Portuguese Chocolate Sausage
What a surprise! My first bite … between fudge and brownie … Not too sweet chocolate flavor with roasted nuts. Chocolate Salami is an Italian and Portuguese favorite. But I have to admit while I lean to the Portuguese side I did add Amaretto instead of Port. Your choice of liqueurs is extensive. Just make it something that goes with chocolate and coffee. Exactly … What doesn’t? Not into a liqueur? Just add a little more coffee in its place.
I came across this dessert at a family reunion. Other foods from that wonderful day I have yet to try my hand. These are coming soon.
Pastéis de Nata
Bolo Levedos
This simple main dish can become your breakfast omelet too. Use your favorite greens, kale here but spinach for a milder flavor. Any of the greens will do. This is one of those quick recipes that will have your family eating in 20-30 minutes. Can easily become a soup by adding a vegetable broth. Very versatile.
A family recipe I would have never tasted if it weren’t for Margie. Margie put together a family gathering (yesterday) … Through ancestry.com she found my brother (and then me), and Marie (her family) and many others. Now, I’m not advocating family searches. But in our case, my brother & me, we were curious. My father’s father died at a young age and dad just slipped into the Willitts and Perry families. Dan & I heard very little about dad’s other side of the family. Not for the reason that perhaps you might guess. It was a matter of life getting in the way. So when we heard from Margie we were excited … as excited as she was!
Margaret Costa’s beans to be exact! Margaret is my second cousin and I’m hoping she’ll forgive me for tweaking her recipe just a bit. Honestly, I just don’t cook for 10 to 20 people like Margaret did regularly. Again, the recipe calls for cinnamon. I’ve been questioned about the use of this spice in Portuguese bean recipes. I can assure you this spice was added to these recipes long before I began to cook. I explain the use on regional cooking to a fallback when other spices weren’t available. The originators of many of my Portuguese recipes are no longer living, and I just have no one to ask why they used cinnamon so liberally. It’s like all those photos with unrecognizable people. Why didn’t I ask when I could? I hope you will enjoy this very simple chili bean recipe that’s all about spices.
Deliciously hearty for the chilly weather ahead, Portuguese Lentil Soup with a bit of cinnamon. The mild flavor of the pork meatballs allow the spices to shine through. The perfect comfort food for cold weather.
