Sunday, January 31, 2010

The correct Waterloo Flea Market

In a previous post i referred that i had gone to the Waterloo Flea Market.. but guess what!! i went to the wrong one :P it happens. In the description it said it was located in the Carrefour in Waterloo.. but there is two Carrefours in Waterloo!!!

This time i went to the correct Waterloo flea market, here are the pictures to prove it :)

This one caught my eye, a vintage scale!


I always get amazed on how beautiful the sewing machines were before, now they are just a big piece of plastic. They lost the charm.. that this Singer machine has


They have quite a number of antique furniture,

this one ... restored would be gorgeous!

How cute is this antique baby stroller,

a really old looking Teddy,


some vintage door knobs,


I've found interesting that some one would sell his old gas boxes...


Vintage Phonographs,


There are some true treasures to be found in the Waterloo Flea Market!

Monday, January 25, 2010

Ready to eat in 25min!

Ready to eat in 25min! you can bet on it :) There is nothing more simple then doing a Quiche or a Tartelette!

Here are my favorite recipes!

*Courgette Quiche:

1 shortcrust pastry
2 eggs
2 natural yogurts
1 courgette
2 tomatoes
250g Mozzarella
olive oil, salt, pepper

1.Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C ( or follow the temperature from the shortcrust pastry instructions)

2.Cut the courgette and fry it until is gold, put apart. Cut the tomatoes and mozzarella in little pieces.

3. In a medium bowl combine the eggs and yogurt. Also add some basil leaves. Season it with salt and pepper.

4. Arrange the pastry case, combine the mozzarella, tomatoes and courgette. Cover it with the combined eggs and yogurt mix.

5.Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Let it stand 5 minutes before cutting.

If you don't eat eggs you can change the receipt to replace the eggs and yogurt with
250g of Tofu and a 1/3 cup of Milk. In a blender combine the tofu and milk until smooth, adding more milk if necessary. Blend in salt and pepper. Use this mix instead to top the quiche.


*Quick Salmon and goat's cheese tart

"375g pack ready-rolled puff pastry sheet
4 large tomatoes, thinly sliced
100g French goat's cheese
300g sliced smoked salmon
handful of chopped chives

1.Pre-heat the oven to 200C

2.Line a roasting tray with baking paper, Unroll the pastry on the the tray and cut to your preferred shape.

3.Scatter on the slices of tomato, then crumble the cheese over and finally arrange the salmon on top.

4.Pop in the oven, on the top shelf, for approximately 20-25 or until the pastry is golden.

5. Just serve, sprinkle with chopped chives."

This receipt is from the Fay's Family Food


Yummy!!! this is what i call healthy fast food :)

Sunday, January 17, 2010

The Portuguese Life

One of my favorite stores in Lisbon is with out any question "A Vida Portuguesa ". Its one of those stores that makes you travel in time just by looking at the different objects they have!



The concept is really cool, they've recovered many of the traditional products that Portuguese people used to buy 50 or more years ago, that unfortunately started being lost with time..

But now! you know were to find them! :)


Here are some pics from my visit,


Coração, Products to clean metal and furniture.


the traditional ceramic Swallow very used for inside and outside decor






The original books used by generations of children on their first,second and third grade!



Super cute agenda from Planeta Tangerina, has amazing illustrations! could help it had to get one :)



Claus Porto!!! i already had a post about their gorgeous products






the famous Couto toothpaste created in 1932 and it was not tested in animals!
also very known by their publicity slogan “anda na boca de toda a gente” (something like is in everyones mouth)



I had a couple of them when a I was little :D


super cute plastic sewing machine and yep the needle even moves!!!


to practice your math!



trandicional tuna, sardines and squid cans.



some of their present packs, super cute!



Gorila chewing gum!!! followed me for many years :D the best flavour was always Orange!!!

You can further browse their products at A vida Portuguesa online store.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

The! Vegie Lasagna

This is one of my favorite recipes, its inspired in the lasagna from Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food. But instead of having meat we replaced it with some great veggies. It serves around 4-6.

-Ingredients

For the Bolognese Sauce

1 aubergine
1 courgette
250g of mushrooms
2 medium onions
2 cloves of garlic
3 carrots
3 sticks of celery
olive oil
2 heaped teaspoons dried oregano
2 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes
sea salt & freshly ground black pepper
a small bunch of fresh basil
50g Parmesan cheese

For the lasagne

250g dried egg lasagne sheets
1 x 500ml tub of creme fraiche
100g Parmesan cheese
1 large ripe tomato

-To make your Bolognese sauce

Cut the aubergine and fry it until is gold, put apart. Do the same to the courgette and the mushrooms.

Peel & finely chop the onions, garlic, carrots and celery - don't worry about technique; just chop away.

Place a large casserole-type pan on a medium to high heat, add 2 lugs of olive oil, your oregano and cook and stir. Add the veg to the pan and stir every 30 seconds for around 7 minutes or until softened and lightly colored.

Add the tinned tomatoes followed by the aubergine, courgette and mushrooms. Fill one of the empty tins with water and add to the pan . Stir in a good pinch of salt and pepper.
Pick the basil leaves and place in the fridge for later. Finely chop the basil stalks and stir into the pan.

Bring to the boil, then turn the heat down and simmer with a lid on for 45 minutes, stirring every now and again to stop it catching.

Preheat the oven to 190C / 375F / GM5. Remove the Bolognese sauce from the heat. Finely grate the Parmesan and stir a quarter of this into the sauce.

Tear and stir in any larger basil leaves, keeping the smaller ones aside for later. Have a taste of the sauce, and season with a little more salt and pepper if you think it needs it.

The original recipe suggests to boil the lasagna sheets, i don't do it as i'm using Barilla sheets and they cook really well.

Spoon a third of your Bolognese sauce into the bottom of an earthenware oven proof dish. Follow with a layer of lasagna sheets. Dollop over a third of your creme fraiche and smooth it out to cover the lasagna sheets. Sprinkle with a good pinch of salt and pepper and another quarter of your grated Parmesan. Add another layer of lasagne, and repeat the layers twice more, finishing with a layer of creme fraiche and the remaining Parmesan.

Top with some slices of tomato, scatter over the small basil leaves and drizzle with olive oil.

Cover with foil, place in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes.
After that, remove the foil and cook for a further 35 minutes until the lasagne is bubbling and golden.
The yummy result! :)