Category Archives: Portuguese
We just got back from Boston! It always seems to take a good week to really get back into our routine after arriving home, as well Lenny is always a bit sad after we get back and I try my best to put a smile on his face. During a quick run to the grocery store, I decided to surprise him with one of his favorite Portuguese dishes that I can make, Kale and Chick Pea Soup.
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Lenny is Portuguese, which basically translates into, his mother is a GREAT cook, which translates into, One Must Eat All the Time, when there. Basically, we have to lose at least 5 pounds before going there, so we have room to gain it all back. Food and feeding Lenny is a pretty serious task when we go back to visit. The first question is not, “how was your flight?” instead it is, “what do you want to eat?” Now, it is not just his mother’s way, either, it is THE Portuguese way. Take for instance, we arrived, we had a huge meal of salted cod fish and potatoes, lots of GREAT bread and wine. Then we went to his aunt and uncle’s home later in the evening, just for wine and conversation; we ate again. It was hard to say no, cooked chorizo!! Don’t get us wrong, the food is not the problem, the problem is … we do not know how to stop, especially Lenny …. we just keep going!
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Also, known as Malassadas or Filhoses.
When I saw that Helen of Tartelette and Peabody of Culinary Concoctions were hosting the first ever Fried Dough Fest, I knew I had the perfect recipe! L.s’ mothers Malasada. The first time I ever had one was not with L. but instead over in Honolulu at Leonards. I fell in love … who could resist fried dough, stuffed with coconut cream! I love them so much that I eat them twice if not three times a day when I am over there; nothing like stuffing oneself before stuffing yourself into a swimsuit! Then I met L. and found out he was Portuguese and from San Miguel Island, where these morsels orginated – what a lucky girl was I, a hunky guy who’s mother could make these for me or better yet teach me how to make them, then I could stuff myself silly full of fried dough!
They are really pretty simple to make. A easy yeast dough that you let rise for a couple hours, heat up some FAT and fry baby, fry, then dust them with a little sugar! Remember, not to think about your diet as you are inhaling them, because one is never enough!
This week is clean up week at our house. Every couple months, I like to go through the pantry (all of one shelf), the fridge and the freezer (not that we really freeze anything but some bacon &/or pancetta, a bottle of gin, some ice trays, random glasses and the occasional food item that makes it there – the D. of Chez does not believe in frozen food) and we use up everything we have. Actually, I go through the entire house – closets, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen cabinets, etc… and everything that has not been used or thought of in the past few months – GONE! Minimalist. But, we are not here to tell you about your house but rather about what we eat every night for dinner. So, we are back in our kitchen now …. like I said we use up everything we have left. I get very creative and sometimes I come up with some old favorite dish that I kind of forget about or maybe I come up with some new ones that we start using all the time. Tonight it was an old favorite of L.s … Favaish.
L.’s mother makes favaish and she makes it very good, I will never be able to make it the way Mom does. Mine is probably more noveau but he likes it, too! Unfortunately, the vision I had for it quite did not happen because of the frozen bag of Fava’s I used, they ended up being more like mush or split peas – that is why I prefer fresh, but what is a girl suppose to do in the dead of winter! Regardless, when you add a bottle of wine, some crusty french bread, you have a fantastic, flavorful meal!
Apetite Bom!
this is how it felt tonight and how sad it was. I always hate long sad good-byes and I wish there was a way to make it all better! Why, let’s eat, everything feels better with food! L.’s mother made a few more of his favorites tonight, sweet peas with chorizo, salted cod fish croquettes with peppers and of course wine! I love the salted cod fish croquettes as much as L. does, a definite must learn to make for our home!
ps…. was not local but we will be hitting the local trail more faithfully starting tomorrow!
L. loves this dish called “favish” – I am sure I have spelled it wrong – and can not wait until he is back home to have his mother make it for him, I make it but not like Moms! I have to admit, hers is very good – old country style. Reminds me of a dish my great grandmother, grandmother and great aunts use to make, a basque bean dish that they made using red beans. Lucky, for us both we have had it while she is visiting, got to love moms!
Also, known as baccalá, bacalao, bacalhau, and morue. Cooked with potatoes and served with eggs, olives and spicy peppers. L.’s mom made this special treat for us for dinner …. as always it was Very good unfortunately, not very local though.
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