Broccoli and Cauliflower Nuggets

Para versão Portuguesa clique aqui: "Bolinhas de Brócolos e Couve-Flor"

1 cup broccoli
1 cup cauliflower 
1 egg
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Boil broccoli and cauliflower for 10 minutes. Drain and mash roughly. In a bowl mix them with remaining ingredients and form small balls.

Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in pre-heated oven at 190ºC for 20 minutes.

Delicious Oven-Baked Potatoes

Para versão Portuguesa clique aqui: "Batatas Assadas no Forno Deliciosas"

These potatoes are really easy to make. They just need some time in the oven but they’re worth the wait!

Estimate 1 large potato per person. Peel and cut into large cubes. Place them in a roasting pan and season to your liking with finely chopped garlic, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt and pepper. Drizzle some olive oil over them and the same amount of water. Bake in pre-heated oven at 200ºC for 1 hour – delicious! 

Avocado and Feta Cheese Salad

Para versão Portuguesa clique aqui: “Saladade Abacate com Queijo de Cabra”

2 avocados, diced

1 cup tomatoes, diced

1/2 onion, diced

3/4 cups crumbled feta cheese

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp red wine vinegar

2 tbsp parsley, finely chopped

Toss all ingredients in a bowl and serve.

Rice with Spinach

Para versão Portuguesa clique aqui: “Arroz de Espinafres”

Spinach is a good source of vitamins and minerals, but we all know that from watching “Popeye” when we were kids… Once harvested, it begins to lose its nutritional value very fast, so it’s important to use it up quickly. It can be used in different ways: fresh in salads, cooked or stir-fried, mashed: “esparregado” in Portuguese where the spinach is cooked, mashed and mixed with white sauce – really good! I’ll get around to that recipe soon. Today I’ll be mixing spinach with rice. What about in your home? How do you prefer your spinach? I’d love to know how it’s prepared in other kitchens. How about sharing your ideas/recipes here – they would be very welcome!

½ onion finely chopped

1 garlic clove finely minced

A drizzle olive oil

2 handfuls spinach cut in pieces

1 cup rice

Fry the onion and garlic in a little olive oil. Add spinach, season with salt, cover and let cook for about 7 minutes. Add 1 cup rice and 2 cups water, stir and when it starts to boil, reduce heat, stir and let cook for 12 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes before fluffing rice with a fork.

Pumpkin Puree

Para versão Portuguesa clique aqui: “Puré de Abóbora”

Some recipes call for pumpkin puree. In my opinion roasting it in the oven is a better alternative to cooking it in water over the stove. This puree is great to use in breads, cakes and soups. I prefer using butternut squash because I find it sweeter.

After rinsing and drying it, I cut it in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and fiber. Depending on its size I’ll cut it again in fourths and place the pieces on a baking tray with skin side down and bake in a 180ºC oven for 1h15’, or until a fork can be easily inserted. I remove it from the oven and let it cool until I can handle it. I scoop out the pulp with a spoon and place it in the thermomix. Then set for 30 seconds, speed 3 slowly turning dial to 7.

Tomato Bread Stew (Açorda de Tomate)

Para versão Portuguesa clique aqui: “Açorda de Tomate”

"Açorda" is a typical portuguese dish where bread is placed to soak in a broth.  The bread then soaks up the liquid and it is very well mashed. Garlic is a must and usually it is seasoned with coriander. Sometimes poached eggs are added and mixed thoroughly. There are various types of "açorda". The recipe I have for you today is of tomato. It goes great with fried fish.

This recipe was taken from the Thermomix cookbook that came along with it. It’s a Portuguese version “Bimby - As Receitas Essenciais”. The only change I made was to reduce the olive oil from 90g to 60g. I hope you enjoy it!

350g bread
500g water
60g olive oil
1 onion
4 cloves garlic
100g tomato, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Soak the bread in water and set aside. Place olive oil, onion and garlic in the bowl and chop 5 sec/speed 5. Add tomato and set 5 min/varoma/speed 1. Attach the butterfly and then add bread with water. Season to taste and set 7 min/100º/inverted/soft speed. Serve while hot.

Quinoa with Carrots

Para versão Portuguesa clique aqui: Quinoa com Cenoura

Quinoa is a seed high in protein, iron and fiber. It’s easy to cook and a great substitute for rice.

½ small onion, finely chopped

1 carrot, grated

1 tbsp olive oil

1 cup quinoa

2 cups water

½ cube chicken stock

Place de onion, carrot and olive oil in a pan and gently fry until onion is softened. Add water, chicken stock and quinoa. When it begins to boil, lower the heat and let cook for about 20 minutes, until quinoa is soft and water has evaporated. With a fork gently fluff the quinoa and it’s ready to serve.