Brazilian homesick? Find a place to buy a Panettone.

Living abroad is good when you are in a nice and charming city like I am.

However it can be tricky, mainly in Christmas time. Because this timing of the year is when you see most of those folks preparing to be together, and then getting together to celebrate life, health, new borns, and victories. You try going out, but all places are playing a sad song to remind you are the only one without family.

For those homesick cases, the experts recommend you do something you used to when you were over there. Of course you can call them, but if this isn't enough for you... You can just keep a digital portrait with your best records, a special object you brought last time you were there, or also prepare a whole meal with country's flavors.

Nowadays seems easier than ever, I just found at CVS this kind of cake made of fruits called Panettone. Everybody eats those Italian cakes in Brazil, mainly in the end of the year. They are moist, and you can buy even without fruits, only chocolate. Yummy.

Now you know what I'll eat all long to avoid the homesickness.

Bauducco Panettone, specialty cake with candied fruits and sun.maid raisins.

Origins are from the Italian Renaissance, where a rich man worked in a store to impress a baker's daughter. They married and served his new sweet, domed bread to such wedding guest as Leonardo da Vinci.

"In 1952, in a small confectionery, the Bauducco family began making Panettones using its special recipe from italy. With great dedication, work and a special talent for baking, the family saw its Panettone become increasingly recognized for its quality and unique taste. In the past 50 years much has changed, but the care and dedication in which Bauducco Panettones are made remain the same. Quality and tradition made Bauducco the best selling Panettone in the U.S. and worldwide. Enjoy!"

Ingredients: wheat flour, sugar, 9% crystallized fruits (orange 5%, papaya 3.7%, criton 1.3%), raisins - 9%, vegetable oil, whole egg, egg yolk, 2.5% butter,  malt extract, salt, corn oil, natural flavors, emulsifier: mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, preservatives (calcium porpionate and sorbic acid), color additive (synthetic beta carotene).

Contains gluten, traces of peanuts, almonds, oat, hazelnut, cashew nut, soy derivates, sesame, milk, rye and barley.

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Isabela: Brazilian, designer, works with automotive fabrics in the US. She did psychology college as well and had enjoyed a lot. She is living abroad for while, maybe because this she likes trends, cultures and behaviors.