“Yeah. They were just texting to ask when we’d be back,” Emilia replied.
“Well, before you go, I just wanted to thank you again for all your help in the parades this week. You guys were really terrific.”
“Thank you, Miguel,” Alfie said. “Especially for showing us around Rio, and to your dad for feeding us such great food.”
“And to your mom for trusting us in her parade!” Emilia added.
“Anytime. You’re always welcome in our home, and you’re honorary cariocas now, anyway,” Miguel said. Then he held out his hand. “Here—I got you something as a thank-you gift.” Miguel held two brightly colored ribbons. One was orange and one was yellow, and they both had black writing in Portuguese. Alfie had seen a beach kiosk selling these nylon ribbons down in Copacabana. “These are called Bahia Bands, or wishing bracelets,” Miguel explained. “They’re a tradition in Brazil. The orange one stands for courage and energy, and the yellow one stands for success and intelligence.”
“Thanks, Miguel! That’s so nice,” Emilia said, picking up the orange one.
Alfie grabbed the yellow one. “Yeah, thanks!”
“So, you need to tie three knots into your bracelet and make three wishes,” Miguel said. “Then you must wear your bracelet all the time until it falls off on its own. When it falls off, that’s how you know your wishes have come true!”
“Cool!” Alfie said, tying his first knot.
“I better run,” Miguel said. “My mother is waving at me from across the restaurant. I think she wants to introduce me to some of the Carnival organizers.”
“You should definitely go!” Emilia said.
“I’ll find you guys later,” Miguel said before dashing to his mother’s side.
Alfie and Emilia were quiet as they tied their knots and made their wishes. Then Alfie filled his plate with another helping of yucca fries.
Emilia gave him a wary look.
“What?” Alfie laughed. “They’re like french fries, but better! Way better! In fact, I think I like them even more than the fries at Burger Heaven back home!”
Emilia’s eyes were wide. “Really? I never thought I’d hear you say that!”
“Hey, remember that time we got Burger Heaven with Dad and took it to the park?” Alfie said, starting to laugh. “And that duck kept trying to steal the fries right from your hand!”
Emilia scowled and crossed her arms. “I remember.”
Alfie shook with laughter. “You were so scared! Of a silly duck!”
“It was scary! You would have been freaked out, too, if a bird had been trying to peck your hand off!”
Alfie made a duck face at Emilia and they both laughed. “Oh, give me one of those,” she said, grabbing a yucca fry from Alfie’s plate. “Mmmm, they are good.”
“Told ya,” Alfie said, popping another into his mouth.
“That was a really fun day in the park, though,” Emilia said. “Even with the killer ducks.”
Alfie and Emilia burst into a new round of laughter just as the air suddenly started to shift around them.
Alfie squinted and waited for his eyes to adjust to the intense lights of their kitchen back home. It was much brighter than it had been in Señor Costa’s restaurant. He also noticed how cool and crisp the air felt against his skin—even inside the heated kitchen—compared to the hot, humid air he’d grown used to in Rio.
Zia was just putting the cheese buns she’d made into a plastic container. Alfie’s half-eaten bun still sat on his plate like he’d taken a bite just minutes before. Alfie looked at Emilia and she smiled, holding up her wrist. They were both still wearing their Brazilian wishing bracelets!
Emilia began to parade around the kitchen singing the Borboleta samba song. “You should have seen it, Zia!” she said. “The colors, the music, the costumes! It was glorious!”
“What was, ragazza?” Zia asked with a smile.
“Carnival!” Alfie cried. “It was one of our best trips yet. Rio was like no place I’d ever even imagined. And the food, Zia. Brazilian food is so good—especially the yucca fries!”
“Such dreamers you are!” Zia laughed.
Alfie spotted his drumsticks on the edge of the kitchen counter. He picked them up and followed behind Emilia in her kitchen samba parade. “I can’t wait to practice my drum solo!”
Zia looked surprised. “Really?”
Alfie nodded. “Practice is important. And I want to make you, Mom, and Dad proud at the spring concert.”
“You already make us proud,” Zia said. “But I’m so happy to hear you say that! I know your solo is going to be perfetto! But for now, I think you two should practice some homework before your parents get home from their PTA meeting.”
Emilia stopped parading and slumped into a chair, her tired eyes drooping with sleep. “I think I might just get up early to do my homework. I’m beat.”
“Me too,” Alfie said, feeling suddenly heavy.
“It must have been a big day at school today,” Zia remarked. “You’re both so tired.”
“Zia!” Alfie and Emilia cried together.
Zia winked and strolled out of the kitchen. “Well, good night then, cariocas.”
It was Saturday afternoon. A light snow fell outside as the Bertolizzi family got ready for Emilia’s thirteenth birthday party. Alfie was in the garage practicing his drum solo until Mom called him inside.
“Emilia’s guests will be arriving soon,” Mom said, peeking her head out the kitchen door into the garage.
“Okay,” Alfie replied. “I’m just going to run through it one more time.”
Mom smiled and nodded before going back inside.
