Monthly Archives: February 2012

Feb21

From Campo to Costa

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Now don’t get me wrong I love the location of my ‘Finca’ La Rosilla nestled in the Montes de Malaga, with views to die for, but sometimes I feel the need to escape, throw a 6, and head to the bright lights, big city and the Costa. So to my delight my friend @stellaorbelies came to my rescue & said ‘ let’s hit the road ‘

So with sun streaming we drove Topless ( well with roof down 😉 ) into the city of Malaga to start our day, of chin wagging, lunching, and meeting some inspiring ladies.

The perfect day to stroll through the old city of Malaga, with street cafes full of friends and colleagues absorbing the sunshine and atmosphere. We shared Montaditos ( Little breads topped with amazing ingredients) Smoked Cod & Caramelised Onions, Goats cheese & Serrano and a Salad of fresh cheese, sundried tomatoes & basil dressing, washed down with a crisp white Rioja. Watching the world go by, and putting the worlds to rights, lunched and Cafe Solo’d up, Next Stop …

We met with Sharon Aldred who has set-up The Fashion Workshop, an inspiring place for people to learn, design & create all aspects of dressmaking, but focusing on recycling garments no longer worn or loved into design pieces of the future. So ‘I’ve got nothing to wear’ can be a phrase of the past.

Still ‘Topless’ note to self, must remember a hat, or hairbrush or rock hard hairspray next time.

Onto Jigsaw Design and to meet Lynne Armitage, who produces all business & personal printing solutions from business cards to invitations, but who in her spare time dedicates her life to the Girl Guiding Association, allowing youngsters in Spain the opportunity to be part of a historical movement, that is embracing times of change and the future.

Sun going down, roof up, hair remodeled, face repainted our last port of call, The Costawomen meeting, a fabulous network and social group created by Ali Meehan, (@costawomen) .  This for ladies all over Spain & beyond or dreaming of Spain to be part of a community. Costawomen offers guest speakers, events and motivational groups, book clubs and much more and is growing rapidly, Thanks to the hard work of Ali. It also provides a support group for many of us, who have left our home countries and friends & families.

So my 12 hour escape was over, my tongue wagged to tiredness,  my wine glass empty, time to return to the mountains and reflect- What a diverse land we live in, life is exciting and out there, just got to go out & find it.

 Thanks Stella, where we going topless together next time 😉 ?

 

 

 

 

 

Feb21

My life through the eyes of others.

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After our recent ‘Jolly’ to Cordoba, last Sunday morning, whilst laying in bed with a cuppa and my ‘Tablet’, well I can’t get a Sunday paper delivery in the mountains – back of beyond 1st on the right. I received an amazing email which went something like this

Hi Lynsey,

Recently in Cordoba Spain, you met our dear friends from Texas U.S.A in a restaurant, where you shared recipes & chatted. Well we’re from Texas arriving in Andalucia on Monday, and would love to visit you at La Rosilla, and attend your Cookery & Culture Day –

How cool was that. ?

So I speedily replied, and started planning, and juggling to be able to fit in a day in my already full ‘Foodie’ week .

My Cookery & culture day, allows guests, to experience a little of our life in rural,real Spain.

Why I love it, It makes me stop and think, it makes my appreciate why I’m here, it makes me see my life through the eyes of others, it allows us to share food, wine, stories and experiences, and enables me, and my family to meet a diverse and interesting array of people, all with one thing in common the love of food.

My guests were delightful, a 73 year old couple, we baked, stirred, whizzed, ate,sipped, & laughed together. They are making the most of their retirement and traveling from one ‘Foodie’ location to the next , what a life to aspire to.

 

 

 

Feb4

Having a jolly.

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Lifes routine or sometimes lack of it, can get in the way of ‘Having a jolly’ that’s what we call a lovely day out. Jollies seemed to be planned in summer, and then it’s often too hot, or when children are off school, then it’s too busy. So my OH and I decided that due to his funny shift patterns he works, that we would grab a Jolly as & when we can, come rain or shine ! On a budget and all !

So Thursday was our deemed ‘Jolly’ day, waking up to the first rain in months, not able to see the other side of the mountain due to thick black cloud, and temperatures to low for comfort, I was starting to have second thoughts, like lighting the fire and cooking comfort food, seemed much more appealing. But those who know my OH, he is never far from his I phone and weather reports, he says it’;s important for business, he now even reports for an app Weddar ! He assured me that by 11am at our chosen Jolly day location Cordoba, there would be blue skies. So I went with him, on this report and he was right ! I don’t often like to admit that.

We had received some insider tips from @jesslewis on sights to see, places to park.

Yes it was frio, but wrapped up warm, brolly in hand we marched across the Puente Romano and headed into the majestic ancient city. Immediately greeted by spectacular architecture and feel of eras gone by, Cordoba did not disappoint.

