Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Sparkling wine sangria, a refreshing drink for hot summer days


On these hot summer days, one of the things I like to do is to drink refreshing cool drinks. I decided to prepare a sangria-like beverage in order to make use of an opened bottle of sparkling wine that was in the fridge.

Ingredients:
2.5 dl of sparkling wine
3.3 dl apple cider
3 dl of soda pop
1 peach
30 g of blueberries
5 basil leaves
Ice


1. Cut the peach with the skin into a pitcher. Add the blueberries and the basil leaves after being torn.

2. Add the sparkling wine, the cider and the soda pop.

3. Add ice and serve.


Do not add any sugar. The apple cider and soda pop are sweet enough. Drink it ice-cold. It will be a refreshing delight!

[ Originally published in Portuguese as Sangria de espumante bem fresca para beber nestes dias quentes ]

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Fresh watermelon and rasperry water


The heat has finally arrived with a bang. At such times, what helps us to endure the hot weather are fresh clothes, slippers and lots of refreshments. Yesterday in the afternoon, when I got home, I decided to have a cold watermelon and raspberry fresh water to cool myself.

Ingredients:
600g peeled and seeded watermelon
10 raspberries
4 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons yellow sugar
1L cold water
mint leaves
ice


1. Crush the watermelon with the raspberries, lemon juice and sugar.

2. Pour this liquid into a jar and add the water. Stir well.

3. Add the mint leaves and the ice and it is ready to serve.


It really refreshes oneself when it is served very cold on a hot summer day!

[ Originally published in Portuguese as Água fresca de melancia e framboesas ]

Monday, June 11, 2012

Moist chocolate sponge cake


This moist chocolate sponge cake exerts strong powers over me, specially after the first slice. It is so damn good! Let the hidden powers of the Gods do not stop me from repeating. Thankfully, I don't eat this cake alone.

Ingredients:
8 eggs
180g brown sugar
10 egg yolks
85g self-raising flour
15g powdered cocoa
30g powdered chocolate


1. Preheat oven to 230ºC.

2. Mix the eggs with the sugar and whisk for five minutes.

3. Whisk the egg yolks and add them to the previous mix. Use an electric mixer to keep whisking for more two to three minutes.

4. Mix the flour with the cocoa and the chocolate. Wrap the mixture above with this chocolate dough carefully.

5. Pour in a round shape, with 26 cm, lined with parchment paper and bake it in the oven for 11 minutes.


The moist chocolate sponge cake feels like it has chocolate mousse inside. Once you cut the first slice, the "mousse" flows from the inside like a river of thick yummy chocolate that leaves us with only one option: grab a spoon and use it to eat and stop only when there is no more. I dare you to try it!

Have a pleasent week!

[ Originally published in Portuguese as Pão-de-ló húmido de chocolate ]