Category: Recipes

How To Make Fire Crackers - Easy Party Snack Recipe

7/14/2022

Filed Under: Snacks • Recipes

What are Fire Crackers?

Fire Crackers are a super simple recipe that make an addictive snack or appetizer and are a fun way to spice up (literally) some plain saltines! Follow along as I show step by step how to make this recipe, which I quartered.

How to Make Fire Crackers:

1. Measure out a quarter cup of oil. I use olive oil. I had this evoo on hand.

Shop: Pyrex Glass Measuring Cup

2. Add 1/4 ounce of Ranch Dressing Mix. I had a Tuscan Valley Ranch Mix from Aldi via Instacart.

Shop: OXO Kitchen Scale

3. Next add 1/2 Tablespoon of crushed red pepper flakes and 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder.

4. Whisk it up with your baby whisk!

5. Next take a sleeve of saltines and stand them up in an airtight container. I had a leftover Thai Takeout container. Then drizzle the olive oil spice mix over all the crackers.

6. Put the lid on securely and turn the container upside down. Gently shake it side to side and flip it back and forth every 5 minutes or so over 20 minutes, just to try to get the crackers evenly coated.

7. One commenter suggested baking the crackers in an oven at 250 degrees F for 10-20 minutes (flipping once) to seal in flavor and help them last longer. So I gave that a go!

Here is the delicious end result:

Baked Fire Cracker

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Plate of the Day: Mushroom Risotto with Crispy Salami

10/17/2021

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Filed under: Plate of the Day • Recipes

Mushroom Risotto with Crispy Salami

This is an unrecipe - no measurements, just ideas you can adapt!

Arborio Rice
Chicken Stock
Mushrooms
Onions
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Parmesan Cheese
Butter
Olli Salami (misfits)
Salt/Pepper

Heat a splash of oil in the bottom of a large pot or deep pan.
Dice some of the salami and fry it until crispy and then remove it from the pan.
Add diced onions and sliced mushrooms to the pan. Once they are cooked down quite a bit add the arborio rice to the pan and mix it all together. (feel free to add a splash of white wine here if you're into that sort of thing)
Add chicken stock by the ladle-full and stir constantly. This takes a while!
Taste the rice periodically for flavor and texture. Remember to season along the way (salt & pepper). I also added some garlic powder and onion powder.
When the rice is nearly finished and the stock is mostly absorbed, add a pad of butter in and grate some fresh parmesan cheese. Mix it all together well.
When you serve the risotto, add a fresh grating of parmesan and top the dish with the fried salami. Enjoy!

See More Recipe Ideas With: Mushrooms • Rice

Homemade chicken stock from leftover bones from Butcherbox coupon here
Mushrooms & Salami from Misfits Market coupon here

Misfits Market Reviews:

This post contains affiliate links & refer-a-friend links which help keep this website running while offering you a special discount!

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Inspired By Travel: Making Pastéis de Nata Portuguese Custard Tarts

11/12/2020

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Pastéis de Nata Portuguese Custard Tarts Recipe is filed under:
Desserts • Snacks • Europe • Portugal • Inspired by Travel • Pastry • Egg

In the Summer of 2018 we had a special opportunity to visit friends and get a taste of a wonderful place - Portugal! No list of "top foods to try in Portugal" is complete without the glorious little Portuguese custard tart known as Pastel de Nata!

Our first Pastéis de Nata came from Portela Cafe on Rua da Graça in Lisbon. It was a short stroll from our airbnb and we wanted to get our Portugal trip off to a good start with cafe and pastries for breakfast! ;)

From there we enjoyed Pastéis de Nata just about everywhere we went - Lisbon, up the Silver Coast, Porto, and even the airport lounge on the way home.

So what exactly is a Pastel de Nata?

Pastéis de Nata are a delightful little treat consisting of a flaky crust filled with custard. Most people enjoy their Pastéis de Nata with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and cinnamon on top! Some people prefer just cinnamon or just powdered sugar while others enjoy a Pastel de Nata as is!

