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Here's another example of the Brazilian sense of humor, this time in the dessert department. If you look at these "olhos de sogra," as they are called in Portuguese, if they have a clove stuck in the center, they really DO resemble a pair of eyes staring at you. In Brazil, these are some of the most popular little sweets served at parties and I've always loved them. Perhaps because they aren't too sweet, since they're made with prunes. Pictured above on the left with the same recipe done with dates on the right. Anyway, you'll need:
24 oz of large pitted prunes
1 lb of grated coconut (I measured: one coconut yields about 1 lb of grated coconut)
1/2 lb of sugar
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup water
a box or jar of cloves (whole)
Choose only the moist prunes and form them into boat shapes. Prepare the filling: melt the sugar in the water in a saucepan on low heat, then add the coconut and the egg yolks. Mix well and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring from time to time with a wooden spoon.Stuff the prunes with the coconut sweet while it's still warm and stick a clove in the center of each "docinho" to form the pupil of the eye. Serve in small paper cups, which you should be able to find in better cooking stores or party favors shops in the US. An alternative filling I like very much is coconut kisses. Prepare the recipe, but instead of making the little balls use it to fill the prunes.
In Brazil, everyone knows you're not supposed to eat the clove, but you might want to tell your guests that they're in the sweets as a decoration only!