the hot goddess

Hello, April

As we begin this first full month of spring here in Portugal, there is much to be happy for looking back on the last month. Here’s what has me smiling as an over-60 midlife expat and solo retiree.

I had my first Portuguese cooking class, in Lisbon, where I learned how to make my favorite Portuguese comfort food — bacalhau com natas (salted cod with cream). I also learned how to make frango piri-piri (spicy piri-piri chicken) and a sautéed prawns appetizer. I now know what refugado is. There is no English translation, but it’s a ubiquitous cooking base of olive oil, onions, garlic, and bay leaves. Additionally, I found out I’ve been removing shrimp and prawn heads the wrong way. They should be twisted off, not pulled. Who knew?

A kitchen is not my natural habitat.
Unless it comes with lots of wine

I then practiced my new skills by making bacalhau com natas at home for the first time, on Easter. I actually made it with a friend at his house, and it turned out great! We love adding spinach to the traditional recipe. You never see that done in restaurants, but the cooking school suggested adding the spinach for color and nutrients, and now it’s my new favorite recipe. Making it is not quick, though, due to required prep time.

Bacalhau is sold like this. Unrefrigerated, in dried, salted slabs. When you purchase a slab, the market cuts it into pieces for you with a saw. The pieces must be soaked in water for two or three days, changing the water three times a day, to remove excess salt. The de-salted, re-hydrated cod pieces can then be cooked according to recipes. 

Image source: The Portugalist
Soaked and rinsed for three days
Can we eat now?
Somebody was supposed to be watching the broiler so this didn’t happen. Not naming names, but her initials are NW.
We made ours with extra cream sauce, perfect for mopping up with fresh, crusty bread. It needed more flour to thicken to the right consistency. Next time. This was delicious, though.
Nope, this is not an April Fool’s joke. I We really did this at home.

A road trip to the ancient town of Évora was another highlight. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Évora is known for its Roman temple, bone chapel, megaliths dubbed the “Portuguese Stonehenge,” and many more cultural attractions.

A warm weekend trip to Aveiro for the Spring Classic bike race was a blast. Aveiro, near Porto, is a picturesque town known as “the Venice of Portugal” because of its canals.

I am rolling with the unpredictable spring weather here on the Silver Coast, with blue skies, windstorms, and downpours all in a day. Sometimes, all in an hour. Wet, windy, or sunny, it’s still beautiful.

Rain was pounding and wind blowing
at up to 80 km/h a minute ago.
A clear night sky over the ocean takes my breath away. I went outside on my third-floor balcony with my tripod for this one.
Rains often clear out in time for sunset.
Spring’s blooms dance in the wind.
Óbidos lagoon reflects the brilliant blue sky above. Minutes later it was pouring rain.
A sunny afternoon, perfect for a walk.
Make it quick.
When there’s a sudden downpour, ducking into a cafe is always an option. It wasn’t raining when I tore into ate this delicious creation. A ham, arugula, and pear jam crepe just screams springtime.

I hoped to include photos of my train trip to Fundão for the cherry blossom festival, but stormy weather led us to postpone this outing by a week. Fundão is in the Castelo Branco district of eastern Portugal, and is known as the country’s cherry capital. The train route is called the Cherry Circuit. I’ll publish any good photos here next time.

Image source: Center of Portugal

Back in the U.S. it’s National Poetry Month. This poem — “At the Spring Dawn,” by Angelina Weld Grimke — appeared in Negro Poets and Their Poems in 1923. It perfectly sums up my midlife spring mood.

Source: Poets.org
At the spring dawn. View from my bedroom at 6:30 A.M.

Thinking of rainbows… Happy birthday in heaven today to my BFF, Lela.

Lela and I were all smiles here in Paris. Our final girls trip before she died of ovarian cancer. She’d be 65 today.
Gurrll, we’d be turning Portugal OUT!!!

OK, you know I have to end with a laugh now. These, from various unknown sources, had me chuckling.

Spelling is important, people.
Yep! And don’t even get me started on what happens when I run out of wine.
But this is sooo much easier, right?
Grandma! My girl!

(Thank you for this, Esmeralda)
Grandma’s idea too?

(Do NOT ask me why this is on my Libby library app. Do. Not.)

Thank you for reading ❤️. Happy April! May your weekend be showered with unpredictable laughter.

Sorry. I just can’t get enough of these sunny beach days!

All images are my own, except as noted.

The Hot Goddess

Instagram: retired_rewired_inspired

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49 comments

  4. Unpredictable laughter and birthdays…i turn 54 on Sunday woo hoo…another great post, especially the cooking class that meal looked divine.

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  6. Gorgeous photos and videos, delicious-looking food, funny memes…everything I want in a Hot Goddess post!

    So sorry for the loss of your BFF – I’m sure she is looking at all you’ve done with your move full of pride for you, and wishing she could be there to be part of it.

    I was reflecting just yesterday on how many high school classmates of mine are gone already. Some of the most popular, most gifted ones never made it out of their 40s or 50s. I guess there was a reason they peaked so young? I dunno; I can’t make any sense of it.

    Deb

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  11. Wow! Amazing photos… as always! Love your raunchy sense of humor! The cooking class sounds like a massively fun idea!

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  17. Happy April to you, Natalie! The kitchen might not be your natural habitat but you sure look a natural beauty in there! The food looks delicious and your photos are fabulous! Thank for sharing your amazing life journey with us. 🙏🏻💖

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  19. I’m so impressed by your cooking skills Natalie, even if the come with lots of wine. 😀 And about thinking of rainbows… and your BFF in heaven, I can only offer you a virtual BIG HUG. For when we lose our best friends, a part of us dies too. Take care! ❤

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