August 23, 2020 – WANDERLUST FAMILY ADVENTURE

Taste Test – Brazilian Cheese Bread

August 23, 2020 Joseph Candora Brazil, South America, Taste Test

Rita being from Brazil has a fondness for a staple in her cuisine called cheese bread. Pão de queijo “cheese bread” in Portuguese or Brazilian cheese bread is a small, baked cheese roll or cheese bun, a popular snack and breakfast food in Brazil. It is a traditional Brazilian recipe, originating in the state of Minas Gerais. We purchased a mix on line from Brazilian supplier Yoki. The bread was simple to prepare just add water and eggs into the sifted mix.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

The secret is to mix and then knead very well.

Scoop onto a greased baking sheet,

and bake for about 35 minutes.

A crisp, crunchy exterior, soft chewy inside and hollow center results.

I have had these many times from various Brazilian bakeries and thought these were the best. Alex also quite liked them. Rita was pleased with them but thought she has had better in Brazil.

Trip Itinerary – Coimbra, Portugal

August 23, 2020 Joseph Candora England, Europe, Itinerary, Lisbon, London, Portugal, Travel, Trip Preparation

This is a itinerary for a trip Rita has to take to take care of some personal business in Portugal and London.

9/12. Saturday
08:45 pm. Flight to Lisbon

9/13 Sunday
09:00 am. Arrive Lisbon
H:MM am. Train to Coimbra (TBD)
H:MM. pm. Arrive Coimbra
H:MM. pm. Check in hotel Oslo Coimbra (TBD)
H:MM. pm. Free Afternoon / Evening Coimbra

9/14 Monday
06:00 am. Breakfast at Hotel Oslo Coimbra
08:30 am. Loja do Cidadão (Cartão do Cidadão/ Cartao do Cidadao)
10:00 am. Cafe Santa Cruz
10:40. am. Igreja Santa Cruz (Monasterio)
11:30. pm. Se Velha
01:00. pm. Lunch – free pick (TBD)
08:30. pm. Fado ao Centro Restaurante/Fado Live Music
10:00. pm. Return to Hotel Oslo Coimbra

09/15 Tuesday
07:00.am. Breakfast at hotel
10:00.am. Arco de Armadina
09:00.am. Jardim Botanico (picnic)
12:00.am. Santa Clara Bridge for pictures of city
12:30.pm. Restaurant Italiano
02:00.pm. 90 minute tour of Coimbra University and Joanina Library
04:00.pm. Parade Manuel Braga (relax and people watch)
05:00.pm. World Needs Cafe
07:00.pm. Return to hotel

09/16 Wednesday
09:15.am. Conservatoria Registro Civil Coimbra (passport)
11:00.am. Car rental – destination Porto
01:00.pm. Lunch in Porto
02:30.pm. Check into Porto Hotel (TBD)
03:00.pm. Free day in Porto

09/17 Thursday

H:MM am. Loja do Cidadão
H:MM am. TBD
H:Mm pm. TBD

MM/DD “D-day” (TBD)
H:MM am. Flight to London
H:MM pm. Check in Hotel London (TBD)
H:MM pm. Apply Settlement

MM/DD D-day + 7 days
H:MM. am TBD
H:MM. pm. Flight to Boston

Taste Test – Maple Hill Organic Chocolate Whole Milk

August 23, 2020 Joseph Candora New York, North America, Taste Test, United States

I am a great fan of whole milk chocolate milk and used to enjoy the Premium Chocolate Milk manufactured by Oakhurst Dairy in Maine. Recently they appeared to have changed their chocolate powder because the milk while just as rich did not have the same chocolate flavor. There are very few whole milk chocolate milks on the market in my area and most of the ones I have tried have the same inferior chocolate flavor. I saw these Maple Hill aseptic containers on line and decided to give them a try. Organic food is a marketing ploy and I try not to buy anything so labeled but I overlooked that in this case. The milk was distributed by Maple Hill Creamery out of Kinderhook, New York and manufactured by Steuben Foods in Elma, New York. As a side note if you want to know where your milk is from look for the number imprinted on the side of the gable top of the container, in this case 36-4016. This is the IMS number and each manufacturing plant must have their number on every container they produce. Most small dairies no longer produce their own product and only distribute product manufactured from large dairies.

The milk was rich and the chocolate flavor was acceptable but still not of the best quality. The product was OK but not great.

Taste Test – Top Fox Pop-roasted Pumpkin Seeds

August 23, 2020 Joseph Candora Illinois, North America, Taste Test, United States

Each Autumn Alex and I look forward to carving our pumpkin and roasting the seeds for a snack. Seeing these Top Fox pumpkin seeds for sale we decided to try them. The variety box had two bags of three different flavors. The first one being their standard Himalayan Salt.

These were very good with a nice degree of saltiness, better than what you would purchase in the supermarket but not substantially so.
The salt and pepper variety was next, There was a slight peppery taste but not too pronounced, I preferred the plain salted variety.

The last variety was the Chili-lime seeds. There was a slight spiciness but the lime flavor was very subtle if present at all. These were my least favorite seed I did not really care for them.

Wildlife Sighting – Snapping Turtle (Raymond, New Hampshire)

August 23, 2020 Joseph Candora New England, New Hampshire, North America, Raymond, United States, Wildlife

Our house in Raymond, New Hampshire is surrounded by the Exeter River on one side and a wetland on the other. It is an ideal location for wildlife and we have seen beaver, wild turkeys, moose, deer and many birds over the years. Alex was taking out the trash and he discovered this snapping turtle making its way towards the river from the swampy area across the street. Not knowing what it was he took some pictures to show me and luckily did not get too close.