Finding the Backyardigans book

I’ve become a fan of the Backyardigans since my little girl learned to love it the first time she watched an episode during our first month here in Brazil.  I have also downloaded the lyrics of the show’s signature song almost effortlessly as it has been readily made available in the Internet due to, perhaps, a great public demand.  Now, I’m trying to learn the Portuguese version of that song. 

I think it’s a way to immerse myself in one of my little girl’s favorite things.  When we watch Backyardigans together, wouldn’t it be nice to sing the song and dance together with the characters?  The characters – Pablo (penguin), Tyrone (moose), Tasha (hippopotamus), Uniqua (insect), and Austin (kangaroo) – are adorable! I like them too!

The empty streets

The silence was defeaning as we traveled along the narrow brick roads lined with old European-style houses and buildings. Finally, we were in Pelotas -  my husband’s first job assignment; our final destination after that very long, tiring, but exciting journey from our home country, the Philippines; and what would become our second home for a year before yet another stint in Porto Alegre.

When we arrived in this small city of Rio Grande do Sul, everything looked empty, dull, and lifeless. In every corner we looked, there was nobody. Except the hotel where we checked in, everything was closed – offices, shops, and public market. 

I wondered if people were just inside their houses, have gone to other places, or what greeted me right there and then was all that this place had to offer.  The view of the empty streets scared me just as my thoughts that very moment did.

My penne pasta salad

Light, healthy, simple, easy to prepare, refreshing, and delicious!  Try this for a snack or a meal.  It’s made of penne pasta cooked al dente, julienned fresh green and red bell peppers, a small amount of chopped roasted red bell pepper (peeled, of course), canned tuna (drain the oil or water), olives, salad lettuce, thinly sliced leeks and onion, salt, and olive oil.  The amount of the ingredients will depend on your preference.  Just put everything together in a salad bowl then toss.  Try a drizzle of balsamic vinegar to add some tang to this dish.  Enjoy!

Portuguese grammar websites

Learning Portuguese has been a huge challenge for me since we arrived in Brazil early this year. My handy phrasebook helped me master the right words and phrases that I can use to buy stuff, get a taxi, make friends, answer phone calls, etc. But that’s just about it. Learning the language has to go beyond such handy reference and besides, the pronunciation is an entirely different thing and as challenging as learning the words.

While it is probably best to learn the language from the people themselves, several websites have been very useful. My husband sifted a number of sites and came up with this short list. I hope these will be useful especially for expats like us.

Sonia-Portuguese.com
Easy Portuguese
FSI Language Courses
Learn Portuguese Now
Learning Portuguese

Fish in miso and ginger sauce

This dish one of the recent successes I’ve had in my tiny kitchen (or culinary laboratory).  The perfect blend of miso (massa de soja) and ginger is very well pronounced in this easy-to-prepare dish, which I made out of my imagination.  Miso, by the way, is available in most Asian stores.

For this dish, I used the fish called serenha, which is very much like tuna.  If you want a hot and spicy version, just add chili flakes while sauteeing the garlic.  Next time, I’ll try it with some fried tofu.

Here’s how to make it:

Brazilian cheese puffs (pao de queijo)

This gluten-free delicious treat is made of cassava flour or starch and grated cheese such as queijo lanche/prato and parmesan. Whether made of starch or flour, pao de queijo is always a winner.

It is sumptuous and mouthwatering and can be very addicting! You can buy it in bakery sections of supermarkets, lancherias (snack houses), and of course, in padarias (bakeries).

Everything familiar

When my family finally settled in a small apartment here in Brazil, I knew then that my biggest job was to recreate what was “home” especially for our little one.

I thought that by doing so, I would be creating a cushion that would protect her against the sudden impact or shock that goes with adjusting to a totally new environment.

Home has people and things we love, people who love us back, food or things that make us comfortable and manage to play without fear and laugh on top of our lungs, places with every corner we have mastered, and everything that defines our comfort zone.

While the thought of living in a foreign country keeps me looking forward to getting myself and my family more “educated” and “cultured”, sometimes I just feel the need to retreat for a moment or two and just do or have something that reminds me of home.