dissolves completely. Turn the heat on, add the cinnamon stick[s] and let it boil. The mixture is ready when you scrape the spoon through it and you can see the base of the pan for a couple of seconds. When it has reached this stage, remove the pan from the heat, add the ground cinnamon and the chopped walnuts and pour into jars.
(images: Tiago Cabral)
Doce de Abóbora (adaptada d' O Pantagruel)
1 kg de abóbora
1, 5 kg de açúcar [eu usei 1 kg]
1 pau de canela [eu usei 2]
1 colher de chá bem cheia de canela em pó
[1 punhado de nozes partidas aos bocados]
Corta-se a abóbora em pedaços, que se descascam e cozem em água e pouco sal. Escorrem-se num passador, espremem-se num pano, passam-se por um passe-vite e mistura-se o polme resultante com o açúcar, mexendo bem para o dissolver. Põe-se então ao lume brando com o[s] pau[s] de canela e deixa-se ferver, mexendo sempre até fazer estrada. Tira-se, bate-se até abrandar o calor, liga-se com a canela em pó [e as nozes] e guarda-se em boiões.
The second time around I only used 1 kg of pumpkin (and decided to reduce the amount of sugar: the recipe calls for 1,5 kg but I just used 1 kg) and it worked! Here's a tradicional Portuguese recipe for pumpkin jam with cinnamon and walnuts:
Pumpkin Jam (adapted from O Pantagruel)
1 kg of pumpkin
1,5 kg of granulated white sugar [I used 1 kg]
1 cinnamon stick [I used 2]
1 rounded teaspoon of ground cinnamon
[a handful of chopped walnuts]
Cut the pumpkin in pieces, peel them and cook them in water and a pinch of sea salt until soft. Drain the pulp and pat it dry with a tea towel. Process the pulp using a mouli, place it in a preserving pan and add the sugar, mixing it with a wooden spoon until it dissolves completely. Turn the heat on, add the cinnamon stick[s] and let it boil. The mixture is ready when you scrape the spoon through it and you can see the base of the pan for a couple of seconds. When it has reached this stage, remove the pan from the heat, add the ground cinnamon and the chopped walnuts and pour into jars.
(images: Tiago Cabral)
20 December 2010
Handmade Christmas :: Gingerbread Men
Estes biscoitos de gengibre são bons tanto para pendurar na árvore como para comer ao lanche! A receita é esta.
These gingerbread biscuits are great both for hanging on the tree and eating at tea time! Recipe here.
(images: Tiago Cabral)
19 December 2010
Handmade Christmas :: Gift Wrap
Este ano embrulhei os presentes com mapas desactualizados que encontrei em lojas de caridade (como adoro estas lojas!). Estou rendida a este papel de embrulho alternativo.
This year I've wrapped the presents in old maps I found in charity shops (how I love these shops!). I'm quite smitten with this alternative wrapping paper.
(images: Tiago Cabral)
This year I've wrapped the presents in old maps I found in charity shops (how I love these shops!). I'm quite smitten with this alternative wrapping paper.
(images: Tiago Cabral)
17 December 2010
Handmade Christmas :: Cards
Este ano voltei a fazer os meus cartões de Natal (deveria ter começado mais cedo). Aliei a técnica de há dois anos a uma ideia que vi aqui e, em menos de nada, fiz uma pilha de cartões. Agora só me falta escrevê-los e enviá-los...
This year I made my own Christmas cards again (if only I had started earlier...). Inspired by an idea I saw here and keeping up with the same style as two years ago, I whipped up a bunch of cards in less than an hour. Now I just have to write and post them...
(image: Tiago Cabral)
15 December 2010
Handmade Christmas :: Blackcurrant Jam
Sou grande apologista de oferecer comida no Natal. Quem não gosta de receber algo doce, feito com dedicação e embalado de uma maneira minimamente atraente? Quem consegue resistir a abrir um frasco nas profundezas do Inverno, sentindo imediatamente o cheiro e o sabor do Verão?