How do you eat a Pastel de Nata?

Easy. Just take a bite for optimal enjoyment of the creamy custard together with the crispy crust. There is a segment of society, however, who prefer to use a spoon to eat the custard first and then eat the crust. Posh. ;p No matter how you eat your pastel de nata, it's going to be delicious!

History of Pastel de Nata

The popular origin story of the Pastel de Nata goes back over 300 years ago to Jerónimos Monastery in Belém. The nuns and monks used egg whites to starch the clothing, leaving a huge amount of egg yolks needing used up. To prevent waste and simultaneously generate income to support the monetary, the custard tart was born. The recipe was later sold when the monastery closed in 1833. Today you can try the original Portuguese custard tart at Pastéis de Belém.

Wait. I'm Confused. Is it Pastéis de Nata, Pastel de Nata or Pastéis de Belém?

Pastel de Nata - one Portuguese custard tart
Pastéis de Nata - multiple Portuguese custard tarts
Pastéis de Belém - Portuguese custard tarts made from the original secret recipe.
The original Pastéis de Belém is only available at Fábrica Pastéis de Belém

It makes me think of how some people say Kleenex any time they mean "tissue" whether it's Kleenex brand or not. Technically, a Kleenex is a tissue, but all tissues are not Kleenex. So all Pastéis de Belém are Pastéis de Nata (albiet branded with the perception of superiority), but not all Pastéis de Nata are Pastéis de Belém. Hope I got that right and hope it makes more sense now!

One last Pastel de Nata in Porto, Portugal

Flash Forward to December 2018 and we were already in withdrawal! On a weekend trip to Toronto we looked up Carousel Bakery in St. Lawrence Market so we could relieve the custard tart experience

Pastéis de Nata from Carousel Bakery in St. Lawrence Market Toronto, Canada | Traveling Through Food

Flash Forward to summer 2019 when family brought back some Pastéis de Nata after attending the Love Never Fails International Convention in Lisbon! And later when we sought out Azores Cafe in Pittsburgh so we could have some more Nata.

Basically, it was high time we tried to make Pastéis de Nata at home...

A Pastel de Nata has two main elements to master:

Flaky Crust
Creamy Custard

Which begs the question....

Can you make Pastéis De Nata with frozen puff pastry?

The answer is yes! If you don't want to go through the effort of making your own puff pastry, you can definitely take the short cut and use frozen puff pastry. I used Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets and it worked like a dream. In the future, I would like to do it 100% from scratch, but it's nice to lower the barrier of entry. ANYONE can make this!

How To Make Pastéis de Nata Custard Step-by-step

I followed LeitesCulinaria's recipe found here

Whisk 3 tablespoons of flour with 1/4 cup of milk until smooth
Bring 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, and 2/3 cup of water to boil. Do not stir this, but let it boil until 220F or 100C
Scald 1 cup of milk (237ml) in a separate small sauce pan. Whisk scalded milk into the milk/flour mixture.
Take the cinnamon stick out from the syrup and pour it into the milk/flour mixture, whisking the whole time. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla.
Whisk the yolks from 6 large eggs in a bowl. Then whisk them into the milk/flour/syrup mixture.
Strain this thin mixture into a bowl.

How long will Pastéis de Nata uncooked custard mixture last?

Uncooked custard mixture can last in the refrigerator for up to 3 days according to LeitesCulinaria.

At what temperature does milk scald? Why do you scald milk

Milk scalds once it is heated above 180F or 83C. Scalding milk can kill bacteria and enzymes that may interfere with thickening in recipes. (sources here and here)

Tips for using Frozen Puff Pastry to Make Pastéis de Nata

You will want to take the pastry out of the freezer well in advance.

How long does it take for frozen puff pastry to defrost/thaw from frozen?
In general, thaw at room temperature for 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

It's important to let the pastry thaw or else you will break it when you try unroll it from the package.

