DONNA in PORTUGAL . . . and BROCCOLI with PINE NUTS

Imagine a group of seniors on a cycling holiday – sounds incredible, right?  Now picture them in the mountains of Portugal!  NO!  That’s impossible!!!

But that’s just what Bryan’s sister did a few weeks ago with her husband, Jack.

HATS OFF  TO ALL OF YOU!

They went with a group of friends . . .    Here’s what Donna wrote: 

It was an amazing trip made out of a group of Serious Seniors determined to go down fighting.   The biking was much more challenging than we expected but no one gave up and each and every day we saw more confidence and improvement in each of us.  The guides were wonderful but even they were taken by surprise by some of the terrain.  The earlier Spring rains had changed the landscape some.

Portugal was in bloom and the sights we saw were quintessential European, beautiful and yet simple, basic from the terraced vineyards
to the incredible roses and multi coloured hydrangea.  The cobble stoned roads and every city and village was on a hill top.  It was an adventure packed with laughter and memories.

I need a holiday to get over that holiday.

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As for food, here are some tantalizing bits written by Donna’s friend, Lee:

“huge long tables in sunny village squares”

“a fabulous laugh filled day that ended with enormous plates of food at riverside cafes.  Bev had a plate with five six inch long sardines, close to a dozen potatoes and a mountain of veggies swimming in an oil she kept declaring delicious”

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Yes, I’m adding Portugal to my bucket list . . . but not as a cycling trip.

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Cooking is not Donna’s thing but she and Jack love to entertain.

   Here’s a simple and delicious recipe that may help! 

BROCCOLI with PINE NUTS

            From THE VICTORY GARDEN COOKBOOK

Toast pine nuts by stirring them in a dry pan over medium high heat.  Watch carefully.

Heat butter in a pan to brown slightly.   Add cooked broccoli.  Garnish with ½ cup toasted pine nuts.

  

YUM!