The Portuguese part of my family were great cooks. Brilliant cooks, honestly. And I think a reason for that was because for so long they had to learn to create goodness out of little; they had to feed many people out of not too much, right? And because they loved each other, they wanted what they shared to taste… Well, they wanted it to taste good. So, they developed ways to use up leftovers and ways to make simple things taste special.
You can compare this to my Nana Morse (totally not Portuguese) who had a tendency to put peanut butter inside a celery stick and call it good. Sometimes she put in cream cheese instead. You avoided those sticks.
The family rule was to not eat anything Nana made if it had a dairy product in it because… Well, people in my family preferred not to vomit, basically.
Anyways, this recipe was cheap, filling, and its main ingredients were garlic, bread, and water. So… yeah… There you go!
Migas (Portuguese Style)
You have bread left. You’re poor. You need to eat it. The calories are totally an estimate. Sorry.
You can add paprika, or onions.
There are a ton of variations. I have seen it with mushrooms. I have seen black-eyed peas thrown in, but this is the most basic version that I had as a kid, most likely because it’s the cheapest. 🙂
- 1 lb crusty bread – old but not moldy because idk (cut up or torn up)
- 6 TBSP olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic (peeled, hole)
- 3.5 cups water – about, may need a bit more
- 1 bunch coriander
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Find a saucepan. Boil water in it.
Water should always be free, shouldn’t it? And clean? Think about how you are spending all your time writing blog posts instead of working for clean water. Feel guilt.
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Find another saucepan.
Put oil in that saucepan on low heat. Put garlic in there, too.
Cook for three minutes, stirring it a bit.
Decide if you write about clean water needs you don’t need to feel guilty that don’t have enough money to donate towards the cause. You’re a writer. It’s okay to write. Feel better.
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Add the bread to the second saucepan where the oil and garlic are hanging out.
Imagine you’re hanging out with famous political activists at a party where there is an announcement about free, clean water available all around the world because of your inspiring blog post.
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Gradually pour in the boiling water from the first saucepan and into the second. Let it mix and be warm. When the bread starts getting mushy and the water’s gone. You’re done cooking.
Mourn the water. Realize how important water really is. Feel guilty again.
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Add coriander or kale to the top. Add salt and pepper.
Writing News
Carrie’s super excited about the upcoming TIME STOPPERS book coming out this August.
This middle grade fantasy series happens in Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine and it’s all about friendship and magic and kids saving their magical town.
An imaginative blend of fantasy, whimsy, and suspense, with a charming cast of underdog characters . . . This new fantasy series will entice younger fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson.” – School Library Journal
“A wild and fresh take on fantasy with an intriguing cast of characters. Dangerous and scary and fun all rolled into one. In the words of Eva the dwarf, I freaking loved it!” – Lisa McMann, New York Times bestselling author of The Unwanteds series
“Effervescent, funny, and genuine.” – Kirkus Reviews
It’s quirky. It’s awesome. It’s full of heart. You should go by the first two books now. 🙂
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