Routine - who would say? - is something likeable. A post about formulas and savory (or not) energy bars.

(Em português)

I don't know about you, but I am a person who likes food. Really.
It gives me severe bad mood if I get hungry/ crave for food, and have nothing to nibble.
And the plot thickens, as I've been in this healthy-eating-well wave.
Because sometimes I could give it a way having snacks at any bakery down the street, but I haven't been feeling like it lately (besides, each little bite you buy around São Paulo represents a significant percentage of one's monthly budget).
So, in May 2012, gathering information here and there and testing a little, I found myself happy about a recipe/ formula that I came up with for oatmeal granola bars.
You see: they are just the way I like it. Crunchy, and accepting a wide variation of ingredients.
The point is: if I'm hungry, I urge for something savory. And that is just not possible with the recipe mentioned.
There are some options of savory bars being sold out there. But I heard that mostly they taste weird.
Anyway, there are possible.
So, there goes Flora looking in the internet for savory energy bars recipes. But they are not easy to find, not at all.
I had found a website which I really enjoyed, I read it on my mobile in the subway, then never found that link again.
I remember the person who wrote that post worked at a hospital, and s/he commented how clumsy it was to eat trail mixes for a snack.
The idea is good, allright. However, it is not functional:
Picture yourself in the bus/ your car/ in the middle of a film set/ at the office, wherever, holding a bag or a cup of nuts in one hand while feeding yourself with the other one.
So, it seemed like a good idea to merge all of the ingredients into one bar.
This person had some vague ideas of ways to put it together, nothing very concrete.
Going on with my research, I found a post at No meat athlete. Then I figured:
I did not need a recipe, I needed a formula. What a smart guy!
It so happens that his formula wasn't exactly what I was looking for, despite of it filling all nutritional needs etc etc etc.
Next step? Make mess in my kitchen until I found a formula I liked.

Wintery gingerbread cookies.

(Em português)

This recipe from Deb is a version of what we consume here in Brazil as Christmas cookies.

But for me, it makes a whole lot more sense to eat those spice-packed cookies - which would perfectly match hot cocoa - in the Winter.

So, preparing myself for the upcoming cold weather which has come and gone a few times to São Paulo over the past weeks, I tested this recipe that has been in my list since it was posted in Smitten Kitchen.

The cookies are soft and not overly sweet, they feel cozy.

But next time, I will be using less pepper, for sure. Geez, cayenne is hot!

Praliné topped cookies.

(Em português)

Do you know that feeling when you see a great idea, but so good you wish it was yours?

Here's one example. When I read the title of that post at Technicolor Kitchen, I got excited.

And the picture helps it.

Anyway, I did not use the same recipe Patricia did, because I thought these butter cookies and our regular praliné (actually, pé de moleque, as I wrote in here) would fit my taste better.

Truth be told, it's not convenient to eat these cookies, they splatter crumbs in every possible direction - but oh, are they yummy! The trick here is to bake real small cookies and drop tiny bits of pralinée on top, so that you can eat one cookie in one bite, and look like a civilized person.

My grandma Nelci's cheese biscuits.

(Em português)

During these last summer vacation I have looked for the treasure of treasures:

the folder where my grandma Nelci's recipes were kept - which I brought home.

Some things, like the bee hives and the bread were never written down - she used to prepare them by heart.

On the other hand, these cheese biscuits, the cornmeal spongecake topped with cream and oranges, the grustuli, are in her notebooks, in her handwriting.

These are recipes that will inevitably bring memories to my family, and will make us happy whenever we prepare them. Every once in a while I'll share one of those, and I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Oatmeal chocolate chunk cookies for a picnic at the park.

(Em português)

Here am I, returning to the blog after many (nice) happenings which kept me busy

for a couple days.

Today I bring you a cookie recipe that got the approval of my friends on the last time

we went to Ibirapuera park together.

Biscuits to serve with coffee or tea.

(Em potuguês)

This recipe is repeated, except for two details: the flavor and shape.

These are made with the same dough used in alfajores, and are good

to serve with tea because they're very light.

Cornmeal lemon snaps.

(In Portuguese)

Continuing the enormously titled post, the recipe for the snaps,

adapted from here.

Lavender cookies.

(In Portuguese)

Second part of the trilogy: lavender cookies.

Recipe adapted from here.

A thank you shaped as a bunch of cookies: cornmeal lemon snaps, lavender cookies, and dried fruit squares.

(In Portuguese)

Well yes, I even could have made up a longer a title for the post, but I thought this one was ok. :)

I baked three kinds of cookies at once to send to a friend in Florianopolis, who I have much to thank to.
Before someone frowns up: I swear you can make these squares with another filling.
The recipe came from here.

Ay, qué rico!

(In Portuguese)

The parents of a friend of mine live in Rio Grande do Sul,
and on her way back from vacation in there, she brought home tons
of the best dulce de leche in the universe: conaprole.
When I say tons, I mean one 3,5kg package and another 1kg.
She gave me the "tinier" one as a gift. I absolutely loved it.
And the first thing that poped in my mind was, of course, alfajor.

Gifts.

(In Portuguese)


This year, my gift to my loved ones were cookies.

Squirrel!

(In Portuguese)


To brighten up the life of a boy who's got a serious flu and can't even leave home,
I baked some squirrels.

Not made to look good...

(In Portuguese)


Yesterday I had picnic with some friends at ibirapuera park.

I baked some cookies to bring. They were pretty ugly, but tasted nice.

Next time I'll give more attention to they're appearance...

Follow-up.

(In Portuguese)


Well, I've written about the thanks shortbreads, now it'll be the cookies.

I've adapted this from a recipe by Patrícia.

Only one thing before I start: I ain't used to cook thinking about telling it to people later, to I do things such as adding "some" chocolate. But in these times, Patrícia can save us, because she explains everything nicely, counting mls and grams and ounces.

I demonstrate my gratitude offering cookies.

(In Portuguese)


To demonstrate my gratitude, the way that works best for me is to bake something sweet.

I chose this recipe because I think it's sophisticated, and as this is a big thanks, I also baked some chocolate and nut cookies that I adapted from Patrícia.

Cookies!

(In Portuguese)


When someone comes to my place, I like to have something to offer them.

Even if it's simple and we're likely to order pizza later...

Cookies are usually a good call, because they're easy and quick to make,

and so far I haven't met anyone who doesn't like them.

So here are the cookies I baked for today's meeting.