Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Story Time in Portuguese, and Biscoito de Nata

What a Saturday! I feel as if I am running a marathon... I started my morning with exercise, followed by my children's gymnastics class...As soon as we got home, we changed clothes and headed to a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class at one of the Gracie family's martial arts schools to where I brought our Biscoitos de Nata.

Immediately after, we enjoyed a great Story Hour in Portuguese right there.

I don't know if I have ever mentioned, but here in San Antonio there is a great, active Brazilian community. Our association, Cabrasa (Casa do Brasil em San Antonio), organizes events in town for the community, Story Hour being one of them. This is a great opportunity for our children, at least once a month, to practice their Portuguese with others besides just their parents at home. Today we read two stories in Portuguese, had group discussion, and ate lots of biscoito de nata. Biscoito de Nata is a cookie from Minas Gerais state that became popular all over Brazil. I have to confess that I was happy to see all the children devouring Biscoitos de Nata and coming back for more... The doce de leite (dulce de leche) on top adds a modern touch to the traditional, plain biscoito de nata. Also, nowadays it is not uncommon to find the biscoito de nata garnished on top with slices of guava paste.

Well, thought that was all? Oh, I do so wish it were, but no. The marathon was not over... We had a birthday party at one of our Brazilian friends' to attend... Carol was turning 5 and my girls were pretty excited to join in the celebration...

 I have to confess that I had as much fun as a 5-year-old child! 🙂

Well, although this has been quite a busy day, I cannot complain. We had a lot of fun participating in different activities and most importantly, we are alive and healthy. Unfortunately it is not like that for everyone. My heart and prayers go out to those who died or were injured in Boston this past Monday... and of course, their families. May my Heavenly Father receive with open arms those who left this world tragically and comfort each one of us who are still here. May in every heart there exist goodness and love...

xx

Cream Cookies with Dulce de Leche

(Biscoito de Nata com Doce de Leite)

Yield: About 50 cookies

Segment: Brazilian cuisine

Ingredients:

650 g all-purpose flour
20 g baking powder
10 g baking soda
500 ml heavy cream
40 g unsalted butter, softened
300g granulated sugar
2 large eggs at room temperature
20 ml pure vanilla extract
100 g of corn starch
Duce de leche to top cookies

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Line 2 large rectangular baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

2. In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and baking powder, mixing together, and set aside.

3. Using an electric mixer on low speed, beat the cream with the butter and sugar until the mixture is just creamy.

4. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat just until they have been incorporated into the mix. Gradually add the mixture of flour/baking soda/baking powder powder, beating on medium speed until obtaining a homogeneous, thick batter/dough.

5. Roll dough into small balls (use a tablespoon as a measure to remove the dough from the ball and roll them so that they will be the same size). Use your thumb to press the center of each of the biscoito de nata (cookies), as if making a small, superficial hole (I use the tip of my thumb for making the little hole).

6. Fill each little hole with dulce de leche and arrange the cookies on the lined baking sheet, maintaining them at a distance of 4 cm or 2 inches from each other. Bake for about 18 minutes or until the cookies are lightly golden on the bottom. Let cool and store the cookies in a tightly covered container at room temperature.

I do hope you enjoy our scrumptious, caky Cream Cookies with Dulce de Leche (Biscoito de Nata), which are usually served with a cup of coffee or tea. In Minas Gerais, Brazil, they are a must-have in the afternoon. These cookies are less sweet than your average cookie because they are coffee cookies, yet they are still addictive !!!

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Receita em Português:

Biscoito de Nata com Doce de Leite

Rendimento: Aproximadamente 50 biscoitos

Ingredientes:

650 g farinha de trigo
20 g fermento em pó
10 g bicarbonato de sódio
500 ml de nata ou creme de leite de caixinha
40 g de manteiga sem sal amolecida (à temperatura ambiente)
300 g de açúcar refinado
2 ovos grandes à temperatura ambiente
20 ml de essência de baunilha
100 g de amido de milho
Doce de leite para pôr no topo

Modo de preparo:

1. Pré-aqueça o forno a 180 graus C. Forre duas formas grandes retangulares com papel manteiga e reserve.

2. Em uma tigela, peneire a farinha de trigo e depois o fermento e o bicarbonato. Misture e reserve.

3. Na batedeira, em velocidade baixa, bata a nata, com a manteiga e o açúcar até obter uma mistura cremosa.

4. Acrescente os ovos e a baunilha e bata somente o suficiente para que os ovos tenha se incorporado à mistura. Gradualmente vá acrescentando a mistura de farinha reservada à massa e batendo em velocidade média até obter uma massa grossa e homogênea.

5. Enrole a massa em bolinhas pequenas (use uma colher de sopa como medida para retirar a massa e enrolar para que as bolinhas tenham o mesmo tamanho). Dê uma pequena achatadinha no centro de cada uma como se tivesse fazendo um buraquinho superficial (eu uso a ponta do meu polegar para fazer o buraquinho).

6. Encha o buraquinho de cada biscoito de nata com doce de leite e arrume as unidades de biscoito de nata nas formas forradas , mantendo uma distância de 4 cm de um biscoito de nata pra outro. Asse em forno pré-aquedcido por uns 18 minutos ou até que os biscoitos de nata dourem levemente na base. Deixe esfriar e conserve os biscoitos de nata em um recipiente plástico ou de vidro bem tampado à temperatura ambiente.

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