Monday, 30 June 2008

Cranberry Sauce??

I can remember, as a kid, not particularly liking the stuff and, always, I ignored it at the Christmas Table so I'm amused to hear that you were forever feeding me with it on the quiet, disguised somewhat! Today my tastes are different of course and your variation on a Mint Sauce will definitely be given a go in the not too distant future.

Today is Beryl's last day and I think that I may stop-on tonight just in case things get busy for her and a helping hand is needed. She hates fuss but, well, tonight is special for her and her regulars so, without saying a word, I'll just stay "on hand." As for tomorrow and the future I am quite happy with the way things are panning out; a work contract, here in Spain, is not easy to come by due to the implications for employers at termination so I'm lucky in that respect.

July is going to be quite an eventful month because, apart from the job....

1. Katia visits. Hopefully for a few weeks because I so enjoy it when "we" are "three" so to speak, oh, and I forgot to tell you that over the meal the other day Larisa asked "Cómo está tu Madre" and passed on her regards. Actually there is nothing unusual in that (everytime we meet, she asks) but it leads me on to....
2. There is a chance that you two can finally meet, in September/October, because it may be possible for you to visit me here without too many problems regarding mobility presenting themselves. More on that later though, first I have a few things to sort out.
3. Erica returns from America later in the month to rejoin her partner Harry (who is already here) and via recent email, has promised to give me a great big hug.

So. Things to look forward to, including a fatter pay cheque. Can't be bad.

Sunday, 29 June 2008

YES!!!

Judging by the racket outside anybody would think that we, Spain, have just won Euro2008 which of course we just did!! And a well deserved trophy too. Bread, wine, fish, seafood, pickles and lettuce out on the terrace in the cool of the evening I think by way of celebration. But the noise though................

Actually I'm not going to be long going to bed because now, as I write, it is 1130pm with 25C outside and the AirCon is in the bedroom, making that the place to be.

Sunday Treat

Today I'm going to do a little something special for dinner....Rinones a la casera / "homemade Kidneys" and have just been out to get a potato and some white wine with which to create it and on my way to the shop, at the bottom of the steps, I bumped into Ole-Erik, my neighbour, literally just arriving from Norway. It's sort of comforting to know that immediate neighbours are about again because, at the moment, I do not have any for a block or more in either direction.

The dish is typically Spanish, which I am going to serve with Patatas Pobre, and it is very cheap...kidneys (and liver come to that) are not frequently used in Spanish cuisine. In fact the meat cost me almost nothing. Richard fulfilled a request a few weeks ago to get me some Kidneys on one of his regular visits to Malaga market. Deed done, he said that they cost "next to nothing", took a beer in exchange, and I was able to freeze 3 whole kidneys for future use.

Ann S gave me a lesson some while ago on how to core a kidney but can I remember the detail? No! So, I'll be going in with a sharp knife and praying that I don't do too much damage, and the potato I am not going to peel, just wash, because I like the flavour enhancement the skin gives to any potato dish, but pick a flawless potato because eyes'n'stuff will mean that you will throw slices in the bin (as I have just done, having sliced mine ready!) I am watching Michel Roux on the TV and he has just said that "people who don't cook with Butter are sad people". Mightily irresponsible - I'll be using Olive Oil thankyou very much!! Lamb or Veal kidneys are deemed to be the best so I'm told but mine are from the Pig so let's find out if they are just as good.......

Kidney in White Wine (Yes, I changed the name to reflect my "touches".)
INGREDIENTS
1 4oz (125gm) Kidney
1 glass (5 fl ozs) Dry White Wine
1 tblspn Flour
2 tblspns Red Wine Vinegar
Parsley
Black Pepper
Olive Oil
Salt

PREP
Trim and de-core then thinly slice the kidney and marinade in a little water and the vinegar for 45 minutes. Rinse well, pat dry, then season with salt and pepper.
Mix (whisk) the flour into the White Wine.

METHOD
Fry the seasoned Kidney in a dash of Olive oil for a few minutes then add the white wine mix and some black pepper and cook until the Kidney is tender. Dish, garnished with parsley, with some rice or, as I did, with "chips".

Postscript
Tonight of course is the EuroCup 2008 final and all indications are that there will not be a lot of room in the bar for paying customers. If that is the case, something drastic needs to be done!! Quite what, I don't know, but I'll be glad that Russia is not involved.

more will follow.............

Friday, 27 June 2008

Lentejas Estofado con Verduras

Earlier this morning I found a vegetable stewpack getting very distressed in the bottom of my Shopping Trolley. It contains Carrot, Celery, a little piece of a leek and a few Nabos (Spanish White Turnip) and should have been put away, in the chill, when I bought it a few days ago. It is now part 'n' parcel of a Lentil Stew, which, while I'm waiting for to cook I will describe.............

