Português 
English (UK) 
Description: Pastries in the shape of a half-moon, with a rounded edge, cut to resemble the crest of the rooster, filled with egg-based jam. The outer topping is made with a dough based on flour, lard, egg and salt. The filling is made with sugar, almonds, eggs, bacon, sour apple, cinnamon and sugar to sprinkle.
Region: North.
Other names: Pastéis de Vila Real. Bacon Cakes. Widows.
Particularity: Its shape, reminiscent of the crest of roosters, and the fact that bacon is included in its preparation.
History: The Convent of Santa Clara in Vila Real was erected in 1602. As Carlos Cipriano points out, the secret of the sweets «invented» by the nuns was not lost over time thanks to an aunt of Artur Cramez's grandmother, who worked there and who passed on the recipes to her successors.
Use: They are very popular for small meals or, after main meals, as an accompaniment to coffee.
Know-how: Knead the flour with lard, egg and salt. Make a sugar syrup with the bacon. Strain and add the almonds, eggs and cinnamon. The dough, previously prepared, is filled with the egg filling, cut out and the pastries, thus formed, are baked in the oven. When it comes out of the oven, sprinkle the pastries with sugar.
Source: Produtos Tradicionais Portugueses, Lisboa, DGDR, 2001
