4 easy snacks to celebrate Carnival

Nothing beats easy snacks for a celebration, right? Between February and March, Carnival is celebrated in Brazil. With that in mind, in this article, we will explain a little more about this celebration of Brazilian culture and some easy-to-prepare snacks to get into the festivities with family or friends.

They are:

1. Cheese and olive skewers.
2. Cherry tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella.
3. Tomato and basil bruschetta.
4. Cream cheese with pepper jelly.

Keep reading and learn how to prepare them. Let's go?

The history of Carnival

Before learning how to prepare easy snacks for Carnival, find out more about this celebration.

It's a mistake to think that Carnival only recently became popular, as the festivities have been celebrated for many years in some regions of Southern Europe, among members of Catholicism. In that period, the celebration was considered pagan, and its objective was to go against all the principles disseminated through religion.

According to some studies, it is believed that the term “Carnival” means 'carne levare' in Latin or “to remove meat,” referring to the season of Lent, celebrated by Catholics.

With that in mind, according to some research, before Ash Wednesday, Catholic people offered ceremonies or parties to eat a lot of meat, as they knew that after that day it would no longer be possible to eat meat until the end of Lent.

Read also: How to throw a Brazilian party in the USA

Carnival in the Greco-Roman world

But what is the relationship between Carnival and earlier history? It is believed to have been the first trace of a celebration most "similar" to the date.

However, Carnival is also related to Greco-Roman feasts, which, in turn, were dedicated to the god of wine (Bacchus or Dionysus, for the Greeks). In this celebration, people got drunk and ate a lot in order to feel the pleasure of the flesh, something considered mundane.

Over the years, this model of celebration continued to happen, always focusing on excess and enjoyment. However, with the arrival of the 8th century, Lent emerged (a story we mentioned earlier), mandating that Carnival celebrations would take place before the Catholic Church's date, allowing people to commit these excesses.

In addition to the Greco-Roman period, Carnival also became known during the Renaissance, gaining popularity in Italy. In Venice, for example, the date became even more prominent due to the traditional masked balls.

Now that you know about Carnival, check out some easy snacks to celebrate with friends and family below.

Read also:What are Brazilians' favorite meals?

4 easy snacks to celebrate Carnival

Learn how to make four easy, delicious, and light snacks for your Carnival festivities.

1. Cheese and olive skewers

Ingredients

• Pitted olives.
• Cheese cut into cubes (mozzarella or Estepa cheese).
• Oregano.

ASSEMBLY

1. Open the package with the skewers and take one.
2. Then, cut the cheese into cubes in the oregano.
3. On the skewer, place the olive and then the cheese. Always assemble in this order.

Now just serve!

2. Cherry tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella

Ingredients

• Cherry tomatoes.
• Buffalo mozzarella cheese in small slices.
• Basil seasoning.
• Salt and black pepper.
• Olive oil.

PREPARATION

1. First, separate the cherry tomatoes and wash them under running water.
2. Then, season the cherry tomatoes with pepper, salt, olive oil, and basil to taste.
3. Place everything in a deep dish.
4. Finally, add the cheese and serve.
5. Tomato and basil bruschetta

Ingredients

• Ciabatta bread (can also be made with French baguette).
• Butter.
• Tomatoes diced.
• Grated mozzarella cheese.
• 1 basil leaf.
• Salt and black pepper.

PREPARATION

1. Take the ciabatta bread and cut it into several slices.
2. Then, with the help of a spatula, spread generous layers of butter and bake in the preheated oven at 180°C for about 10 minutes.
3. Next, take a bowl, add the diced tomatoes, and season them with salt and black pepper to taste.
4. After 10 minutes, remove the toasted slices and start assembling the bruschettas.
5. First, place the tomatoes and then the cheese.
6. Bake in the oven for another 13 minutes once everything is assembled.
7. To finish, use a basil leaf to garnish and serve.
8. Cream cheese with pepper jelly

Ingredients

• One package of cream cheese.
• Pepper jelly.
• Toasts.

ASSEMBLY

1. First, remove the cream cheese from its packaging.
2. Finally, place the pepper jelly on top of the cheese and serve with the toasts on the side or around it.