Lentil & Veg Stew (Makes quite a lot)
Olive Oil
1 decent knob unsalted Butter
500g Green/Brown Lentils
3 biggish onions
3 Carrots
1 whole celery stick
3 cloves garlic
3 smallish Nabos (or Potatoes)
1 Chicken Stock Cube
1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
1 teaspoon Hot (Spanish Smoked) Paprika
1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
5 heaped teaspoons concentrated Tomato puree (bought in small tins here) See notes.
2 tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
Salt (optional)

PREP
Soak the Lentils for 10 minutes or so.
Dice, fine, mince or crush the garlic (I used minced out of a jar 'cos I had some)
Dice, small, the (peeled) Onion, carrot and (de-stringed) celery
Peel then dice, large, the Nabos/Potatoes
Dissolve the stock cube in some hot water

METHOD
In a large frypan heat a glug of Olive Oil with a knob of butter then throw in the Onion, Carrot and Celery and fry until going golden then reduce the heat a little and add the Garlic, Cumin, Paprika and Pepper and, while turning everything over, fry for a minute or so more. Empty the Frypan into a huge casserole pot. Deglaze the frypan with the stock and add that liquor to the pot along with the drained soaked Lentils, Nabos/Potatoes, Tomato Puree, the Vinegar and more water to cover. Put a lid on the pot and stew at a gentle simmer until all is nicely tender, checking every now and then the water level and topping up if necessary. Check for seasoning then serve in a deep plate with a Wine Vinegar condiment and some crusty bread.

NOTES
My Lentils actually sprouted whilst being cooked!!!
I've a sneaky feeling that the tubed tomato concentrate might be stronger than the tinned that I have used here. So, if using that, go carefully so as not to overpower the dish with tomato flavour.
Snapping the celery into pieces will allow you to de-string it. Try it!

Thursday, 26 June 2008

What Reticence?

First things first, the trip to the Accountant´s office has been done and now, at 1145am I have eyes full of salt due to all the perspiration, generated in 31C temperatures, on the walk back down the steps, home.

The plan began to fall in place, we started our evening by going to Lanjáron Nuevo where, with the hugest of all grins on their faces, we were greeted by 3 waiters in unison!!! We haven't been there for a while and I think they were really pleased to see us again. On the walk there by the way she stopped and browsed a newspaper kiosk but didn't buy one and that meant to me that I was to be the "Star Turn". And I don't think that I did too badly throughout either...even (literally) getting a pat on the back from our favourite waiter over my, now unfaltering, learners' grade Spanish while discussing and ordering my selections from the A La Carte choices. Lary opted for an Onion Soup starter, having been told that her first choice of Gazpacho was unavailable, and I have to say that she was disappointed because it turned out to be French onion soup.....not what she would have chosen had the menu been specific, which it wasn't. She made up for it though by having a half-portion of Creamed Spinach on the side. Half my portion which she picked at, directly off my plate, with a spare fork as she saw fit. A touch of the sharing culture, with which she seems more at home with than I am.

I took the opportunity to discuss with her my T&Cs at the bar because she has been employed in similar situations herself in the past and I got a nod of approval which is comforting because I have been wondering whether the pay package on offer was "light". Then Viktor rang to tell her that mutual friends had begun divorce proceedings......and we had a giggle over the fact that the "breaking news" couldn't wait.
"When does Katy arrive?"
July 5th or 6th, I'm not sure"
That's a Saturday or Sunday"
"Sunday! It's the Sunday but before, on the 30th June she is going to St Petersburg first."
"Oh? I had a visitor to my website from there the other day."
This screenshot shows my webstat software reporting that hit on Monday so it seems that La Paparrazi is still "full of" the webcams and passing the address to friends etc., and a knowing smile in response from Lary makes me think that that is exactly the case.

Meal over, bill paid I put Plan A, Part B into place - "let's go down to El Bajondillo and listen to the live music." On the way Irena rang -"where are you? I'm coming into town now, we can find a Bar with TV and watch the match together." Irena is the lift that I mentioned yesterday. Lary and I found a suitable bar, reported, and waited....no Irena....more phonecalls later (she can't find a parking space close to where we are waiting) we leave and walk down the street to find Irena parked in the town centre bus-stop surrounded by buses all glaring at her. Un-fazed, she waited while we climbed in, then bulldozed her way out of that situation. After having found a space in Calle Casablanca we all tripped into the nearest suitable bar (actually a Tex-Mex Restaurant, which was - empty...another of Larisa's preferences, remember?) to watch Germany v Turkey. Because Russia has a place in the semis of this 2008 European Cup Larisa (and also her friends) has raised a passionate interest in her teams fate. Today, this evening, they play for a place in the Final. It's a pity that in my bar, right now, the TV isn't working!! And if Russia does get to the final I could fill the bar with the entire Russian population on the Costa I think.

Half-time and...
"How's your Spanish coming along Derek?" (I haven't seen Irena for a while.)
"Leave him alone, he's doing fine, hasn't stopped all evening."
"Oh! Good!, Well done," etc. etc.

Lary and I do not have to worry about getting up early in the morning but Irena does so at 11pm they began their journey home leaving me to go down to El Bajondillo alone.