Once the pastry is thawed, you are going to lay it flat on your work space (I used this large cutting board) and then roll it tightly into a log. Wrap it in plastic and refrigerate until you are ready to assembly your Portuguese custard tarts!

See this CupcakeJemma video below for the technique:

Assembling Pastéis de Nata

Take the puff pastry log out of the refrigerator and slice it into pieces around 3/4 inches or 18mm.
I used what looks like a vintage mini muffin tin and sprayed with oil to prevent sticking. Place a piece of dough into the pan and use your thumb to press the dough flat into the bottom of the muffin pan and then up around the sides.
Fill each about 3/4 full of the custard mixture.
Bake 8-9 minutes for mini muffin tins at as high as you can get your oven. The recipe recommended 550F or 290C, but our convection oven only goes to 480.

Making Pastéis de Nata with Frozen Puff Pastry | Traveling Through Food

The final product was quite adorable and delicious! This one has a very light dusting of powdered sugar and cinnamon on top.

Mini Pastel de Nata made with Frozen Puff Pastry | Traveling Through Food

I also tried to make them in normal sized cupcake tins, but I filled them up too high, causing the custard to run down the side and caramelize way before the pastry was fully cooked. You can tell below that the pastry at the bottom is still soft. I definitely recommend taking seriously the recommendation to fill just 3/4 full!

Mini Pastel de Nata made with undercooked Frozen Puff Pastry | Traveling Through Food

Tip: Fill 3/4 full with custard to prevent overflowing, over caramelization, and undercooked pastry

When do you eat a Pastel de Nata?

According to Eater, "locals eat Pastéis de Nata at breakfast, in the midmorning, after lunch, or in the evening — any time they're craving a snack"

Should you eat Portuguese custard tarts hot or cold?

There's no wrong way! Some people love them warm, others like the texture of the custard better when it is at room temperature. Still others like them cold! The only way to decide is to try them all three ways, don't you agree? ;-)

Do Pastéis de Nata need refrigerated?

In most instances, there won't be any left over since they are so tasty! But on the off chance that you do have left overs it is recommended that you store them in the fridge.

How do you reheat Pasteis de Nata?

Reheating a pastry like this is best done in an oven or toaster oven over a microwave, for sure. 350F around 7 minutes should do the job!

How long do Pasteis de Natas last?

In an airtight box they may last up to 2 days. If refrigerated around 5 days. But seriously, just eat them today. :)

Is there lemon in Pastéis de Nata?

Although this particular recipe did not call for it, many recipes do infuse lemon flavor into the simple syrup by adding lemon rind to the water, sugar, and cinnamon stick! I will definitely try this next time because I love a bit of lemon in a custard.

Tools That Make It Easier To Make Pastéis de Nata at Home:

Pastel de Nata Tools Pepperidge Farm, Puff Pastry Sheets, 17.3 oz (Frozen)

Pastel de Nata Tools 25 Pack Egg Tart Molds Tiny Pie Tartlets Dessert Mold Pans Tin Puto Cup Bakeware Muffin Cupcake Cake Cookie Mold Baking Tool, Round

Pastel De Nata Tools Silpat Premium Non-Stick Silicone Baking Mat, Half Sheet Size, 11-5/8 x 16-1/2

Pastel De Nata Organic Korintje Cinnamon Sticks | Perfect for Baking, Cooking & Beverages | 100+ Sticks | 2 3/4" Length | 100% Raw From Indonesia | by FGO

For That Friend Who is Obsessed With Pastéis de Nata:

Gifts For Pastel De Nata Lovers | Traveling Through Food Pasteis De Nata Recipe

Tried This Recipe?
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We'd love to try your favorite recipes or hear about foods you discovered while traveling! Submit a recipe or food story to Traveling Through Food

Pastéis de Nata Portuguese Custard Tarts Recipe is filed under:
Desserts • Snacks • Europe • Portugal • Inspired by Travel • Pastry • Egg

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Easy Bacon Baked Potato Soup Recipe

11/5/2020

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Bowl: Handmade by SageEdenPottery in OKC

Bacon Baked Potato Soup Recipe is filed under:
Soup • Family Recipes • Recipes • Bacon • Potato • Lunch • Dinner • North America

A crowd favorite baked potato soup from scratch with all the comforting goodness you want on a fall or winter's day. If you want to know what to do with leftover baked potatoes, this is a great way to use up leftover baked potatoes! Or maybe you just bought too many potatoes?
This soup is an easy way to use some of them up!
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Share your family recipes or go-to recipes here!

