Friday 30 August 2013

sue + jag = almost married

A week before we all took off to Las Vegas for Sue + Jag's unforgettable wedding, the couple honoured their cultures with Catholic + Sikh ceremonies followed by a big, bad, backyard, Bhangra BBQ. Such a great time was had, we collectively decided all of their future parties would have to be Bhangra ones. Sorry guys, it's your own fault. 


Tuesday 27 August 2013

tio manuel + tia nita's piri piri sauce

Besides my family, one of the best things about Portugal is the food. I think I eat pretty luxuriously at home, but it is hard to compete with fresh produce + meat from the farm in the back yard.

While my Tio Manuel + Tia Nita live in the city of Viseu, a visit to their house always includes a show-stopping meal. One night, I drizzled my veal with their homemade piri piri + it was instant, spicy love.  I had to have it at home. To my delight, it was the easiest thing to put together.

To make this simple piri piri sauce, you will need:

  • Dried piri piri chilies
  • Whiskey
  • Olive oil
  • A jar
Step 1: Pour your chilies into your clean jar.
Step 2: Pour the whiskey into the jar until it is about 3/4 full. Let it sit in a cool, dark place for at least a month. (waiting is the most difficult bit)
Step 3: After a month, top the jar up with some good quality extra virgin olive oil.
Finished! Your piri piri is now ready to use on meats, seafood, soups or whatever your heart desires. If you are feeling crafty, you can label your jar. I used Martha Stewart craft labels.

Do note, that this is not the traditional sauce you will find in stores but a simple family rendition. We serve this with a spoon in the jar and just let the sauce drip from the spoon. It is quite spicy, so use with caution. Also, you probably don't want to eat the physical chili unless you had blended chilies in your baby food + are super immune to the stuff. Enjoy!



Sunday 25 August 2013

a day on the rio douro

The day my family + I took a cruise up the Rio Douro, I had a moment. I realized that I would remember that day for the rest of my life. Exploring the Douro river has always been on my to-do list, but doing it with my family made it a far more magical experience than I had expected. We drank, danced + ate on the river between rolling vineyards. What more could you ask for?





Wednesday 21 August 2013

casa de mateus

The cute little city of Vila Real is a short 45-minute drive away from our town in Portugal, making it a delightful little day trip destination. Between the vineyards lies Casa de Mateus, a palace most famous for decorating the labels of the popular Rosé. I've visited the palace a few times now, but it didn't stop me from enjoying a day with my family sampling wine + walking through the gardens. 

Before visiting the palace I had a very successful shopping adventure at Dolce Vita. It was pretty much the best day ever.