Monday, September 28, 2015 
Bade, Cerdal (Valença do Minho)

I wake this morning to see that as the early sun rises to the east, the westerly view from my bedroom window shows the full moon slowly disappearing behind the Spanish mountainside.  An amazing start to the day!

Yesterday was spent relaxing, visiting with family and cooking- a typical Sunday. The two highlights for me were visiting with my great-aunt Rosa (now 102 years old and sharp as a tack!) and making that fall harvest pork dish I previously mentioned. 

Chestnuts are first boiled with wild fennel & wild mint. 

The finished dish garnished with fresh grapes and figs from the orchard was served with loaf a warm rustic bread and a bottle of red wine from the Alentejo region.  Yum!