Easy Bacon Baked Potato Soup Recipe

Easy Bacon Baked Potato Soup

Tips:

Be sure to toss the potatoes in the oven early or be careful when you peel them/scoop out the cooked potatoes from the peel so you don't get burned on the hot potato skins or the steam!

FAQ:

How do you bake a potato?
Wash the potato and use a fork to poke a few holes into the potatoes to let out some steam. It's nice to rub them with a bit of olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.
Bake them until tender, about 45-60 minutes.
You can wrap them individually in foil, if you'd like!

How long does it take to sauté onions?
According to BHG it takes about 5-7 minutes "to remove the harsh onion flavor and just barely start to sweeten the cooking onion"

Is it necessary to add garlic after onions when sautéing?
This article was interesting. According to their test, it's not as crucial as you might think. If you want a more garlicky flavor, add garlic a few minutes after the onions have been sautéing. If you want the garlic flavor to be more mellow, add garlic at the same time. Either way, just keep an eye on your heat level and make sure the garlic doesn't get overcooked/burned!

What is the correct temperature for soup?
According to Rouxbe, proper soup serving temperatures are
Hot Clear Soups: serve near boiling 210°F (99°C)
Hot Cream or Thick Soups: serve between 190°F to 200°F (88°C to 93°C)
Cold Soups: serve at 40°F (4°C) or lower.

An instant read thermometer is a great tool to have in your kitchen.

Tried This Recipe?
Send us a photo, tag us @travelingthroughfoodtogether, or leave a comment below!
We'd love to try your favorite recipes!
Submit a recipe or food story to Traveling Through Food

Easy Bacon Baked Potato Soup Recipe is filed under:
Soup • Family Recipes • Recipes • Bacon • Potato • Lunch • Dinner • North America

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Easy Bacon Baked Potato Soup Recipe Traveling Through Food

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Sopa De Frijoles Receta (Bean Soup Recipe) - Salvadoran Cuisine Recipe

10/29/2020

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Salvadoran Sopa de Frijoles Recipe Traveling Through Food Blog

Bowl: Handmade by SageEdenPottery in OKC

Sopa De Frijoles (Bean Soup) Recipe from El Salvador is filed under:
Beans • Soup • Family Recipes • Recipes • Meal Prep • Lunch • Dinner • El Salvador • Central America

A huge thanks to Keisha from Kansas, USA for submitting this family recipe for
Salvadoran Sopa De Frijoles (bean soup)!
This recipe was passed down to her from her mother-in-law and sister-in-law. How cool is that?!

Salvadoran Sopa de Frijoles is traditionally cooked over an open flame with a clay pot. You can imagine how much flavor that imparts. Keisha nicely explains the difference as being "like cooking a steak in your kitchen or on the grill.... Either way, it's still pretty tasty!"

How to make Sopa de Frijoles

Find Keisha's family recipe below. I made a few modifications starting with the beans. I couldn't get the small red beans via Instacart so I got pink beans. I went ahead and sautéed the onion and garlic a bit before adding the rinsed beans to the pot.

Rinse dry beans - Sopa de Frijoles Recipe - Traveling Through Food Blog

Rinse the beans

Sautéonions and garlic - Sopa de Frijoles Recipe - Traveling Through Food Blog

Sautéing onions and garlic

Once the beans were added, just go ahead and add the water!

