Click HERE for the recipes
Eight days until Christmas today! And also the fifth Christmas in the Six Christmases project (explained here). It is cold outside and also quite a bit rainy, but here is a lot of virtual sun for you all: it is Christmas in Brazil!
I recently got in touch with Camila, my cousin's wife. She is from Brazil, and in particular from the amazing region of Pantanal, and moved to Paris in France a few years ago. Beside her job there, she also bakes and sell some amazing cakes, you can see them here on her website: Bolos Decorados e Cia.
So I asked Camila about the way she spends Christmas in Brazil with her family, regarding the food mainly.
On Christmas Eve, all the family stays together at the grandmother's house and each person brings a different food item: it can be turkey, fruits, desserts, cakes, etc.
Then, the family eats appetizers for a long time: Italian cheeses, salted pistachios, pates, nuts, dried fruits, etc. And they drink wine and soft drinks.
When it is almost midnight, they pray to thank the year they lived and the fact that they are all together.
Following the prayer, they start having the Christmas dinner.
At midnight, they celebrate by embracing each other and wishing 'Feliz natal' to all (Merry Christmas in Portuguese).
They continue eating and open their gifts. The presents have been left under the Christmas tree upon arrival but for the kids, Santa rings the doorbell and leaves them at the door.
Now let's talk about what the dinner consists of.
So I asked Camila about the way she spends Christmas in Brazil with her family, regarding the food mainly.
On Christmas Eve, all the family stays together at the grandmother's house and each person brings a different food item: it can be turkey, fruits, desserts, cakes, etc.
Then, the family eats appetizers for a long time: Italian cheeses, salted pistachios, pates, nuts, dried fruits, etc. And they drink wine and soft drinks.
When it is almost midnight, they pray to thank the year they lived and the fact that they are all together.
Following the prayer, they start having the Christmas dinner.
At midnight, they celebrate by embracing each other and wishing 'Feliz natal' to all (Merry Christmas in Portuguese).
They continue eating and open their gifts. The presents have been left under the Christmas tree upon arrival but for the kids, Santa rings the doorbell and leaves them at the door.
Now let's talk about what the dinner consists of.
For Christmas dinner, the table is absolutely covered with many food wonders. Camila and her family have lombo recheado (stuffed roasted pork loin), leitão assado (pig roast), peru assado (turkey roast) and some apple puree to accompany the pork. They also always have farofa to garnish the turkey, or the pig.
Farofa com ovo e bacon (farofa with eggs and bacon) is a classic Brazilian dish served at Christmas and also at other occasions. The farofa itself is made with manioc flour toasted in butter and onions in a frying pan. Then, people usually add bacon and eggs, but also olives.
Then, for dessert, Camila and her family have bolo de nozes (cake with nuts) and other desserts involving nuts.
I really love the idea of a table covered with an array of delicious food items. It looks like Brazilian people know exactly how to do that!
I decided to use the farofa dish and changed it into a recipe of farofa croquettes.
I also found out that Brazilian people like having a special treat of rabanadas (French toasts equivalent) on Christmas Eve as a tradition. I decided to use it and create a special recipe of rabanadas with a dark and rich Port and chocolate sauce.
Scroll down for some delicious recipes inspired by Camila and her Brazilian Christmas.
Farofa com ovo e bacon (farofa with eggs and bacon) is a classic Brazilian dish served at Christmas and also at other occasions. The farofa itself is made with manioc flour toasted in butter and onions in a frying pan. Then, people usually add bacon and eggs, but also olives.
Then, for dessert, Camila and her family have bolo de nozes (cake with nuts) and other desserts involving nuts.
I really love the idea of a table covered with an array of delicious food items. It looks like Brazilian people know exactly how to do that!
I decided to use the farofa dish and changed it into a recipe of farofa croquettes.
I also found out that Brazilian people like having a special treat of rabanadas (French toasts equivalent) on Christmas Eve as a tradition. I decided to use it and create a special recipe of rabanadas with a dark and rich Port and chocolate sauce.
Scroll down for some delicious recipes inspired by Camila and her Brazilian Christmas.
Click HERE for the recipes
