Tropical Brazilian Birdies

These vibrant, tropical  parrots, macaws and toucans

can cheer up even the darkest corner of a room.

The large, green, carved parrot is actually a drink muddler 

and the smaller birds are stir sticks and food picks.

But I just use them for display. 

I smile when I pass by more bright birdies attached to my refrigerator,

 and I am flooded with memories of a far away place, so dear to my heart.

(A few of you already knew that I spent nearly half of my girlhood and teen 

years living in South America.  Brazil.  Where these birds are from.)

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Thursday is the last day to sign up for my giveaways!

Click here to enter. 

Thank you to everyone who shared the pictures and 

helped to spread the word!

Bananas

Do you like Bananas?

I found this fun recipe book the other day while vintage treasure hunting

and had to have it!

Yes, I do like to eat bananas,  

and even have a few decorative ones around the house.

But
the real reason I love bananas is....

(photo courtesy of the web)

Miss Chiquita Banana!!

 She was my music teacher at school for many years.

And I loved her!

Of course she taught us to sing the banana song.

"I'm Chiquita Banana and I've come to say, 

Bananas like to ripen in a certain way..."

There were several Miss Chiquita's over the years.  

They served as spokesperson's, made appearances and sang jingles.  

Some were more famous than others.   But this one was my favorite! 

Now, while I go figure out how to make Banana Coconut Rolls, 

I bet you have memories you could share about interesting people you knew.

Q Is For Queen Elizabeth II and Queijadinhos

It's Alphabe-Thursday at Jenny Matlock's!!  This is Q week.

I'm also linking to Vintage Thingie Thursday.  There are a lot of fun posts at both locations!!

Q is for Queen Elizabeth II.

(this photo is from the web)

When I was a young girl I lived in Canada.   I grew up singing "God Save The Queen" at school.  Coronation Day was also my birthday.  She was MY Queen.   I was too young to know about  borders between countries, or to understand that I was actually American and not Canadian.

I did figure it all out by about 4th grade.   But  I don't think I will ever stop thinking of her as my Queen.   How I wish I could really meet her.

I recently started searching for Queen Elizabeth memorabilia to collect.   At this time it is still a very small collection, but one that will grow.

A picture of the whole family- King George and his wife Elizabeth, with their girls, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. 

Another tin with pictures of then Princess Elizabeth and her father King George VI.

A pin dish to commemorate Queen Elizabeth's coronation.  

Q is also for Queijadinhos.  (pronounced kay-shaw-JEAN-yohs)
The direct translation is "little cheese".  They are a little Brazilian treat made with coconut, similar to a macaroon.  But they also have parmesan cheese in them, which is where the name comes from.   Our family moved from Canada to Brazil, and I spent a large number of my childhood/teen years there.  So these have been a family birthday and holiday favorite for many, many years and I want to share the recipe with you.

Queijadinhos

2 cups of coconut

1 egg

1 tablespoon flour

2 tablespoons parmesan cheese

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 tablespoon butter.

Mix everything together.

Spoon into mini muffin tin, lined with paper liners.

Bake in 350 oven for about 10 minutes, until just barely tinged with a bit of color on top.

(They are delicious!!  They do stick to the paper liners a bit and  if you are like me, you will find yourself licking the paper liners out to get all those bits of yumminess.  Good thing the Queen is not watching!)

Added May 13: I have had several comments where people have expressed a concern about the cheese ingredient and needing to be "brave" to try these.  Folks, you do not need to be brave.  Do you like cheesecake?  Do you like cheese danish?  Then you will like these too.  There is just an extra rich flavor to these with that little bit of cheese in the recipe.    Please let me know if you do try them.  They really are delicious!