The Coffee House

[sashbar]

We can not decide what to cook for Xmas. We do not want turkey and kids do not eat meat. Fish? Does not sound really Xmacy.

Interesting. Fish is the traditional Christmas dinner in Portugal. Bacalhau. When I was growing up, we always had fish, but my mother often cooked a turkey, too. She was always presenting us with traditional Portuguese fare combined with whatever American dishes she thought were traditional. Sometimes we got it right (Thanksgiving turkey) and sometimes not (Christmas lasagne?)

But there was always fish for Christmas. The preparation we tend to follow is called Bacalhau a Gomes de Sa. Each region puts a slightly different spin on it, but it is essentially dried cod layered with sliced potatoes, with olive oil, salt and pepper, and hard-boiled eggs added towards the end of cooking.

Ok, that changes everything . I will google that Bacalhau stuff.

 

[limr35 4]

It's very simple and really delicious. Oh, and I forgot the onions! They get layered in there, too. For the past 5 years or so, it seems that I am the one who has taken over bacalhau duty. My sister hosts Christmas Eve dinner and she varies what she serves, but I always bring the fish.

 

[limr35 4]

Ah yes. Fish for Christmas. One of my brothers-in-law is of Portuguese origin (by way of the Azores), and we were often invited to his family's Christmas meals. Quite different from traditional western fare, with lots of fish and other things (calamari in tomato sauce, breaded calamari, and things I wasn't sure about but they all tasted delicious) that "normally" wouldn't show up on our tables. Oh, and lots of various types of baked goods (sorry Leonore, I was told the various names of what we ate, but being the cultural heathen that I was, all I can say is that it was all delicious). And about ten times more food than people available to eat it. My brother-in-law is a very good cook, and occasionally he still makes some of the stuff his mother used to make, but he considers it "home" food and not good enough to entertain the guests with. Much to our disappointment.

"Ten times more food than people available to eat it." Yup, that's a Portuguese dinner The food is wonderful and then come the desserts, which are more wonderful! The one we always had was a sponge cake called Pao de lo. (There are squigglies and accents over some of those letters but it's a pain in the ass to add them on an American keyboard). There were also rebanadas, which is basically French toast. And Bolo Rei, a kind of fruit cake. Oh, and the pudim - flan, but the caramelized sugar is done until it's almost burnt, so the flavor and texture is different from a typical Spanish flan.

 

[Designer]

I've cooked a crown roast a couple of times. Probably too late to get one ordered for Christmas now. It usually takes at least a week.

 

[snowbear121 52]

"Ten times more food than people available to eat it." Yup, that's a Portuguese dinner The food is wonderful and then come the desserts, which are more wonderful! The one we always had was a sponge cake called Pao de lo. (There are squigglies and accents over some of those letters but it's a pain in the ass to add them on an American keyboard). There were also rebanadas, which is basically French toast. And Bolo Rei, a kind of fruit cake. Oh, and the pudim - flan, but the caramelized sugar is done until it's almost burnt, so the flavor and texture is different from a typical Spanish flan.

OK, now I'm hungry.

 

[Gary A.]

We can not decide what to cook for Xmas. We do not want turkey and kids do not eat meat. Fish? Does not sound really Xmacy.

Tamales ... here you can get tamales of every flavor including veggie. If you can find tamales in London, typically there will be pork, chicken, beef and chili-cheese ... the chili-cheese is meatless. (Tamales are the traditional Christmas feast in Mexico.)

 

[Rick58]

Great shots!

 

[Gary A.]

I just louped my film ... came out pretty good. I am getting excited about the MF camera.

 

[sashbar]

OK, now I have an easy choice between bacalhau and tamales...emmm...wait a minute..

 

[pgriz]

OK, now I have an easy choice between bacalhau and tamales...emmm...wait a minute..

Do both. And start a tradition.

 

[Designer]

One of those girls looks just like my granddaughter.

 

[sashbar]

Great shots!

Yes, I would love to have such an ability to fill the frame perfectly.

 

[snowbear121 52]

Roast is in the crock pot. Sauteed an onion and chopped garlic in EVOO, then deglazed the pan with Jim Beam. Rubbed the roast with a spice mix and seared it, and deglazed the pan with Jim Beam. Put the onion and garlic into the crock pot, then added the roast, beef stock and some more Jim Beam. This is one drunk pig!

 

[Gary A.]

Great shots!

Than you.

Great shots!

Yes, I would love to have such an ability to fill the frame perfectly.

Tamales ... eat some tamales then go shooting.

 

[limr35 4]

Grades are calculated and entered. DONE!!!

Most semesters, a few students will email and ask me to explain their grade. For the most part, the answer is, "You got a C because I gave you a gift, so you might not want to question this further." Hopefully this nonsense will be kept to a minimum this semester and they'll leave me alone until next semester.

Oh how I love being done with a semester!