Add rinsed beans to the sautéed onion and garlic - Sopa de Frijoles Recipe - Traveling Through Food Blog

Add beans to the sautéed onion and garlic

Fill the pot with water - Sopa de Frijoles Recipe - Traveling Through Food Blog

Add water to the pot!

Bring the sopa to a boil and then reduce to a low simmer.

Bring it to a boil then reduce to a simmer for several hours - Sopa de Frijoles Recipe - Traveling Through Food Blog

Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer for a couple hours

Stir occasionally and taste to check for seasoning and texture - Sopa de Frijoles Recipe - Traveling Through Food Blog

Stir and taste occasionally to check for texture and seasoning

Every now and again I gave it a stir and a taste. To finish the soup you an add any toppings you like. I actually added a bit of fried salami and some cheddar cheese! This soup is easy and hearty and very affordable. It reignited my confidence in cooking beans from dry instead of using cans! I love that you can mix it up with this recipe by adding whatever topping you're in the mood for or whatever you want to use up in the fridge. It would be cool to try it cooked in a clay bean pot, too!
Thanks so much to Keisha for sharing this recipe!

Want to contribute to this giant international family cookbook?
Share your family recipes or go-to recipes here!

Want To Get A Clay Bean Pot?
Here are some bean pots from around the world: Mexico • Central Colombia • India • Portugal

Salvadoran Sopa de Frijoles Receta (Bean Soup Recipe)

Salvadorian Sopa de Frijoles (Bean Soup)

Clay Bean Pots

Vintage Portuguese Traditional Clay Terracotta Casserole With Lid Made In Portugal Cazuela

Colombian Handcrafted Ancient Cookware Chamba Bean Pot

Hand Painted Red Clay Bean Pots From Mexico

Tried This Recipe?
Send us a photo, tag us @travelingthroughfoodtogether, or leave a comment below!
We'd love to try your favorite recipes!
Submit a recipe or food story to Traveling Through Food

Sopa De Frijoles (Bean Soup) Recipe from El Salvador is filed under:
Beans • Soup • Family Recipes • Recipes • Meal Prep • Lunch • Dinner • El Salvador • Central America

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Traveling through food

How To Make Fire Crackers - Easy Party Snack Recipe

What are Fire Crackers?

How to Make Fire Crackers:

Here is the delicious end result:

As Seen In This Post:

More Recipes:

Plate of the Day: Mushroom Risotto with Crispy Salami

Misfits Market Reviews:

Inspired By Travel: Making Pastéis de Nata Portuguese Custard Tarts

So what exactly is a Pastel de Nata?

How do you eat a Pastel de Nata?

History of Pastel de Nata

Wait. I'm Confused. Is it Pastéis de Nata, Pastel de Nata or Pastéis de Belém?

Basically, it was high time we tried to make Pastéis de Nata at home...

Can you make Pastéis De Nata with frozen puff pastry?

How To Make Pastéis de Nata Custard Step-by-step

How long will Pastéis de Nata uncooked custard mixture last?

At what temperature does milk scald? Why do you scald milk

Tips for using Frozen Puff Pastry to Make Pastéis de Nata

Assembling Pastéis de Nata

When do you eat a Pastel de Nata?

Should you eat Portuguese custard tarts hot or cold?

Do Pastéis de Nata need refrigerated?

How do you reheat Pasteis de Nata?

​How long do Pasteis de Natas last?

Is there lemon in Pastéis de Nata?

Tools That Make It Easier To Make Pastéis de Nata at Home:

For That Friend Who is Obsessed With Pastéis de Nata:

Pin & Share This Post:

Easy Bacon Baked Potato Soup Recipe

Easy Bacon Baked Potato Soup Recipe

Tips:

FAQ:

Pin & Share This Post:

Sopa De Frijoles Receta (Bean Soup Recipe) - Salvadoran Cuisine Recipe

How to make Sopa de Frijoles

Salvadoran Sopa de Frijoles Receta (Bean Soup Recipe)

Clay Bean Pots

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How long do Pasteis de Natas last?