Merry Christmas in Portugal

Christmas is a very important season in Portugal: families get together, people get closer to each other, business thrives and delicious food is cooked.

Portugal is proud of its cooking. I have travelled quite a bit and I can say that the Portuguese food is one of the best in the whole world.

On the 23rd of December women (as tradition dictates) start cooking and preparing the meal for Christmas Eve. This may sound odd, but preparing the sweets is hard work, and it seems to take forever.

I now invite you to get to know a bit of the Portuguese Christmas menu.

The table is set on the 24th of December.

Dinner on Christmas Eve

The Portuguese tradition is to eat cod-fish (either boiled and served with potatoes, cabbage, carrots and bathed by olive oil; or cooked in the oven with cream and veggies or even grilled with roasted potatoes showered by olive oil); but we also eat roasted lamb or turkey (a borrowed tradition, from the Anglo-Saxons).

(Roasted Lamb)

(Cod-fish with roasted potatoes)

Even though I do not celebrate Christmas, I must confess that I love profiting from all the cooking done in this time of the year.

Look at the sweets below...

Sweets

This first image depicts "Sonhos" [translation: dreams] (a fried dough, that afterwards is either eaten with syrup [made of sugar, cinnamon and lemon peal] or sugar and cinnamon) - they are a must in every Portugese Christmas table; and their flavour is absolutely dreamy!

(Sonhos)

This second image shows us the Rabanadas (fried bread, that afterwards is either served with with syrup or sugar and cinnamon) - it is best eaten on Christmas morning with a good cup of coffee.

(Rabanadas)

This third picture shares the image of Filhoses de abóbora (fried pumpkin dough which is served with sugar and cinnamon, although in some parts of the country it is served with syrup) - I only have one word to describe these filhoses [the "lh" sound in Portuguese is like the double L in Spanish): Yummy!!

(Filhoses de Abóbora)

And this last picture, but not the least, shows the legendary Arroz Doce (Rice Puddin sprinkled with cinnamon). There is not a Portuguese home or restaurant where you can't find this wonderful dessert. And its presence is vital during Christmas time (although we eat it all year round).

(Arroz Doce)

These sweets garnish wonderfully any Christmas table and lash the air with its delightful perfume (cinnamon does wonders to the senses).

They are also the reason why the reasonable Portuguese spend January, February and March exercising to burn off all these calories.

Now you know a bit about the Portuguese eating habits and I hope it raised, in you, the curiosity to one day try our cuisine.

But while you do not...

Happy Festivities!!

Images: found through Google Images

Some Women kill me...

...Yes, they kill me whenever they reject the consequences of their own choices, and then take it out of their significant-other.

There are women who marry men whose job is critical. They know, from the start, their men have these jobs and yet they end up messing up the relationship.

Let’s take a quick look at some examples:

Situation A

A woman starts dating a doctor (now, we all know how demanding this beautiful profession is). She marries him, they have kids and she decides to stop working. He spends a lot of time in the hospital (which is natural) and when he comes home, after 30 hours of work, he has to listen to his wife complaining about how he is never at home, and how the kids miss him.

Hello! Lady, you knew he was a doctor when you married him, what did you expect? As for the kids, stop transferring to them your frustration and be a real mother (i.e. mom & dad all in one).

Situation B

A woman dates a soldier (and we all know what it means to be a soldier). Only, he is not a plain soldier, and he explains that to her (even though he doesn’t offer much details – for obvious reasons). She marries him, and she keeps her job. He spends long periods of time on missions; and when he returns home his wife complains how lonely she is, and how he is never around when she gets home from work (thus, not having anyone to share her day with) and she wants the divorce…

Hello! Lady, being the wife of a soldier can be tough; but hey, why don’t you interact with the other wives? You knew how things would be…why did you marry the guy?

Situation C

A woman marries a secret agent. When they were dating, she was explained that he worked for the government and that he was not allowed to discuss his job: she accepted it. In the beginning all went rather well, but after a time she began to grow weary of not knowing exactly what he did – once she even said “for all I know you could be killing people!”…what a folly!

This type of woman wishes to make the man choose between her and his job – big mistake!

Lady, you knew what he was involved in; you knew he couldn’t talk about it…so why the fuss? Do you have that much need to be the centre of the universe?

The examples are endless: women who marry fire-fighters; women who marry police officers; women who marry security guards; women who marry nurses etc…

The point is: if a lady chooses to consciously embark in a relationship with all its intricacies, then she is liable for her own choices (plus its consequences), and therefore, before discontentment, she has no right to blame her man or anyone else.

Be a Woman, with capital W, and face your own music!

Image: Margaret in Church by Eugéne Delacroix

Letter to Eros

Dear Eros,

I hope this missive finds you in excellent health and fitness.

Today I went to Athens (the day was beautiful, the city as lovely as ever) and my ears were severely attacked by vicious gossip and hideous plots. I promise you, the delightful meal that pampered my stomach was nearly regurgitated.

The purpose of this letter is to warn you. Now, do not be frightened although apparently serious, the matter is less worrying than anyone would think (in fact, I personally found it quite ridiculous), nevertheless, be warned:

There are individuals who wish to sever the ties that deeply bond you to Psyche (as if it were ever possible: what God united no man tears asunder). They ignore that both of you are already married and therefore endeavour to juggle with your sentimental life as if you were a ball, a pin, a dog or even their slave.

From what I’ve heard (and please, ask me not the source of this classified information) they think very highly of you (to them you are a precious gem, and that is why they have lined up a group of virgins for your selection [but I ask, from man to man, who the bloody hell wants a virgin?]), it is Psyche they view not with good eyes: her ancestry is not appealing to them and her beauty can only lead you to the abyss (she’s the devil, they say: her art in love will distract you; her witchcraft will deviate you from the path of the gods; her blood will generate dark offspring...and “God forbid that!” [their own words, my friend, certainly not mine]; her psyche is a menace to their plans [fools!]; her femininity will enslave their sons and her ways may inspire their daughters to become harlots).

Please, my friend, caution I beseech you. Do not permit rage to cloud reason: do not go out and start shooting your foes – mind your Divine wings.

You are Eros: show them you are not their dog, their slave, not even their lackey...you are not a fly to feel drawn to turd; you are the finest bee that is attracted to the most luxurious and luscious of flowers: Psyche (so fly to her).

Eros, my friend, end these pitiful gossips and ludicrous plots once and for all: surely you know what’s to be done.

I leave you with friendship in my heart. The next missive you’ll receive from me will offer you accounts on how I managed to snatch an exotic young woman (it was quite an adventure: negotiations were involved – so refreshing!).

Truly your friend,

Chaos

Image: The Fortune Teller by Caravaggio