In the three short days since Alfie and Emilia had returned from their Rio adventure, Alfie’s solo had already improved noticeably. Mr. Erikson praised Alfie during band practice the previous day, saying that he had no doubt Alfie would be ready for the concert now. And even Charlie had stopped asking if Alfie needed a replacement. Alfie looked at the knots on his wishing bracelet and grinned. He knew he was going to blow everybody’s socks off.
Alfie bounced into the kitchen to find Zia and Emilia arranging a tray of dark chocolate brigadeiros. Emilia had made the last-minute addition to her birthday menu because she’d liked them so much in Brazil.
“Where did you get this recipe again?” Dad asked, sneaking a brigadeiro from the tray. Emilia playfully slapped his hand away and added another one to the empty space. “Um . . .”
“I showed it to her,” Zia said quickly. “It’s a traditional Brazilian dessert to make on birthdays. I learned to make it when I was living there, so I thought it would be fun to include today since Emilia likes chocolate so much.”
“That is definitely true!” Emilia smiled. Just then, the doorbell rang and she ran to greet her first guest.
Alfie and Dad hovered near the food table as Emilia’s friends arrived. Emilia’s best friend, Felicia, came first with a giant package covered in turquoise paper and sparkly silver bows. Then Katelin and Becky skipped inside carrying matching gift bags. Soon the room was full of excited, laughing girls.
“How’s the drum practice going, champ?” Dad asked, sneaking a piece of spicy popcorn from one of the mini movie-popcorn containers on the table.
“It’s good!” Alfie replied, following his dad’s lead and grabbing some popcorn before Emilia saw him. “I think I’ll definitely be ready for the concert in a few weeks. I’m excited for you, Mom, and Zia to see it.”
“We’re excited, too. And I’m so proud of you for practicing extra hard the last couple of days. I know it’s not easy, but it’s worth it.”
“Practice makes perfect!” Alfie said, echoing what his idol had told him at the soccer stadium.
“Sì, sì!” Dad said. “Wise words.”
Everybody snacked on Zia’s delicious treats whil
e Emilia opened her presents. She mostly got clothes and jewelry from her friends, which Alfie thought was pretty boring. When it came time for Emilia to open his gift, though, Alfie felt his cheeks get warm.
Emilia tore open the paper and gasped. It was a pocket-size journal with a thick, cherry-red cover.
“To write about your adventures,” Alfie said quietly.
Emilia jumped up and gave her brother a hug, making his cheeks even hotter. “Alfie, it’s perfect!”
After all the presents were opened and the wrapping paper was swept aside, it was time for Emilia to blow out the candles on her Doberge cake.
Emilia sat in front of her cake with Zia on one side and Alfie on the other. She closed her eyes and made a wish. Then Alfie took out the candles while Zia sliced up the cake.
“Buon compleanno! Happy birthday!” Zia said. “What did you wish for?”
Emilia smiled as she touched her wishing bracelet. She looked at Alfie and said, “Another adventure.”
A Note from Giada
I have traveled a lot in my life, but haven’t yet made it to beautiful Brazil. It’s at the very top of my list, especially because all my friends who have traveled to Brazil and visited Rio de Janeiro have raved about it! The people, the places, the food, the weather, the beaches! It all sounds so awesome. And as I worked on this book and learned so much more about this super-cool city, I realized . . . I can’t get there soon enough! Rio is a big, bustling city, but there are beaches everywhere you look—it’s an amazing combination. There is so much to see, from Sugarloaf to Corcovado to the marina—and so much to eat! The Brazilians have a way of combining savory and sweet into one meal that I just love. I never turn down the chance to try a Brazilian dish!
I can’t wait to take a trip to this magical city one day very soon!
Alfie and Emilia stood in the middle of the kitchen. Emilia had her hands on her hips and Alfie had his arms crossed over his chest. They scowled at each other. The overflowing trash can sat on the floor between them.
“It’s your turn!” Emilia cried.
Alfie shook his head. “No, it’s not!”
They stared each other down.
“Well, I’m not doing it,” Emilia finally said.
“Neither am I,” Alfie replied.
“Alfredo!” Emilia shouted, using Alfie’s full name.
Dad appeared in the doorway. “Quietare!” he said in Italian. “Quiet down. What’s all the shouting about?”
“It’s Alfie’s turn to take out the garbage and he won’t do it,” Emilia said.
“I did it last week!” Alfie cried.
“No, you didn’t!” Emilia stomped her foot.
“Enough!” Dad held up his hands between them. “What’s gotten into you two lately? You can’t seem to get along for more than ten minutes at a time.”
Alfie and Emilia were silent as they stared at the floor.
“Alfie, pick up the bag. Emilia, go open the garbage can in the garage. You can do it together,” Dad said.
Alfie was about to protest again when he saw the serious look on Dad’s face. He was not messing around. Alfie sighed, picked up the bag, and followed Emilia into the garage.
“I know it was your turn,” Emilia whispered as she lifted the lid on the bin. “You’re just being a baby.”
