Maria Lawton - The Azorean Green Bean

Maria Lawton - The Azorean Green Bean Cookbook Author, TV host/Executive Producer, Speaker, Storyteller & Culinary Travel Guide. I’m not a classically trained chef, and I don’t pretend to be.

Azorean Green Bean is a celebration of Portuguese food, especially the regional food of the Azores, family, and tradition — told through the recipes and stories passed down at my family table. What I am is a passionate home cook with a deep love for the meals that shaped my childhood and the culture that shaped who I am today. Here you’ll find traditional Azorean recipes, Portuguese flavors, and the stories behind them — because food is never just about what’s on the plate. My hope is that when you cook from my kitchen, you feel a sense of home, connection, and love — whether it’s a recipe your avó used to make or one you’re discovering for the first time.

📚 Author of Azorean Cooking: From My Family Table to Yours, award-winning At My Portuguese Table, and the children’s keepsake cookbook Baking with Love
📺 Executive Producer & Host of Maria’s Portuguese Table (PBS)
🌱 Preserving culture, one recipe at a time

Come, come!” – “Eat, eat!” Because apparently you were always starving, even if you had just finished a full meal.“Leva ...
25/09/2026

Come, come!” – “Eat, eat!” Because apparently you were always starving, even if you had just finished a full meal.

“Leva um casaquinho.” – “Take a little jacket.” It could be 80 degrees outside and somehow you still needed one.

“Deus te acompanhe.” – “May God go with you.” Often said when you were leaving the house or heading on a trip. 

“Quem espera sempre alcança.” – “Those who wait eventually achieve.” Basically: be patient, your time will come.

“Tem juízo!” – “Behave yourself!” / “Use your head!” Usually shouted as you were walking out the door. 

“Não apanhes frio.” – “Don’t catch cold.” Because according to avó, cold air was responsible for approximately 90% of illnesses.

“Estás tão magrinho!” – “You’re so skinny!” Usually said approximately five minutes before being handed enough food for a family of six.

Did you know that I write a weekly newsletter that goes out every Tuesday? Think of it as little taste of home, delivere...
24/09/2026

Did you know that I write a weekly newsletter that goes out every Tuesday?
Think of it as little taste of home, delivered directly to you. 💙

When you do sign up for my free newsletter, I’ll send you 3 recipes to get started! Then the following weeks you’ll also get recipes, personal stories, and first word of new books, tours, and other important news before I share it on social media.

Sign up here: https://befv6c.subscribepage.io

The Portuguese pantry starter pack 🇵🇹If you grew up in a Portuguese home, chances are the pantry was never truly empty. ...
24/09/2026

The Portuguese pantry starter pack 🇵🇹

If you grew up in a Portuguese home, chances are the pantry was never truly empty. There was always olive oil, canned fish, rice, chickpeas, and so much more tucked away for “just in case.”
I have definitely continued with this tradition … even my children who sometimes laugh at what I’m storing know that they can “shop” my pantry for last minute items!!

Plus, now I see them doing the same in their homes.
In a Portuguese kitchen, you don’t need a fancy pantry… you just need the right basics. Here’s some examples of what you can find…

What’s your must have for “just in case” in your kitchen pantry?

Have you ever wondered why the Azores are so volcanic? The answer is hiding deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean. The Azores ...
23/09/2026

Have you ever wondered why the Azores are so volcanic? The answer is hiding deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean.

The Azores sit in one of the most geologically active areas on Earth, near the meeting point of three major tectonic plates, known as the Azores Triple Junction. The islands are also crossed by major geological features like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the Terceira Rift. As the tectonic plates slowly move, stretch, and pull apart… cracks form in Earth’s crust, allowing magma from deep below to rise toward the surface.

Over millions and millions of years, eruptions built the nine volcanic islands of the Azores. So when you’re standing beside the blue and green lakes of Sete Cidades, walking across black lava rock, or soaking in a thermal pool, you’re seeing millions of years of Earth’s tectonic forces directly into the landscape.

Fun fact: In 1957, the Capelinhos volcano erupted off the coast of Faial. The eruption lasted into 1958 and actually created new land, permanently changing the shape of the island.

10 common things in the life of a Portuguese Child…. 🙋‍♀️ I can say that I can relate to the majority of them!!
22/09/2026

10 common things in the life of a Portuguese Child…. 🙋‍♀️ I can say that I can relate to the majority of them!!

Happy 1st day of Fall 🍁Here in New England, the weather turned and temperatures have started to drop…. It’s definitely b...
22/09/2026

Happy 1st day of Fall 🍁
Here in New England, the weather turned and temperatures have started to drop…. It’s definitely becoming sweater weather!!!
Time for bringing things inside and let the roasting and baking begin!!
Have a wonderful Fall season everyone!! 💕🍁

Bifana vs. prego: know your Portuguese sandwiches.They may look similar, but they’re definitely not the same. A bifana i...
22/09/2026

Bifana vs. prego: know your Portuguese sandwiches.

They may look similar, but they’re definitely not the same. A bifana is made with thin slices of pork, usually marinated and cooked with garlic, w**e, and seasonings before being tucked into a crusty Portuguese roll. Depending on the region, it can be simple and juicy or served with a flavorful sauce or mustard.

A prego is made with beef, typically a thin steak seasoned with plenty of garlic and served in bread, giving it the name prego no pão. You’ll also see prego no prato, where the steak is served on a plate instead of as a sandwich.

The recipes change from region to region, but the easiest way to remember it is:
Bifana = pork 🐷
Prego = beef 🥩

10 Portuguese foods to order when you don’t know what to orderLooking at a Portuguese menu and have no idea where to sta...
21/09/2026

10 Portuguese foods to order when you don’t know what to order

Looking at a Portuguese menu and have no idea where to start? These are 10 classics that are usually a safe bet:

1. Bifana – Thin slices of seasoned pork served in a crusty roll. Simple, juicy, and one of Portugal’s best quick meals.
2. Prego no pão – A garlicky beef steak sandwich, usually served on Portuguese bread. Think of it as the beef cousin of the bifana.
3. Bacalhau à Brás – Shredded salt cod mixed with onions, thin fried potatoes, and eggs. Comfort food at its best.
4. Frango à guia – Grilled chicken with a spicy piri-piri sauce, often served with fries and salad.
5. Polvo à lagareiro – Roasted octopus with plenty of olive oil, garlic, and potatoes. A must for seafood lovers.
6. Arroz de marisco – A rich, saucy seafood rice packed with shrimp, clams, and other shellfish.
7. Carne de porco à alentejana – Pork and clams cooked together with garlic, seasonings, and potatoes—a classic Portuguese combination that sounds unusual until you try it.
8. Bitoque – A classic Portuguese steak served with a fried egg, fries, rice, and often a flavorful garlic sauce. Simple, filling, and hard to go wrong with.
9. Caldo verde – A comforting soup made with potatoes, finely sliced greens, and usually a little chouriço. Perfect when you want something simple.
10. Bacalhau com natas – Salt cod baked with potatoes, onions, and a creamy sauce until golden on top. Rich, comforting, and a great introduction to Portugal’s love of bacalhau.

If you’re ever stuck staring at a Portuguese menu, start with one of these and you’re probably in good hands. 🇵🇹

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Ponta Delgada
Açores
9500-203

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