In Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Minas Gerais, a favourite dish is feijoada. It is a stew made of black beans, chunks of beef, pork, sausages and sometimes pigs' ears and tails. In Rio Grande do Sul, churrasco, Brazil's version of a barbecue, is a favourite meal. This word describes chunks of beef pierced with a metal skewer and roasted over hot coals.

Brazil is the world's largest producer of coffee. Brazilians usually make it dark, sweet and strong. A typical breakfast consists of a cup of cafe com leite, a hot milk and coffee mixture and a piece of fresh bread. Almoco or lunch is the biggest meal of the day. Brazilians eat rice, beans, salad, meat or other dishes. In the evening a light supper is served in many homes.

Empanada Ingredients 5 eggs 500 ml milk 250 ml oil 4 tbs grated parmesan cheese 1/2 tsp salt 12 tbs flour baking powder Put all the above, except the cheese and the baking powder, in a blender. Add these final 2 ingredients at the end. Stuffing ingredients: 1 tomato chopped very small 1 red or green pepper 1 onion, sliced very small 5 olives sliced, preferably black olives 1 cooked chicken breast (cooked with bouillon, salt and black pepper) chopped into small pieces Preparation Preheat oven to 350°F. Put 1/2 the blender ingredients into a cake pan, enough to cover the bottom. Put the stuffing ingredients on top of the blender ingredients. Cover with the rest of the blender ingredients. Cook for 30 to 40 minutes.