Spotlight: Massa Sovada

Massa Sovada is Portuguese Sweet bread.  It includes yeast, sugar, butter, flour, milk, etc.  It is a very rich yeast bread.  I've mentinoned it a few times; here, when I made it myself, and here, when I mentioned it makes wonderful french toast.  One can find it everywhere here- in every bakery, pastry shop, grocery store, some restaurants, and in many homes.  Massa Sovada was traditionally made as a holiday food, but is now available all year, according to Wikipedia.  I want to try making my own again, but this time, shaping it into rolls instead of the big loaves.

Grilled Ham & Cheese on Massa Sovada; May 2014

The loaf in the first pic above was very kindly dropped off by our landlord's father.  It was just huge- like twice as big as my head!  ;)  (And I have a big head!)  I'm not sure if it was homemade or bakery-bought; as my husband is the one who answered the door, and he didn't think to ask.  This was some of the best massa I've EVER had!!  I've tried it from many different bakeries, and made it myself, and this was by far the best.  It had an almost flakey texture, like brioche, and was fluffy and sweet.  We made toast out of it the next morning and my fam polished off about 3/4 of this huge loaf!  Next time we see my landlord, we're going to have to ask where this loaf came from, so hopefully we can have it again! 

It was very good toasted, with butter, and my homemade strawberry jam.  (Below).  It was also very delicious, toasted, with butter, (again!) and topped with a thin slice of sharp cheddar and a slice of thin deli turkey.  (Last photo).  I had both in the same sitting.  :)

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