In the old days before the internet, recipes were collected and exchanged in a variety of ways. Chance meetings in supermarkets, television shows, magazines, and newspaper clippings resulted in recipe boxes and stacks and folders and half-cataloged file drawers full of loose recipes.

This is one such drawer, that belongs to my Mother in Law, who has actually used and tested some of these recipes, or at least she found them good enough to collect and put in the drawer. I sat down with a cellphone one day years ago and took photos of every scrap of paper in that drawer, every page of every notebook, every magazine page and box flap, and then I transcribed them and translated them.

The resulting collection was massive, so I divided it into seven volumes. Not shockingly, three of these are desserts, but there are also traditional Brazilian recipes in these pages for meals and snacks, vegetarians and carnivores, there's really something for everyone here.

Each dollar I make from the sale of these books goes to producing unique and experimental art and content in Central Brazil. So, please buy them all, you're supporting a diverse and relevant culture by making art and music and movies that showcase their talents to the world.