The Mezquita greets you, an awesome place created from religious conflicts, now 2 places worship live as one. The vast building is breathtaking, calming and beautiful. Sitting proudly as head of the Juderia, an area of a maze of streets, cobbled and adorned with flowers and pots, restaurants, trinket shops. Now I have a good sense of direction, but the higgle, piggle of these streets got the better of me.

Orange Square Mezquita Cordoba - Wikipedia


Arches Mezquita - Wikipedia


Lunch was needed, and I like to go off the beaten track, and I am known to walk hours to find a suitable watering hole..and this we did. Up a tiny side street, we came across La Fragua (The Forge) – A delightful restaurant, with tiny courtyard and dining room with old stone walls and tables perfectly laid.

Menu del Dia was top notch , I chose Chanquetes ( crispy white bait) topped with egg & sesame seeds, for main when in Cordoba, one has to have the specialty Rabo de Toro ( Oxtail), which was braised till tender with red wine and topped a bed of sauteed potatoes. To finish the tiniest but perfect size quesadilla, a little goats cheese pudding, and drizzle of cane honey.

 

Sitting next to us were a lovely American couple, who we chatted with, who like us traveled with Knife, fork & corkscrew, in other words from culinary delight to the next. They shared tales of their travels and cooking experience in Marrakesh, and I shared recipes …well I can’t help it 😉

 

Culture, cuisine, Cordoba – Una Dia Perfecta .

 

 

 

Feb3

Warming the cockles.

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Reading my Twitter line, it seems that the cold weather is sweeping Europe, well it’s certainly sweeping through La Rosilla, through all the window frames & door frames it’s blowing a whoolie. Our Spanish Finca (Farmhouse) perched in it’s mountain setting, was certainly not built to keep us warm, but to keep us cool in our hot summers climes, which today seem an age away, as temperatures plummet to the lowest of known here of -3.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not complaining in fact I love the extremes, the weather is stunning, fresh, crisp and bringing with it skies clear and blue, all one has to be is prepared !! Ahem *note to self* .

This week-end sees our town pay homage to our saint, Virgen de Candelaria..we will all walk behind the majestic saint sat on her throne, through the winding & hilly streets of Colmenar, before the climax on Sunday evening of a grand fireworks display. With temperatures in the minuses, we will endeavor to keep warm , huddled with others, coated, scarved and gloved. Others will walk barefooted or blindfolded to give thanks to their Saint !!!

So to keep the cockles warm from the inside out, I’m creating some warming & hearty family favourites. I’ll serve these with hunks of home-made Rosemary and onion bread, with La Rosilla Olive oil for dipping. A hearty Rioja will fill our glasses too, and flush our cheeks.

 Have a great week-end , keep warm 🙂

 Carrot & Cumin Soup.

1 kg of Carrots peeled and sliced into rings

Olive oil

1 large onion – Diced

1 large clove of garlic – Sliced

1 tsp of Cumin Seeds

1 liter hot Veg Stock

Natural Yogurt to serve

Fresh herbs to garnish

  • Saute the onion & garlic in a large saucepan in some olive oil, until soften but not coloured, add the carrots and cook for a few mins.
  • Add the cumin seeds to the pan, and fry to release their scent.
  • Add hot veg stock.
  • Heat thru, and bring to gentle simmer and cook until carrots are tender.
  • Blend until smooth with a hand-held blender, or carefully pour into liquidizer to blend.
  • Adjust seasoning.
  • Laddle into bowls, and add a spoon of Natural yogurt & a sprinkling of fresh herbs, even a squeeze of fresh lemon juice is good.

 

This next recipe, I have adapted from a family favourite brought from Blighty, using local ingredients to give it an Andalucian flair you can of course use English sausages & beans .

 

Cazuela de Chorizo Criolla – Or Sausage Hotpot

 

12 Chorizo Criolla – Uncooked chorizo with herbs. Herby bangers

1 large Onion Sliced

4 large potatoes sliced into rings skin on

6 carrots peeled and sliced into rings

1 large tin of Chopped Tomatoes – Instead or Tin toms and white beans you can add, Baked Beans

1 Jar of white beans, drained & rinsed

1 litre of hot stock & a slug of red wine or you can add a tin of Oxtail soup

Oregano or Mixed Herbs

Salt & Pepper

 

  • In a large casserole dish, layer the potatoes, onions & carrots alternately.
  • Season & sprinkle with oregano
  • Pour over the Chopped Tomatoes
  • Pour over the white beans
  • Lay the sausages on the top
  • Pour over the hot stock & wine, and season once more.
  • Put a lid on the casserole & bake in the oven 180 c for about 40 mins,
  • Take the lid off the casserole , give a gentle stir and return to oven to brown the sausages for approx 10 mins.

 

Enjoy in large bowls, with plenty of crusty bread to mop up the juices.