MASSA

S. Miguel (Sao Miguel), known as "The Green Island", is the largest and most populated island of the Azores as well as the home to the Presidency of the Autonomous Region of the Azores. S. Miguel island has a surface area of approximately 293 square miles (759 km2). S. Miguel's population is around 150.000 inhabitants. so essentially it fits into NEW YORK CITY TWICE

this Island was home to my parents and all their parents and so forth .......

it is amazing to me that this little island in the middle of the Atlantic has so much influence on how I live my holidays and in my cooking style MOST ordinary days.

Living in Colorado has been So wonderful and even though BOSTON calls to me in my dreams usually in the form of a loud Red socks fan Or a Giant cup of frozen Dells lemonade
it is always whispering in a thick south shore accent "Ahhh Come Awwn AwReady don'tCha wanna come home huh Huh?"

and I feel a bit of sadness. But If being away means being around the Rocky mountains ??? Then I am AwwwRIGHT Fah Now!

BUT the challenge here has been BAKING!! ahhh yes they do scare the tar out of though when you move here..."oh you gotta get use to things Never turning out right ...never rising etc......."

so your scared from the get go of how the heck you are going to make all your sea level yummies work UP HERE!!!!!! up in the clouds....the highest peaks the sky!!

AT GODS FEET!!!!! HOW WILL YOU MAKE BROWNIES WITH GODS TOES IN YOUR WAY!!!!!!!!!!

Geesh, its enough to make you pack it all in and head to safeway and NEVER think of even opening your oven unless your heating a frozen pizza or something....

SOOO baking Portuguese Easter Bread was a pipe dream it was just another page in my cookbook of my moms handed down recipes that would sit and wait till the day ....Well I move away OR they dig a tunnel underground Denver where weary moms who miss baking can sneak off to and bake.

I TOOK THAT ALTITUDE CHALLENGE!!!!

and by GOD I WON!!!!!!!!!

I carefully read the recipe prepared my ingredients and started at 9AM sharp! Saturday morning....And watched as they rose, and watched as they baked and there they were in all there sweet bread Goodness!!!! rising rising rising!!!!!!

Easter significance???? Coincidence??? I think NOT !!!

I feel very proud and terribly happy! from Azores to the US to my home in Highlands Ranch Colorado.....tradition lives on !!!