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!

                                                                                                          

Monday, September 28, 2015

A break from the usual pastry with coffee, this morning I'm having Greek yogurt (somehow here it tastes more like sourcream) and fresh passion fruit from mom's garden.

Fresh walnuts straight from the tree. Time to think of a dessert.

Dinner was grilled octopus with boiled potatoes & an escabeche sauce made of olive oil, vinegar, minced onion, garlic & parsley, paprika & salt.  It's poured over  both.                                                            

Life is pretty low key here in the country as I knew it would be this week.  Been enjoying the slower pace of life before I get into full sight seeing mode next week and a more hectic schedule that it brings.