Posts

Tired of the same old, boring breakfast? These fun little parfaits are simple and oh so delicious, thanks to an old childhood favorite who is making a comeback! ? Yep! Oreo O’s are back, y’all! And they are better than ever. Oh, who am I kidding? Little Olivia, back in São Paulo (Brazil) had no idea Oreo O’s were a thing. She did get to enjoy lots of delicious food growing up, most made by her blog famous grandma, but chocolatey, crunchy, amazingly delicious Oreo O’s were not part of her childhood....

Who doesn’t love dinners that are easy to prep and even easier to clean-up? Meals like these Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, Sheet Pan Steak and Veggies and Sheet Pan Chicken with Spicy Potatoes are great to have in your back pocket for busy weeknights. A few months ago, I asked my Instagram followers what they want to see more of here in the blog, and the overwhelming majority replied quick and easy dinner recipes....

Last month I started this new series called Beyond the Kitchen, where I plan on sharing everything that happens behind the scenes here at Olivia’s Cuisine and in my life. (Because what’s the point of having a blog if I cannot celebrate/vent/bitch to my internet friends?) I got a lot of support from some awesome blogger friends and their love inspired me to keep writing this little corner of silly and not so silly things....

You are probably thinking I’ve gone mad! After all, trifles are supposed to be easy, like something you throw together last minute, usually involving already made ingredients. This is not that kind of trifle. You will have to turn on the stove. You will use several bowls, and tools, and spatulas. You will also have to spend some money, since Ferrero Rocher is a premium ingredient. You might curse me....

Who said a detox smoothie has to taste awful? This delicious version is packed with nutrients and tastes like tropical paradise! Hellooo, 2017! I am so glad 2016 is over. What a crazy awful year! Okay, maybe that’s a little too extreme. 2016 had some good moments, like my trip to Italy and quitting my lousy job to blog full time! But, with my grandfather’s death and a miscarriage, it probably goes into the “one of the worst years of my life” folder....

I know this is a bit last minute, but I just couldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t share this amazing cranberry sauce with you. Homemade cranberry sauce is non-negotiable to me! In fact, I was shocked to read this article from Food & Wine where some chefs said they prefer canned over homemade. Apparently, some people even love the way it looks out of the can, with the imprinted can lines and all!...

Love couscous? Make sure to also check out our recipe for Corn Couscous with Basil, Feta and Lemon. An easy side dish for your holiday table! I don’t know why it took me so long to post this recipe! It is possibly my favorite side dish of all time and is VERY easy to make. How easy, you ask? Easier than making rice. And it’s impressive too, don’t you think?...

Let’s face it, there’s nothing better than bread. Warm, soft, delicious bread! Even better if it’s homemade. Don’t even start with the whole anti-carbs speech towards me, ’cause I won’t listen! Carbs are delicious and they are necessary. What a sad, sad life I would have without carbs… and without bread! (Sorry dieters and celiacs, I just have to express my love for bread.) Among my favorite kinds of bread is the focaccia, which is a flat oven-baked bread very popular in Italy....

(This post is sponsored by Pomì.) The last few weeks has been a little chaotic. I don’t know if it’s the holiday season or the fact that I’ve been a little under the weather and not feeling like doing much, let alone cook… Tim, being the supportive husband that he is, keeps saying it’s okay. That it’s the holiday season and it’s not a big deal if we spend all our money on take out food!...

As you all know, I’m no vegetarian – just look at the last 3 posts on my blog – but I do like to cook vegetarian meals and I’m a huge grain fan. I seriously can’t wait to expand my use of spelt in things other than salad. I’ve read it is great in meatballs (where its starchiness works as a binder), risottos, porridges and pilaf! And as for using beans in salads, that is a recent trend for me....

Can’t get enough of sweet potatoes? You should also check out my recipes for Sweet Potato Soup and Sweet Potato Chili. This post is sponsored by the New York Beef Council. All opinions are my own! I’ve been on a serious soup kick lately! I’m usually not one to order soup at restaurants, but that’s all I’ve been ordering and craving these days. And this sweet potato chowder has been at the top of my crave list....

(This post is sponsored by my friends at Jennie-O!) While everybody and their mothers are recovering from all the fatty football food, Tim and I somehow managed to resist all temptations and eat something healthy for a change. But don’t feel sorry for us, on the contrary! This Turkey, Kale and Rice Soup definitely hit the spot and helped us stay warm on this bone-chillin cold Big Game Sunday. And tomorrow, when everyone is hungover and feeling lousy because of all the greasy indulgence, I will be feeling swell, with a lot of energy to work on a bunch of recipes and clean my whole apartment....

(This post is sponsored by Nature Valley, but the recipe, pictures and opinions are my own! Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog happen!) This Acai Bowl will give you all the energy you need PLUS MOOOORE! Just imagine me writing this right now, very wired, at almost 12am, with all the energy in the world because I decided to have one of these bowls for dinner!...

This week I thought it would be a good idea to focus solely on recipes you can serve on Super Bowl Sunday. I’m sure we are all planning Game Day menus and are in need of a little inspiration. I recently shared my Fried Cheese Curds and Kielbasa Sausage Bites, but a big pot of chili is always a great call when serving a hungry crowd! I first came across chocolate chili at a local farmer’s market here in NJ....

Can I tell you something funny about this bread? Its name in Portuguese is “Pão Segura Marido”, which means something like “Bread to keep your husband”. Apparently it is so delicious that no husband will be crazy enough to leave you! Well, I think I have other attributes that would help keeping my husband, but I make this bread every now and then just to make sure! ;-)

DIY taco blend can be used in several Tex-Mex or Mexican recipes. From fajitas to enchiladas, a pinch of this seasoning is a great way to add a boost of flavor to your dishes! So much better than store-bought! Story of my life: plan to make a recipe, gather all the ingredients and realize I’m missing a key component. Thankfully, this time it was only taco seasoning. A quick rummaging through my spice drawer and this homemade taco seasoning was born!...

And a huge part of that love comes from kibbeh. I absolutely ADORE kibbeh! In fact, if you happen to have a good memory, you will remember that I already have a kibbeh recipe here on the blog. I’ve shared my recipe for Baked Kibbeh, which I described as “Lebanese Meatloaf”, a while ago and I make it pretty often! This time I’m sharing the croquette version, because 1) they are to die for and 2) it’s football season and eating fried things is not only acceptable but encouraged!...

Today is the birthday of my dear goddaughter Gabriela. She is 21 today and that makes me feel VERY old, as I can still remember holding her when she was a little baby with golden curls. Gabriela grew up to be a beautiful woman with an even more beautiful soul. She is very sensitive, like me, which can be hard in a world like this. But luckily she has a very supportive and loving family that gives her ammunition to keep striving!...

This is one of those dishes that you can make from scratch or take a few short cuts if time is an issue! I made everything from scratch: biscuits, pulled brisket, white BBQ sauce and pimento cheese. However, feel free to find the store-bought version of some of these ingredients to make your life easier. Not that making it from scratch is hard, on the contrary. The pulled brisket, as you already know, is very conveniently made in the crockpot....

I don’t usually post Asian recipes, not for the lack of love for those delicious cuisines, but purely due to the lack of knowledge. Those rich sauces and ingredients are not yet part of my culinary vocabulary, so I don’t feel comfortable teaching them here on the blog. That being said, I recently tried making Bibimbap and it was such a hit that I felt I needed to share the recipe....