A Summer of Baking, Family, and New Lessons

This summer felt like stepping into a different world. Brazil is six hours behind Qatar, so while the sun was setting at 6 p.m. in Brazil, it was already midnight In Qatar, and we were exhausted. On top of that, imagine going from 42°C heat in Qatar to 15°C in Sabará within 24 hours! Cold mornings, layers of sweaters, and cozy kitchens became our reality. I’m honestly surprised (and thankful) I didn’t catch a cold this year, because I usually do.

But what really made this summer special were the moments in the kitchen. My highlights? Definitely the chocolate chip cookies, the strawberry pie, and a lovely focaccia with olives olives, but my proudest bake was the Rosca, a traditional pastry from Minas Gerais. It’s one of those foods that instantly makes me think of my grandmother and the time we spend with my aunts and sister in the farm making them together, in her old wood-fired oven (forno de lenha), the kind where you feed the fire with wood and let the heat transform the dough. That made the experience even more special, like I was connected to generations before me. I’ll share the recipe with you all on my next posts.

Summer 2025 bakes

Not everything was easy, though. My sourdough starter taught me patience in a whole new way. In Qatar, my starter usually takes 4–6 hours to be ready. In Sabará? It was taking double the time! At first it felt like a struggle, but I eventually learned to adapt, and that in itself was a lesson. My grandmother also taught me a few pastry recipes I can’t wait to try.

By the end of the trip, though, I was ready to go back home. I even left a little piece of myself behind: I gifted some sourdough starter to my cousin. I’m so curious to see what she ends up baking with it! Don’t worry, I still have mine with me here. This trip reminded me that even in the chaos, food has a way of bringing people together. It’s what makes me passionate about baking, sharing, and the direction I want my life to take. I’ll share the recipe for Aunt Maria Elza’s Rosca, a beloved pastry from Minas Gerais that means so much to me.

From her kitchen, with love ♡