Upcoming visits...

By next week my aunt will be here visiting from Germany. Then just before she leaves, my cousin, her daughter and son-in-law will be coming for a week and be staying with me. THAT constellation will be a first.

Guests are inspiring. And I am getting around to replacing things I've gotten used to seeing, but that in the back of my mind, were annoying. Like the large area rug in the living room or the covers for the terrace chairs and lounger. Reggie's been busy repainting the covered barbeque area, touching up the iron work, and in general being helpful. Without me saying a word! Surprise, surprise! Well, I think he really is feeling better thanks to our osteopathic naturalpath (what a mouthful).

And of course I am keeping in mind what meals to prepare .

Guests are fun...and motivational. Besides, I get to enjoy all the (new) goodies once they are gone!

Vanilla and More

I have found, or rather was contacted by the site owner of The Vanilla Shop in Madagascar to exchange links. They have the most amazing array of products, some unusual such as balsamic vinegar with vanilla (I can get into that). Amazing are the realistic prices too. I shall be ordering from them, especially the beans in quantity. Oh yeah...and the vanilla nectar too! Loveitloveitloveit! I've written more on vanilla at my other (food) blog here.

On another note...looks like I shall be shopping around for another Fuji digital camera. The one I have, I used quite a lot, mostly for my web photos and it is now showing tempermental signs of old age (gee, at 5 years old - and how old is my Pentax SLR....ummmm...30 years??). But that's equipment of today. Sophisticated and shortlived. Good side is that now they make them smaller, mightier and cheaper.

Weather here has been up and down...mostly down. Gets cold, can't make up its mind, turns warm then rain and wind. Pooh...and I don't mean the bear. However, my garden is not complaining. Herbs are pert and doing their green thing. Walks (when I can!) show me how fast Mother Nature gets on with it in Spring, especially after rains. Lush overgrowth everywhere.

Tomorrow I may go visit the poppies. Weather permitting, of course.

The Serenity Prayer - an applicable version

The Serenity Prayer has accompanied me most of my life. In fact I even cross stitched and embroidered it twice, one for Mama and one for me. I still have it framed in my kitchen. It makes a lot of sense, albeit tricky to follow sometimes. It is a jewel of succint wisdom, as universal and non-denominal as the Golden Rule. Even if you don't believe in 'God' as a single entity in a patriarchal or even matriarchal sense, IT still makes sense.

'God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference'.

Here's a version I came across that is a good, practical reminder to me. I am the first to admit I do have a problem accepting 'certain people' in my life. I am working through that part (we humans are a work in progress, you know) because I see how it physically expresses itself in me (neck, shoulder tension/pain) but most of all the WASTED energy I'd really rather use to fine tuning myself.

'God, grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change,
the courage to change the one I can,
and the wisdom to know it's me.

Yup. A timely reminder. All part of my personal 'work in progress' project.

Life is grand...and so are you.

A Waxing Story

Not everyone is as lucky as I am, that is - when it comes to body hair removal. When I go to Carmen's cosmetic salon here in the village, she makes jokes about 'removing my 4 hairs'. Ok, it's a slight exaggeration. Last count I had 15 or so (!) almost transparent, fine hairs, mostly on the front of my legs and a few on the calves. I thank my celtic/germanic gene pool for that.

Sometimes I actually remove them myself with those cold wax strips.

So did the lady who authored this hilarious piece you have got to read. Warning! Use the bathroom first and put the tea/coffee mug somewhere safe.
Click on this link: A Waxing Story

Random Stuff and More Quotes

I've been busy this past week. Tweaking my other sites, Epicurean Table and the Epicurean Digest - the later having been rather orphaned for quite a time. Between that and just doing what needs to be done, time has really escaped me. That does happen easily working on the computer hours at a time. I've not even walked much since a few weeks, but this also due to keeping an eye on Reggie. He is better now, not tops but better thanks to my Osteopath. Tomorrow we have another appointment, mostly for Reggie.

