We are delighted that Cuisine from Spain has been accepted into the Culinary Podcast Network. If you come here for the food, then do subscribe to their feed, and you’ll automatically receive some of the best cooking shows on the net.
If the Culinary Podcast Network has led you here for the first time, then Welcome! Why not check out past episodes of Cuisine from Spain, or see what’s going on in the forums?
Marina tells all (favourite walks, restaurants, nights out in the capital etc) over at Mad about Madrid.
Check out Marina’s strawberry recipes on the forum!
Summer is coming and every self-respecting Spaniard will be sharpening their siesta skills to get through the long hot days ahead. Here is a quick outline of a method practiced by millions all over Spain every weekend:
1. Enjoy a large, long, and probably loud lunch with the family.
2. Declare to the table, whilst stifling a yawn, that you intend to go and lie down for a while – Creo que me voy a echar un rato…
3. Lie on the sofa in front of the TV and select a badly dubbed nature documentary about life on the African plains. Substitute nature doc. with bad made-for-TV movie as necessary.
4. Wait…. wait…. wait…. you’re gone.
Easy, isn’t it? The real trick is to know how long to stay out for:
20 minutes – this is the power siesta, the professionals’ model. You will wake up feeling 5 years younger and be able to work like crazy for the rest of the afternoon. This is the method I apply in the working week from June ’til September.
45 minutes – the rejuvinator, ideal before a late night out, but not without it’s problems. The 45 minute siesta can leave you feeling heavy and slightly disorientated for up to an hour afterwards.
90+ minutes – where am I? What day is it again? The after-effects of 90+ miuntes out cold on a baking afternoon are often worrying to say the least: bafflement and confusion are common – you will need to be alone for a while to get back on terms with the world again. A long shower helps. But you have just done your body the favour of the month, and you will feel more in tune with the universe (once you remember which planet you’re on!)
Do you siesta? Any tips to share with the NFS crowd?
This site is a member of the travel blog network at Blogads. Check out some of this week’s headlines from other travel blogs in the network, including our newest member, the Escape Blog:
Ads on your next flight? (Jet Set Lara)
The Cost of Being Poor: Costa Rica vs. the USA (Travel Blogs)
The Mistaken Massage (TravelBlogger.net)
Episode 40 – Berlin, Germany (Amateur Traveler Podcast)
Johnny Rotten podcasts for Met Museum (NewYorkology)
College Town Getaways: Penn Prez’ Philly Faves (Womantraveler)
Ingredients
Potatoes:
1/2 Kg of small potatoes
100 gr of sea salt (rock salt)
Mojo Picante (Red):
1 garlic clove
2 pimientas canarias or cayenne peppers (soaked if they are dry and seeds removed)
1/3 of a medium red pepper
1/2 tsp rock salt
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp sweet paprika
2 tbsp vinegar
2 tbsp water
6 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp soaked bread (for consistency)
Mojo Cilantro (Green):
1 garlic clove
3 sprigs of coriander
2 tbsp vinegar
1/2 tsp Rock salt
2 tbsp water
6 tbsp olive oil
Preparation
Potatoes: Wash the potatoes throughly and leave the skin on. Then put them in a saucepan with water that just covers the potatoes and the sea salt – lots of slat is needed to help the potato skins to get wrinkled in the final stage of cooking. Boil them until they are tender – 15 mins approx. (check a fork passes easily through them). Then get rid of the water, put the saucepan back on the hob at very low heat and shake it every now and again till they dry and the skin becomes wrinkled.
Mojo Picon: Peel the garlic clove and puree it with a hand mixer together with the cayenne peppers, the red pepper, salt, vinegar, cumin seeds (grind them in the pestle and mortar beforehand to release the aromas), and sweet paprika. Then add the water and mix and check the salt and garlic point in case you need to add some more. Finally add the olive oil and mix it with the machine at a lower speed. If you want to give it more consistency/thickness add a spoon of soaked bread and mix again.
Mojo Cilantro: Peel the garlic clove and puree it with a hand mixer together with the coriander sprigs, the salt, vinegar and water. Finally add the olive oil and mix it at a lower speed.
Note that the mojos can be served with meat and fish and therefore can be prepared in larger quantities and kept in jars in the fridge for a couple of weeks or so if the oil covers the rest of the mix.
Marina’s Tenerife photos can be seen here.
The Basques and the Catalans have always been very clear about their separatist intentions, but Andalucia? That most Spanish of regions? Home to Flamenco, burros, proud men on magnificent horses, fino drinking fiestas and dashing señoritas with jet-black eyes, flowery dresses and long dark hair… Andalucia also wants to cut herself off from Spain? Madre Mia…
What will be left of this country in fifty years time? If Andalucia becomes a nation as well, then surely the Valencians, Gallegos and Asturians won’t be far behind… ‘What is Spain?’ has always been a difficult question, but I fear that in the not-too-distant future the answer may simply be: (the kingdom of) Madrid.
Story picked up at Expatica (English) and El Mundo (Spanish)
Ben and Marina head off to their old stomping ground, the wonderful Madrileño barrio of Lavapies, for a look at how things have changed since they lived in a flat on Calle Lavapies over 3 years ago (as described in Ben’s Errant in Iberia). If you are ever in Madrid and want to take a look around the neighbourhood, the leafy terrace bars on Calle Argumosa are a great place to start.
My ‘Notes from Spain Flickr group‘ photo of the month has to be this shot, recently uploaded by Steve W, and taken back in March in Valencia’s ‘Las Fallas’.
I may well be biased as Las Fallas is definitely my favourite fiesta in Spain, but I love the way the boy is leaping away from the flames. Keep posting your pictures to the group and let me know if you have any suggestions for next month’s winner!
Where in the world did Marina and I spot this Dali elephant today? (Clue – it wasn’t in Spain!) 10 points for the first correct answer in the comments below! Meanwhile, the NFS Flickr group continues to grow, there are nearly 80 photos in there now and it’s time to pick another monthly winner. So, have a flickr through the images and help us choose this month’s best. Gracias!
Notes from Spain by Ben Curtis 