I'm a great advocate for giving food as a Christmas present. Who doesn't like to receive something sweet, made with care and packaged in a nice way? Who can resist opening a jar in the depths of Winter and immediately smelling and tasting Summer?
(images: Tiago Cabral)
Handmade Christmas :: Granola
Parte da nossa lua-de-mel foi passada num b&b em Cape Cod. O pequeno-almoço era tomado em conjunto com os outros hóspedes (imaginem ter de fazer conversa com desconhecidos todas as manhãs) e havia sempre iogurte e granola caseira. O Tiago gostava imenso da parte da granola, eu nem por isso. Este Natal lembrei-me de lhe oferecer granola feita cá em casa: a receita vem neste livro e inclui aveia, nozes pecãs, amêndoas e montes de sementes diferentes (sim, este ano trocámos presentes cedo!). É fácil e sabe melhor do que aquela de há três anos... talvez por poder ser saboreada em silêncio.
Part of our honeymoon was spent in a b&b in Cape Cod. Breakfast was eaten on a large table with all the other guests (just imagine having to make conversation with strangers every morning) and there was always yogurt and homemade granola. Tiago loved the bit about the granola, me... not so much. This Christmas I made him a batch of his own granola: the recipe was taken from this book and includes rolled oats, pecans, almonds and loads of different seeds (yes, this year we exchanged gifts early!). It's very easy to make and tastes better than the one I had three years ago... maybe because it can be eaten in silence.
Part of our honeymoon was spent in a b&b in Cape Cod. Breakfast was eaten on a large table with all the other guests (just imagine having to make conversation with strangers every morning) and there was always yogurt and homemade granola. Tiago loved the bit about the granola, me... not so much. This Christmas I made him a batch of his own granola: the recipe was taken from this book and includes rolled oats, pecans, almonds and loads of different seeds (yes, this year we exchanged gifts early!). It's very easy to make and tastes better than the one I had three years ago... maybe because it can be eaten in silence.
(image: Tiago Cabral)
14 December 2010
Natal Feito à Mão :: Handmade Christmas
Há muitos anos que não tirava tanto prazer duma época natalícia. Talvez o facto de estar longe do consumo desenfreado duma grande cidade ajude... a verdade é que tenho saboreado cada dia de Dezembro sem pressas nem pressões. E, dentro de pouco tempo, estarei em Lisboa rodeada de família e amigos! 2010 tem sido muito bom - sinto-me cheia de sorte!
This Christmas season is proving to be the best I've had in years. Maybe it's the fact that I'm away from the crazy consumption that tends to occur in big cities... I've been thoroughly enjoying these December days that have come with no pressure and no hurry. And in a few days I'll be in Lisbon amongst family and friends! What a year this has been - I feel really lucky!
13 December 2010
Shop Announcement
A loja estará fechada a partir de dia 14, terça-feira, e voltará a abrir em 2011. Obrigada a todos os que compraram peças minhas ao longo deste ano - o vosso apoio é fundamental para manter este blog. Espero que os preparativos para o Natal estejam a correr bem a toda a gente. Boa semana!
The shop will close on the 14th of December and will re-open in 2011. I'd like to thank all of you who have bought my pieces this year - your support is vital to keep this blog going. I hope you're all having a lovely time getting ready for Christmas. Have a great week!
(images: Tiago Cabral)
10 December 2010
09 December 2010
08 December 2010
Shop Update :: Clutches
07 December 2010
Árvore de Natal :: Christmas Tree
Estou contente porque ontem fizemos a nossa árvore de Natal. Gosto do ritual de pendurar os enfeites e de me lembrar de onde vieram ou de quando os fiz. E gosto deste simulacro de árvore. Agora sim, é Natal!
I'm happy because yesterday we put up our Christmas tree. I like hanging the ornaments and remembering where they came from or when I made then. And I also like this "tree". Now it really feels like Christmas!
(images: Constança Cabral)
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