Holidays

Meals for the Holidays can be boring. Looking for something different to start off that turkey or lamb dinner?  Check out my recipe for Zesty Linguica Spread. Use it as a spread, fill premade filo cups or roll it or fold it, up in puff pastry and bake for bite size appetizers.  Looking for something garlicky?  Garlic Soup is a perfectly subtle garlic fix to serve as a first course or milder still for the non-garlic lover, try my Puree of Chestnut Soup. How about that turkey?  Try brining your poultry the Portuguese way.  Check out these recipes and ones for stuffing in my book, Authentic Portuguese Cooking.

Christmas Eve traditionally brings Consoada, a dinner of poached salted cod.  It includes assorted vegetables drizzled with olive oil and vinegar, and scattered over with chopped garlic to the table. Sweet Rice Pudding, Fried Dough, Sweet Bread most likely make their presence too. The King’s Bread, Bolo Rei is sometimes seen though it also can be served 6 days after on “little Christmas”

Carnival time is not celebrated by all, but those that do might whip up a traditional boiled dinner.  Even a feijoada (Bean and Pork Stew) along with Cavacas, the iced sweet popover like pastries might be enjoyed. Sonhos, the fried pate choux pastries and the fried doughs: filhos and malassadas are usually made. Some of the mentioned recipes are on this site. Check out my cookbook , Portuguese Home Cooking pages as well to see which book has the recipes for the holidays you are interested in.