Disney also gave us 4 park hopper passes AND 40 Media Fast Passes. (If you weren’t jealous before, now is the time!) The media Fast Passes were a gift from the Gods, since we didn’t have to schedule them. We could go at any ride, any time! Which was very convenient, since we didn’t have a lot of time to be in the parks because of the events. 

And for more luck of the Irish, make sure to complete your meal with a loaf of Irish Soda Bread, Guinness Chocolate Cake or Irish Porter Cake, and some Homemade Irish Cream! Oh, Guinness stew, how I love thee! If I’m being honest, it’s not just you, it’s every beef stew out there. From the French Boeuf Bourguignon to the Belgian Carbonnade Flamande or even a classic beef stew, they all have my heart!...

Except, I’m cold. Really cold. I had this naive dream that I would come back from Florida and NYC would have embraced the Spring weather just to welcome me… Instead, I came back to a snow storm and freezing temperatures. Damn you, NYC! And then there was the Daylight Savings that took one hour of my precious sleep. But wait… isn’t Daylight Savings supposed to start in the Spring? It’s still cold outside!...

Throwing a tapas party? Don’t forget to grab the recipes for my Goat Cheese and Caramelized Onions Crostini, Charcuterie Board, Beef Empanadas and Spanish Gazpacho Soup to complete your feast. A party-perfect potato appetizer! A few months ago, for my birthday, my dear friend and neighbor took me to a local tapas restaurant to celebrate. That was the day I tasted the best potato dish of my life: patatas bravas....

A hearty beef stew that will warm you to the bones! Who can resist a comforting beef stew? Tender beef that melts in your mouth, hearty starchy vegetables and a flavorful deep sauce that makes you want to lick the plate clean. This version, born and raised in Brazil, uses short ribs and yuca, making it a rich dish that will warm and sooth your soul even on the coldest days....

I kinda feel like everything should be smothered in gravy or sauce, even desserts (which would be smothered in chocolate, or caramel sauce, of course!) These Swedish Meatballs are reeeally smothered in a rich and creamy gravy. They are so delicious and so much better than the IKEA version that (we all hate to admit) we love eating when we go furniture shopping! Just this week I already made this recipe twice and almost had to make it a third time....

I don’t even want to do the math of how many Amaretti cookies I’ve eaten these past few days. ??? I took one or two as soon as they were out of the oven, then snacked on some while I was shooting the photos for this post, then had some with my iced coffee, and then, when I decided I didn’t like the photos that I took, I had to make another batch of cookies, because there weren’t enough left to shoot....

I am not on a diet and I’ll (probably) never be on one again in my life. I’ve been on diets ever since I was a pre-teen and now I know that diets are the reason I’ve gained weight. My life changed after I read the “anti-diet” book “Intuitive Eating“, recommended to me by my nutritionist friend Ana Carolina. I’m not going to talk a lot about the book today, though I promise to dwell on that in the future....

We love fun breakfast cocktails like this mimosa, our Hibiscus Champagne Cocktail and our popular Chocolate Martini. The perfect mimosa for Christmas morning! Santa came through, the kids are playing with their gifts and the living room looks like a craft store exploded. Where’s mommy? Sipping her Christmas mimosa, of course! Because she definitely earned it. And if you think that this momma wakes up early to make her mimosas, think again....

Mas chega de coisas tristes.. Este é um blog feliz e nós vamos falar de coisas felizes! A internet e os canais de notícias já são cheios de coisas tristes e deprimentes! :-) Se você não conhece o Brasil, ele é o maior país da América do Sul e sua capital é Brasília! Eu sei, que babado! Aposto que você pensou que era o Rio de Janeiro! :-P (Eu sei que a maioria de vocês não só conhece, como também mora no Brasil!...

If you’re looking for other Irish (or St. Patrick’s Day-inspired) recipes, be sure to check out my other Irish dishes. From corned beef to homemade Irish cream, I’ve got a selection to please even the pickiest leprechaun! A hearty sausage and potato stew! I think I have a new favorite Irish dish. Don’t get me wrong, corned beef is delicious and we always eat it around St. Patrick’s Day! But this coddle… Oh my God, this coddle will knock your socks off....

Love one pan meals? Your next stop is my One Pan Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole, Sheet Pan Steak and Veggies and/or One Pan Pasta with Chicken and Pesto. Got extra cabbage from St. Patrick’s Day? I’ve got you covered! This is a dish I make often, always without a recipe. I never thought to post here because it is just so simple! But simple is the new black, right?...

There’s nothing like a go-to chicken dinner recipe, and this oven roasted chicken is the one I make the most. Other favorites are my recipes for Oven Roasted Chicken, Sausage and Potatoes, Chicken Stroganoff and Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic. An easy roasted chicken recipe Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Oh, who can resist the smell of chicken roasting in the oven? For me, it is one of the most comforting scents, along the smell of rain, freshly cut grass and wood burning in the fireplace....

Here I am again with another build-your-own party station idea! Can you tell I’m obsessed? My last party involved a beautiful and delicious Bruschetta Bar. This time, maybe inspired by the insanely hot weather here in the East Coast, I decided to go with something involving ice cream and soda. The results? A very fun and retro Ice Cream Float Bar that is destined to be a hit! Because who doesn’t love a classic ice cream float?...

Hoje é aniversário da minha querida afilhada Gabriela. Ela está fazendo 21 anos, o que com que eu me sinta MUITO velha, já que ainda lembro de quando eu segurava aquele bebê de cachinhos dourados no colo. Gabriela cresceu e se tornou uma linda mulher, com uma alma mais linda ainda. Ela é muito sensível, como eu, o que pode ser difícil num mundo como esse que nós vivemos. Mas, felizmente, ela tem uma família maravilhosa que a ama e a apoia para que ela continue lutando!...

If you love Asian cuisine, make sure to ask check out my Thai Tom Kha Soup and Korean Bibimbap. The best ramen soup recipe! This is definitely not the kind of ramen I grew up eating. It wasn’t until I moved to NYC and went to one of those popular ramen shops that I truly experienced real ramen. And it was only then that I understood the obsession and the huge lines around the block....

I love cooking Asian and Asian inspired cuisines at home. A few of my favorites are my Short Rib Ramen Soup, Bo Luc Lac and Chicken Stir-Fry with Peanuts. A teppanyaki-style chicken fried rice recipe! Growing up, I wasn’t very adventurous where food was concerned. So I wasn’t thrilled when my parents told me that we had to go to this new Japanese restaurant for my uncle’s birthday! I huffed and puffed the whole way there....

Do I have time for just one more Super Bowl recipe? Pretty please? I’m especially proud of today’s recipe, because who doesn’t dig some fully loaded nachos? Especially when it involves 3 different type of tortillas, chipotle beer shredded beef, black beans, cheese sauce, more cheese, pico de gallo, fresh guacamole, jalapeños, cilantro and Mexican crema! Phew! I couldn’t say that in one breath even if I wanted to....