But here are some pics from a moment of bliss this week....Brigadeiros...
These Brazilian candies are the country's traditional treat, served at every party and in specialty shops devoted solely to them.
Gil and Cecilia and baby Gil are moving to Brazil this week. They have shown tremendous courage and hope - selling their home, car, and absolutely everything they have to move from Wichita to Sao Paulo, where her family lives. They are family to us and we'll miss them! Cecilia makes these for every single celebration. Parties won't be complete without their family, but I learned to make these delicious candies so that we can have a reminder of their family. And because they are soooo amazingly tasty. Like chocolate caramels. Sort of.
Cecilia is beautiful and kind and an incredible cook. Think - Brazilian Ina Garten.
2 cans sweetened condensed milk
4 heaping Tbsp. cocoa - really really heaping
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
1/2 c. milk
Empty the condensed milk into a large saucepan. Put the cocoa powder and milk into a jar with a lid and shake it until the powder is dissolved. Pour it, along with the butter, into the pan. Turn on medium heat ("not medium-high, Tonya, not medium-low, but medium-medium"). Stir it constantly, while gesturing with your hands and talking gently to the batter to coax it into heating just enough. It will take about 25 minutes of stirring to reach the right consistency, which is "when the chocolate starts dancing in the pan when you move". Oh my word, I love the way she talks! Basically, that means when it stops making that bottom-of-the-pan cooking sound and pulls away when you tip it.
Pour it onto a buttered dish and let it sit to cool for a few hours. Set out teeny tiny candy cups. Really teeny tiny. Smaller than for mini-muffins.
With buttered hands, scoop off a 1/2 tsp. size bit of the candy. Roll it in a ball and then drop it into sprinkles. We used chocolate, cocoa powder, sugar, coconut, and tiny balls. The chocolate is my favorite. Duh.
Set them into the cups and let them rest overnight uncovered. Serve them the next day and cover to store them. There should be about 100. (Not left over. There will be 3 left over after you serve them.)
Gil and Cecilia, we we will dearly miss you!!