Know for it's marble quarries...and the home of Rosa Quarries,touting fine rose coloured marble...and Estremoz White Marble. Nearly 85% of all marble shipped from Portugal originates here. There is so much marble that most buildings have elaborate marble façades and entrance-ways...and fine white marble dust is mixed and used to whitewash them.
Also known for it's durable (although gaudy, in my opinion) woven wool rugs.
Assumability, the by product of all that fleece in neighboring Alentejo.
The Portuguese Farmer's Bread is chewy, slightly sweet with a crisp crust. Although most of us do not have the steam ovens they have in Portugal....a satisfactory crispness can be obtained by using a spray bottle with water to mist the inner walls of the oven during the last 15 minutes of baking.
Pao
One tablespoon yeast (or for more authenticity...used soured dough to start)
3/4 cup whole grain wheat flour.
2 tablespoons honey or sugar
1 cup very warm water
Combine these three and let yeast work for 15 minutes.
Add 1 teaspoon salt.
then add 3 cups all purpose flour.
Mix well...turn out on floured surface and knead dough until silky.
Shape into a round 8" loaf...brush top with butter and salt top well. This loaf will rise as it bakes.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until crust is browned and bread sounds hollow when thumped.
Remember to lightly mist oven walls for crisp crust during the last 15 minutes of baking.
Cool slightly before cutting.
Like Rissoles...Acorda a Alentejana (Bread or Begger's Soup) is literally a use up all the leftovers dish. Anything goes!
The base is largely any broth, garlic, olive oil, and cilantro...into this is tossed bit and pieces of leftover meats, cheese, and vegetables, heated to a boil and seasoned to taste. Then bowls are dished up and chunks of the (stale) end of the week bread are placed in the soup until the broth is completely absorbed and the bread is soggy.
Garnished with bits of meat, veggies and cilantro.
Here an egg had been added to poach in the hot broth then served.
Bread soup isn't limited to bread, either. Stale rolls and crackers can also be used.
The result is surprisingly good!
Off to play in the flowers and kitchen garden with Nicole tomorrow. We are trying a new Lemon Cream Pie recipe and there will be much chat and coffee...and quite a bit of spoil Aiden time!
More Anon...