Alfie rolled his eyes. Emilia could be such a know-it-all, especially now that she’d turned thirteen. She was only a year and a few months older than Alfie, but she liked to remind him of that fact every chance she got.
Alfie and Emilia stomped back through the kitchen and stood in the doorway to the family room. Dad had his back to them and was talking to their great-aunt Donatella.
“Maybe this is a bad weekend for us to go on our trip,” Dad was saying. “Those two just can’t seem to get along lately.”
“Nonsense!” Zia Donatella replied, sweeping aside her long salt-and-pepper hair. “You and Arianna have waited ages to have a weekend away. You deserve it.”
“We have been looking forward to it . . .” Dad said.
“We’ll be fine here,” Zia continued. “Don’t you worry about a thing.”
“All right, we’ll stick to our plan.” Dad picked up his briefcase. “Well, I’d better get to work. See you tonight.”
“Arrivederci!” Zia called before turning to see Alfie and Emilia sulking in the doorway.
“Do you think we can all get along this weekend?” Zia asked. Alfie and Emilia nodded. “Good. Now, anything you want to do while your parents are away?”
“I want to play video games and maybe watch a movie!” Alfie said. “And we’re going to cook, right?”
“Of course!” Zia said. Zia was an incredible cook and ever since she’d come to stay with the Bertolizzi family she’d taught Alfie and Emilia some amazing recipes she’d learned from her travels around the world.
Emilia made her way over to the sofa and flopped down. “I have a history presentation I need to get started on,” she said, giving Alfie a look like she was being more responsible than him.
“That should be fun.” Zia perched on the arm of the sofa next to Emilia. Everybody knew that Emilia loved history. It was her favorite subject. Alfie, on the other hand, could never get enough of geography. His bedroom walls were plastered with maps of all kinds. And he was forever looking at maps online—everything from world maps to city maps—even climate maps!
“My presentation has to be on the history of a specific city or state,” Emilia continued. “I just can’t decide where to focus on!”
“Well, you’ve got plenty of options,” Alfie replied, smiling at Zia. He thought about all the places they’d visited and experiences they’d had thanks to Zia’s magical recipes.
“You could talk about any of the cities we’ve gone to,” Alfie said.
“I know,” Emilia replied. “I just can’t decide if I should present somewhere we’ve already been or somewhere new we might go!”
Zia nodded. “That’s a tough decision.”
“Not to me!” Alfie said. “I’d definitely give a talk about somewhere we’ve been. That’s much easier. You could talk about the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro or the Eiffel Tower in Paris!”
Just then Mom walked down the stairs. “Who’s going to the Eiffel Tower?” she asked.
Alfie looked at Zia, who busied herself picking lint off the arm of the sofa. Mom and Dad didn’t know about any of Alfie and Emilia’s adventures. It was their and Zia’s little secret.
“Uh, no one,” Emilia replied. “We were just talking about my history presentation.”
“Oh, I just love Paris!” Mom gushed. “Eating fresh croissants every morning and going to all those sidewalk cafés . . .”
“And the markets!” Alfie chimed in before clamping his hand over his mouth. “I mean, you know . . . I remember how Zia was telling us about the markets . . .”
Mom nodded, but looked a little confused.
“Well,” Zia said, straightening the brightly colored stone necklace she always wore. “Aren’t you two going to be late for school?”
Mom glanced at the clock on the mantel. “Oh, goodness! It is late. Grab your stuff, kids. We’ve gotta go!”
“Bye, Zia!” Emilia said, giving her a quick hug.
“Bye!” Alfie gave Zia a grateful smile before slinging his backpack over his shoulder.
Zia winked. “Have a good day, bambini!”
Zia’s Brigadeiros
INGREDIENTS
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons butter, plus more for your hands
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
FOR COATING THE BRIGADEIROS, ONE OR BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING:
Crushed Oreos
Rainbow sprinkles
MAKES:
30 brigadeiros
PREP TIME:
30 minutes
COOKING TIME:
10 minutes
INACTIVE PREP TIME:
2 hours
DIRECTIONS:
In a small saucepan, combine the condensed milk, cocoa powder, butter, vanilla, and salt. Place over medium heat and stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium low and continue stirring until the mixture thickens and, when stirred, pulls away from the bottom of the pan, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour the mixture into a bowl. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours or until chilled all the way through.
Lightly butter your hands. Using a tablespoon or a small scoop, put some mixture into your hands and roll into a bite-size ball. Roll the ball in one of the coatings and place on a plate. Continue with the remaining mixture. Store the brigadeiros in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Delicioso!
Zia’s Pão De Queijo
INGREDIENTS
Nonstick cooking spray
1 cup milk
1 egg, at room temperature
1/3 cup vegetable or safflower oil
1 1/2 cups tapioca starch
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup crumbled queso fresco or ricotta salata cheese
MAKES:
24 cheese breads
NOTE:
Make sure you have a parent or adult help you make this recipe.
PREP TIME:
5 minutes
COOKING TIME:
25 minutes
NOTE:
Make sure you have a parent or adult help you make this recipe.
Rio de Janeiro! Page 7
