A bread that was a common sight on the kitchen counter when I was growing up was massa, otherwise known as massa sovada or Portugese sweet bread.
Standing: My father's mother; my father; my mother's mother.
Sitting: My mother holding baby me.
My family ancestry is mainly Portugese, and massa was just one of the many traditional foods we ate growing up. My family didn't make it at home, rather we bought it from local Portugese bakers.
I remember my grandmother coming over to our house on the weekend, a fresh loaf of massa bread for us. She loved to enjoy it with a hot cup of coffee. My favorite way to eat it was warm, but not toasted, with butter just melting on top.
Wish I had a piece now!
sounds good, wish i had a piece also. Happy TT!
ReplyDeleteNext time we are down there we should pick some up for you! I bet the kids would enjoy it too. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a bread freak, and this sounds really good! Never heard of massa before now, will have to find a recipe and try it!
ReplyDeleteall the memories wrapped up in a firm crust and served with butter. nice.
ReplyDeletelove the pan dulce in Mexico. I imagine it's the same or similar to your massa. There's so much about Mexican food I miss living in the northeast.
ReplyDeleteI want a piece now, too...and I agree with your mom...warm with butter...THE best way to enjoy!
ReplyDeletewow now that's bread-happy TT-c
ReplyDeleteWhere's the murder scene???
ReplyDeleteSure looks tasty and you describe it so well.
ReplyDeleteReally nice bread and memories to go with it!:)
ReplyDeleteThis looks delicious. I've never heard of this bread before but I'll bet it's hard to just eat one piece.Yum...
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the old photo as well... Happy TT
I would LOVE to try this bread!!
ReplyDeletePass the butter!
ooh! Yummy. Will have to find me some massa bread.
ReplyDeleteI've tried this and like it quite well, thank you :) Like the new look here, as well! Happy TT!
ReplyDeleteI live in Newport, RI, and the main ethnic community around here is Portuguese. They sell massa everywhere here, even in 7/11. Did you get the Folar at Easter, with the hard-boiled egg in the middle of the loaf?
ReplyDeleteBTW, there's a restaurant here in town, the Brick Alley Pub, that serves French toast made with massa. In fact, it's one of their specialties for their Sunday Brunch. Mmmmmmm!
This is fascinating .. .
ReplyDeletereading about so many different memories of breads unique to different locales.
Jjj
Gotta get me some massa!
ReplyDeleteI loved the picture and this window in your Portuguese heritage - I thought about Portugal quite a lot when I lived in Northeastern Brazil and learned Portuguese, though I know practically nothing of the country of the mother-tongue. Bread was not a traditional food item in rural Pernumbuco - maybe because the tropical climate would make it hard to store? - also the hand-made flour used there comes from manioc which is very coarse. When finer wheat flour was bought at a store, 12-egg cake was the food of choice. Quite an event. Thanks for this post!
ReplyDeleteNice post. Have managed to get hold of Portuguese custard tarts at farmers markets here in London, but have not yet tried the bread. Will watch out for it.
ReplyDeleteNow I am hungry!
ReplyDeleteMMMMMMMMMMMMM. Food, especially bread, make some of the best memories
ReplyDeleteOh, I;ve never had that. Something to look out for though. Looks yum.
ReplyDeleteYum looks like sort of flakey brioche. Sounds delish.
ReplyDeleteHi! Wings,
ReplyDeleteNice reminiscent and photograph...The bread...massa
Thanks, for the introduction to massa Bread.
By the way,
Nice Upgrade too!
Happy TT
DeeDee ;-D