I grew up in a house that smelled of delicious food. My mother Rosa was an excellent cook, having learned by watching my grandmother Nair.
However, she only started cooking after she married my father Castilo, since she and her six siblings had to work outside the home to help my grandparents financially, as they were very poor.
Our family also had very limited financial resources, like most Brazilians, and I think that's where our people's creativity comes from. We learn from an early age to do a lot with very little.
My mother was very talented, she was able to transform two ingredients into a delicious feast, as well as mouth-watering desserts and pies.
She was also very cheerful and an excellent hostess, which made our house a meeting place for family and friends.
I watched her cook and tried to learn, but she didn't know how to cook with measurements and at that time I hadn't yet developed the ability to learn in this way.
I used to make carrot cakes with chocolate frosting for my school friends who came to do schoolwork at my house and I was responsible for making potato salad with mayonnaise for Sunday lunches.
My mother passed away very young and took with her the recipes that I try to reproduce today with the memory of the flavors that I tasted.
I was busy for years with college, work and other activities and didn't visit the kitchen much. My standards were high and I thought I couldn't cook as well as she did. But a few years ago I decided to take a chance and the magic started to happen, I discovered that I also have a good hand in the kitchen.
Living in the US, circumstances cooperated because my husband loves to entertain friends as much as I do and I have been able to rescue my culinary memories and offer our friends a little bit of the flavor of my country, which has one of the richest, most delicious and diverse cuisines in the world.
In June 2024, my husband, who is not only a very talented Costa Rican pianist but also my great supporter, produced his concert and asked me to, among other things, make brigadeiros for the audience. Yes, he had already been hooked on this delicious sweet treat that is a must-have at every Brazilian party, whether it's for entertaining friends at home, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, whatever it may be. There's always a good excuse to eat brigadeiros. They are part of every Brazilian's fond memories.
The night of the concert was an incredible night for me. My husband encouraged the audience to try the brigadeiros, since this sweet treat is not very well-known here and people hesitate when faced with the unknown.
During the show, they tried them and were delighted. They finished my stock to give as gifts to their aunt, grandmother and anyone else who hadn't gone to the concert. I left there with an order for a friend's baby shower.
It was on this magical night that Samba Sweets was born and in it I have expressed all the love for cooking that I have accumulated over the years through brigadeiros.
I hope that from now on brigadeiros will also start to be part of your sweet memories.