Wednesday, 25 June 2008

Hot Stuff

Last night in the bar the conversation was mostly about the heat of the day and the fact that the bar was quiet (which it was) because people had spent the day on the beach and were back in their rooms/apartments "drained" of energy etc. Checking the data for the day on the website weather page I can see that the high was 35C / 95F, achieved at about 1pm, and held (more or less) for approx 5 hours. Don't forget that that is a shade temperature; out in the sun the heat is a lot worse (somebody had a thermometer go "off the scale", beyond 50C, in the full sun.) Luckily, at the same time, the humidity plummeted to around 20% keeping the "feel" comfortable although later it climbed to 80% as the temperature fell to give an evening which felt quite "close". I believe that yesterday was the hottest day so far this year and everything seems set for more of much the same for a few days yet.

Larisa and I are meeting later today (this morning she is busy and I am to call back later) which gives me time to go and get some veg to finish off my stock/soup pot. She asked what I wanted to do and I have absolutely no idea and it's difficult to decide bearing in mind that right now I don't know where, exactly, we are actually going to meet. Time will tell.

1245 and I've just had a call from Beryl, passing on a message from Favio, "can you go to the accountant with.. blah blah blah". We are, of course, in the last week before Beryl formally retires next Monday and now it seems that panic is setting in to get my papers and contract etc in order. At such short notice I can't drop everything (especially getting ready to meet Lary) so Beryl has kindly connived with me to say that I am already in Calahonda and therefore cannot get there until tomorrow. Manana, manana as they say in Spain!

1600 Actually we've just arranged to meet at 7o'clock in Torre town centre. The builders swept their muck up while I was out at the shops but I'm still not going to consider inviting her back here. Everywhere needs a good mopping still and I can now hear more banging which means more rubble and dust that may well be left where it lies, on the stairs, because it is nearly knocking-off time. And I'm pretty confident that she'll go home tonight anyway in order not to risk missing Russia play football tomorrow (on Russian TV), which I believe is against Spain but I'm no expert on such matters. Still no idea what to do while we are together tonight though. El Bajondillo to watch Ana-Mary sing?? We'll see. Now here's a plan; quick bite to eat in Lanjaron Nuevo, down to El Bajondillo for 9pm or so and let her organise the usual lift home as suits. But then, I don't wear the trousers!! And to top it all: the Chicken Soup (Chicken, Leek and Potato to be precise) is the best yet, seasoned with plenty of smoked paprika. Hot stuff indeed!

1700 Beryl has just rung to confirm that manana is perfectly OK for the outstanding business with the Gestoria and that sometime after 10am will be fine. Having had to wash my shirt twice today because, the first time, out on the line near the tomato plants, it acquired the most luminescent green stain, I have completed all the ironing needing to be done and my rumbling tum is reminding me that I haven't eaten yet today either so, if we do eat out I'll surely enjoy the meal as well as her company.

Tuesday, 24 June 2008

Fulfilling a Promise

Last week as I was leaving Larisa she took my hand for a few moments and said a few things which I didn't grasp because she spoke quietly (and I never, ever, ask her to repeat.) Thinking back I just hope that what she said was nothing too serious!! In answer I just smiled and asked if I could call her "next Wednesday" to which I do remember her saying "yes, of course". I promised that I would do so and, in fact, I am going to do it later today in order to give us both a chance to get something planned, if possible. One fact is that I cannot invite her here because I am still inundated with brick dust etc. because the builders are still knocking hell out of walls in the studio below me and the stairs up to my apartment are filthy with builders boot-marks imprinted in a half-inch of muck etc. She'd turn a blind eye, naturally, but even so I'm not going to suggest that she comes here unless I get a "I want to come to Torre" type reply in which case I'll have a bash at telling her what's going on (I might even CALL her, properly, by voice!!) and see what she says.

Talking about this'n'that in the bar yesterday evening I was told that a shopping trip to Gib was only 7€ by an organised Coach Trip. Now that would make a change to eats in Mesón Salamanca and cheaper too...their menu is 9€ ;-) And crumpets to boot!! Would she need special documents at the border? I don't know, but if she does then it's about time that the world grew up in this age of globalisation.

One load of washing is already done this morning and out on the line, including stuff that I have decided to wear tomorrow should we two end up spending some time together. And, wait for it! The Chicken stock is on the brew!! Tonight I work through to the very end and I am planning a Spaghetti Chicken dish to give me a full belly to work off during the long shift. I might even "indianfy" it somehow with some of my latest batch of homemade Curry Paste (a jar of which I gave to Anna on Sunday) made with some of that excess curry powder languishing in my cupboard. Unfortunately I don't think that my plan to make some Tomato Chutney with homegrown Toms is going to hold up......they are already ripening and there is not the quantity (due to the "cherry" size) to work with yet. So. Cheat. I'm going to make a batch using the greenest toms that I can find in the greengrocer and augment them with some of my own; but, I have to be quick, as I said, mine are ripening, witness the photo. By hook or by crook though, Lisa will get a thank-you jar for setting me off on my Chutney Crusade. I promised.