DESSERT of the GODS, for Christmas and New Year!

This December was packed with new experiences in Estremoz:

• We made Mogango Jam, delicious. A kind of pumpkin very well known here in the Alentejo!

• We cut and cured Olives we picked ourselves from the olive tree here in grandad's Garden. They sat in untreated water (from the borehole), changed regularly, for 7 days, and at the end we seasoned them with salt, oregano and bay leaf.

• We restored 3 gates of the Garden and the Factory, sanded them and gave them a new colour!

• For 3 days we were the "owners" of Herdade da Marmeleira. Looking after the hens, the dog, the cat, the garden and our couple of guests were some of our tasks as Alentejo hosts.

• We went picking persimmons at the Quinta de Evoramonte, and there were so many that we decided to invent a Persimmon Dessert. It was a hit!!! Even people who say they do not like persimmons will be won over: sweet, with hardly any sugar, light, not cloying, and fresh. We recommend it! Here is the recipe for 2011!

PERSIMMON – "Food of Zeus" (the God of gods) or "Food for the Gods"

DESSERT of the GODS

• 1 glass bowl

• Very ripe persimmons: 6, 12, 18,… to fill ¾ of your bowl

• Crumbled Maria biscuits to mix with the persimmons

• 1 or 2 cartons of cream, depending on the size of your bowl, whipped with 2 or 4 tablespoons of sugar, to cover the persimmon and biscuit mixture

• Dust with cinnamon

• Serve chilled!

A wonderful 2011 full of sweet surprises :)