Guest Blogger

Brazilian Cheese Bread and Sakeritas

November 21, 2006

Juliano Corbetta is the brains and brawn behind two sexy productions: a blog called “Made in Brazil” that highlights the best in Brazilian culture (especially the simple, human beauty of men), and Butch, a fashion line. Butch is a super-sexy sportswear collection with an extra emphasis on unique, sexy -- and butch -- swimwear.

Cheese Bread and Strawberry Sakeritas

As most of you probably know, we do not celebrate Thanksgiving in Brazil. As a matter of fact, we tend to have turkey and ham for Christmas for some odd reason (sans cranberry sauce or gravy of course). At this time of the year it is spring down south, and a traditional Thanksgiving meal could easily ruin someone's swimsuit figure for the rest of the season.

Thanksgiving is an odd holiday when you did not grow up in America. I have been in this country for seven or eight of them, and every year I end up as the outcast in someone's party where I stuff myself with as much food as I can, and then dilute it with sugary apple cider, which
I found I loved from the very first sip.

Many times, when all American friends migrate to spend the holiday with their families I have gotten together with my fellow Brazilian ex-pats, and put a twist on the Thanksgiving meal to suit our needs. That usually includes more booze in the shape of caipirinhas, and tons of cheese bread for appetizer.

Cheese breads (which we would refer to as pao de queijo) are originally from Minas Gerais (the West of Brazil), but because of their national popularity they seem to be the one thing that all Brazilians crave when they live abroad. Making them from scratch is no easy task, but I thought it would be a great snack to be served while some of you are enduring a football game in the living room with your families prior to the food extravaganza.