Monthly Archives: June 2011

Jun21

The girls are back in town ;)

Posted on by
Standard

When we arrived on our mountain 7 years ago, one of the first things on our plan was to have chickens, roaming free, chirping and pecking and supplying us with lovely fresh eggs.

So on my Dad’s first visit over, just some 2 weeks after we moved in..we put him to work, he’s very handy, if he has the right tools 😉 ..So scouring the neighborhood, for scrap wood, broken pallets etc, and few days toiling under the hot sun, being regularly refreshed with a cold beer. Our grandiose chicken house was born.

Now the hens arrived, after a few days settling in their house, we let them out..they were in heaven…and so were the local ‘campo’ dogs…:(

So then a large Chicken run had to be made, now we have plenty of land, so that was no problem, but we needed a regular water supply, and fencing and shade. Job done.

So over the next few years , we were blessed with eggs. We even incubated eggs form the U.K that traveled over land 1500 miles with good old Dad ( Now named chicken Grandad), in his car, with Incubator, ready to be watched eagerly, hourly, daily by my 3 children until they started pipping, and our baby chicks were born. With my son, even keeping night vigil watch, eager for the first sign of a tiny beak.

We had a few losses, and gained a few wins, with Ducks being rescued and taking up residence too at La Rosilla, we kept the local community Egg Bound, as my son, traveled with Go-kart and hand made trailer (made again with scrap wood) , selling the daily lay.

Then one very sad, and chilly morning..MR FOX made a visit and ate the heads off everyone. A sad and devastating sight.

So for a few years, we’ve been chicken free…But I’m glad to say

 ‘The girls are back in town’…..

 

 

Out for lunch at a friends house last week, and after a few Vinos 😉 the children had been to visit, ‘Juan the man’ , a local very Andaluz Spanish man who re- homes all manor of animals, in quite poor conditions, but looks after them to the best of his ability . “Mum ,Mum” they shouted “Juan the man has chickens for us.”..So off I go, to collect my birds, huddled into bags, we quickly sped home, and introduced the girls into their new home in the dark…

5.15 am the next morning we were rudely awoken by not 1 but 2 cockerels …that’ll teach me to make spontaneous ‘merry ;)’ choices.

They are not laying yet, they must just be enjoying a holiday, with lush vegetation, shade, fresh water and organic food..

 But come on girls lay a little egg for me …

 

 

Jun12

Food glorious food !

Posted on by
Standard

Wow what a week, I’ve been submerged, in recipes, ingredients, cooking, creating , picking, delivering, & entertaining .

My La Rosilla season has started with a BOOM 🙂

Visitors to the region, staying in charming villas & guests arriving late in the day ordered my service of ‘Holiday Dining’ so each day I have been preparing sumptuous fayre, and had the pleasure in the evenings to deliver to waiting, expectant hungry folk.

Fortunately my veggie patch hard work, is paying off, and daily it is providing lovely treats..this week I incorporated my pickings into some great dishes, Moroccan Vegetable tagine, with courgettes & yellow & green beans from the garden,Thai vegetable curries & herb salads, with parsley, mint, coriander and nasturtiums.

 

Along with tasty savouries, my cake making and decorating skills were put to test, with 4 ladies arriving for a ‘Girly’ break, celebrating a birthday. So I thought chocolate..a girl can’t have enough chocolate 😉

 

I finished my ‘foodie’ week last night, with a ‘ladies night’ supperclub. My day was sent to test me…toilet broke, (OH not home to fix) , which meant guests would have to use my bathroom..something else to clean :/, remembered I was collecting all my guests, to allow them to partake in a tipple or two, OMG car to clean too….:/

This time it was a balmy night, once everything was prepared, flowers picked, tables laid, bread warming in the oven, champers chilling, I jumped in my MPV to collect my diners.

On return, they sat sipping Kir Royale, and enjoyed canapes of Moroccan Courgette Puree, herb hummus, and stuffed piquant peppers….

 

 OH NO A POWER CUT

Cooking on only electric, this was going to be a challenge…SERVE MORE WINE.

 Breathe, keep calm …

Fortunately, 15 mins later, my luz (electric) came back to life…

The ladies made their way up to the terrace, for their Supper , mozzarella & pesto pancake pockets, Prawn Thai Curry & to finish, Walnut and banana loaf and choccie sauce.

 

The bathroom problem proved a success, with all ladies returning to the table after spending a penny, saying ‘oh you have to go to the loo…the bedroom is lush !’

The joys of a home restaurant……

 

Jun12

My two favourite things ..

Posted on by
Standard

Dinner & dancing, two of my favourite things… So to start off the season of my supperclub ‘La Rosilla – Supper on the Terrace’ , I planned ‘Tango on the Terrace’ . Now this year the weather has been all over the place, by this time of year we are almost guaranteed balmy nights of lazy, long suppers, but not this year, and not on my inaugural night.

 

Busy cooking in the kitchen, and shouting orders to ninos to sort plates, cutlery and glasses, writing lists for the OH to prepare..no matter how organised there seems always so much to do at the last-minute. The weather in the meantime, was there on the back of mind, and cooking with fingers and toes crossed, and twitter friends crossing fingers and toes for me two, I kept popping my head out to see, checking ‘eltiempo’ for its hourly updates..and thinking please god, be nice to me.

 

At the 11th hour, we took the gamble and laid our tables for 16 , and my prayers & extremity crossing worked, not balmy and sunny, but just good enough.

 

 

Guests arrived promptly and were served Mojitos, and Empanadas, before sitting down, to their night of feasting and frolics.

Erika & Ken from Casa Media Luna – Tango Holidays entertained our guests beautifully with their graceful dancing, with the mood of dance in the air, my daughter decided to do and impromptu ‘Flamenco’ so quickly swapping her apron for a shawl, and sensible shoes to her dancing shoes, she too added wonderfully to our evening.

 

With the warmth of patio heaters, and a few guests still sipping, we sat down to join them, trouble is when you sit down you don’t want to get back up….3.30 am…WE MUST GET UP 😉

 

 

Jun1

My hanging garden.

Posted on by
Standard

My hanging Passion flower garden, is a little hidden oasis, buzzing with bees, busy collecting the nectar for their ooh so delicious honey. It’s a cool spot to retreat to on a hot balmy day, and comes to magical life at night, when it is lit with twinkling fairy lights, and flickering candles.

A perfect spot for a romantic dinner, and if things get to hot under the collar, we can always cool off with a refreshing dip in our plunge pool. Special occasions supper at La Rosilla ‘Supperclub’ can be enjoyed here too.  Small groups of visitors for cooking & culture classes, can sit and soak up the charm.

I dream about the oncoming weeks, sitting and indulging with a plate of unctuous figs, baked with goats cheese, honey and a fresh torn basil leaf…..Bring it on.