Walking in Bairro Alto

This time J and I walked across the Bairro Alto - a picturesque working class quarter in Lisbon

dating from the 16th century that has traditionally been the city's bohemian haunt of artists and writers. Its streets are calm and quiet during the day (even weekends), but at night the whole area is transformed and becomes a vibrant nightlife quarter, floded with people. There's lots to see, I especially enjoy the contrasts of the new with the decant remains of old(er) times. Its full of colorful graffitis (mostly ugly ones), restaurants, alternative shops and locals (the "typical" ones). 

Snack of the day: brilliant beetroot burger

Are you feeling brave enough to try something new? I was. 

Here's what I've made for dinner (I highly recommend this):

Brilliant Beetroot Burgers

Mustard Mayo:

200ml Natural Soy Yoghurt 

2 heaped tsp wholegrain mustard

1/2 tsp Colmans English Mustard (or a whole tsp if you like a kick)

1 tsp Honey

Salt and pepper

Burgers:

Handful of fresh coriander

175g beetroot

75g carrot 

60g whole grain rice, previoulsly cooked

1 tbsp of each: sunflower seeds, cashew nuts, lindseeds

2 eggs

1 red onion, finely chopped, sautée with oil in a pan

1 garlic clove, chopped

oil for frying

To Serve:

Bread rolls or pitta breads

Rocket

Coleslaw

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.

Combine the ingredients of the burgers in a food processor, grind and transfer to a bowl. Season with salt and pepper and set aside for 15 mins.

To make mustard mayo,  mix all the mayo ingredients together, and season to taste.

Finally, shape your burgers by forming patties with your hands, the mix should make 4. Heat some oil in a frying pan and fry them over a low heat for about 3 mins on each side until they are lightly browned and able to hold their shape. Transfer to an oven proof dish and bake in the oven for 15-20mins.

Toast your pittas or rolls, cut them open and spread a generous amount of mustard mayo inside. Add some rocket and top and a sprinkle of dill. 

Enjoy!

Walking in my neighbourhood

What can be better than a sunny day in an unexpected day off?

I decided to run some errands in my neighbourhood and took a shortcut through my favorite park.

As I sat on the grass for a moment to enjoy the greenness of that place, a nice lady-duck (I think) decided to lay down just a few inches from where I was. Then baby ducklings came to check me out! No fear at all. It was a good moment :-)

Lunching out / dinning @ friends

A delicious fusion food meal in a nice restaurant called Nood: vegetables soba and japanese tofu curry - that's what we had, with green tea (free refills).

The other day we were invited for a birthday dinner and had the most wonderful (and beautiful) meal! Look at that:

Treat of the day: a healthy combination

Recently started to stock up on healthy stuff to sprinkle over whatever I'm having for breakfast: today I've decided to grind lindseed, goji berries and dried prunes. Had some sprinkled over fresh strawberries - not bad all!

Walking to Cais do Sodré

1 - Walking towards Cais do Sodré: art or dirty walls?

2 - Record shop (Trem Azul)

3 - J drooling over vinyl records - me keeping myself busy taking photos

4 - Bye bye records, nothing interesting this time

5 - These tennis shoes brighten up any picture!

6 - Hummm... a biological bakery here (called Quinoa)

7 - Looks like we are going in... smells nice

8 - "Cooking is a way of loving others", Mia Couto. True.

9 - Another vinyl shop??? They are popping up like mushrooms in this city!

10 - Plasticine intervention

11 - Wall decoration inside

12 - Wall decoration outside

13 - Shop decoration using a pile of egg boxes?

14 - Jazz in the streets, a happy vibe

15 - Second hand book market in Chiado

16 - A new approach to the traditional (and kitsch) "Galo de Barcelos"