J. Randal Matheny

Way back in 2009, in the early days of Flavors of Brazil, we wrote a post about an iconic Brazilian snack food called coxinha. As we said in that post, a coxinha is "a small, teardrop-shaped chicken croquette." and there's no doubt it's the most popular quick snack in Brazil. One can buy a coxinha at almost every one of Brazil's thousands of stand-up lunch counters, at juice bars, at buffets, and even in the country's finest and most upmarket restaurants.

Brazilians are crazy for the coxinha. It has a place in Brazilian culture analogous to the Great American Hot Dog, and shares some of the virtues of that sausage-in-a-bun. It's small but filling - it makes that pesky hole in the stomach disappear in short order.

Ignore the beer reference. Coxinhas are a favorite food, always served at parties in their smaller version.

China has replaced the United States as Brazil’s top trading partner

Our Walmart is full of Chinese products, too.

With his experience, Eduardo’s getting the huge burden of paperwork in order and has already managed to secure the donation of a new Volkswagen van from a car dealership.

New horizons for the Lar Cristão Children's Home. Check the link above.

Dilma Rousseff should follow his lead on economic policy, but not on foreign affairs.

We won't get our hopes up that president-elect Dilma, taking charge Jan.1, will change directions in foreign affairs. She'll probably play the fool like her predecessor. We just might hope for continued economic policy, but watch out for her social changes. Those promise to raise some stink. Meanwhile, the gospel continues to be preached.

Brazil will build a replica of Jerusalem's destroyed Temple of Solomon in eastern Sao Paulo, in a four-year, 113-million dollar construction project.

To match the luxurious solomonic lifestyle of the head of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God.

h/t David Lemmons

We lived in Belo Horizonte for 10 years before moving to Sao Jose dos Campos. Loved our time there. Was where we learned Portuguese and adapted. So we consider it our Brazilian origins. Two children were born there as well. Many friends from there we still keep in touch with.