I came across a few more quotes I'll share:

There is an Indian belief that everyone is a house of four rooms: a physical, a mental, an emotional and a spiritual room. Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time, but unless we go into every room every day, even if only to keep it aired, we are not complete.
-- Rumer Godden--House of Four Rooms

Pure logic is the ruin of the spirit.
-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

"We are, each of us angels with only one wing; and we can only fly by embracing one another."
-- Luciano de Crescenzo

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On a more earthly note, a few days ago I created the most delicious tasting Chervil and Chive Soup (that link takes you to the Menu page). I went shopping into Carrefour, a French supermarket chain...and of course I can always find the herbs I need there. Fresh tarragon, chervil...very exciting for me as these are difficult to find here in Spain. So I created the soup and last week I made Coq au Champagne...ok, I didn't have a coq but the chicken was also really delicious. That recipe is one I created years ago in Belgium...I needed just a hint of tarragon for that.

And last week, thanks to Hartmut my Osteopath, I found nearby him a young Dutch couple who sell organic herbs and plants...organic meaning they use their own compost ONLY...and he is a great photographer and professional chef that used to work in Italy for one of the top chefs. Wow! Did we hit on, the four of us. Really interesting exchanges. She makes her own soap from the plants they have. And it is so good, lathers and nourishes. We chatted about websites (mine/theirs), food, herbs, Italy, photography, herbs, growing things organically, herbs ;>D

I'm excited about this contact, I feel good things about it. Besides, anyone who gets happy because someone (me) talks about nepitella and its importance to Italian cooking (especially with porcini), or digs up a calendula plant for you and grows a herbal garden and can get you/grow for you any herb you want is for someone like me...a very appreciated person. I think the nature spirits arranged our meeting.

Herbs take you to unexpected places.

Crown Roast - Picture Perfect

Have you ever had a nice old fashioned crown of ribs roast? I hadn't, which is why I organized this year's Easter dinner at Can Roig - one of our gourmet restaurants out in Cap i Corp, just in view of the sea. I felt it was time I experience this classic roast.

The chef, Juan, schooled in one of the top schools in Barcelona liked the idea when I spoke to him some weeks ago. And just to be certain, I downloaded three photos - each a variation on the theme. I am sure he enjoyed doing something different and off his menu.

I find this photo stunning but it doesn't quite do justice to what is now very past tense.

"Unfortunately" explained the waiter, "we couldn't find a bigger lamb, so instead of filled with vegetables, we present it this way. We hope this is no problem?"

Of course it wasn't. The crown was resting on four good sized medallions taken from the leg cut and deboned. There was also wild asparagus and broccoli. The center bouquet is mint, rosemary and sage flowers...the white you see are the paper cuffs, hand made. Obviously, he did not have them on hand...because this concept of serving lamb is definitely not a Spanish thing to do. Definitely an exception, much appreciated though.

By the way, did I mention it was one of the most delicious meals we've had in a very long time? Need I say the lamb was tender and flavourful, the roast vegetables a delight? There was also a side bowl of superb classic brown sauce (oh thank goddess, we've been spared the obligatory English mint sauce!). Lemon sorbet with Cava (Spanish champagne) was the perfect closure to a very memorable meal.

Divine dining, we did. Very repeatable.

Easter - Sugar Eggs and Tosca

Do you remember these panorama, pressed sugar eggs from your childhood? Nostalgia and running across the kit (can't remember if it was Belgium or in Germany...or did I order it?) prompted me to try my hand at making 'sugar art'.

I made these eggs about 3 years ago. A few are faded because I had them out too long past Easter and the sun bleached them somewhat. But they store well and I bring them out each year.

Tosca, a true admirer of edible art, was highly interested. Fortunately and unlike Russo, she has no interest in sweets or chocolate...in spite of Reggie's sweet tooth and chocoholism.

I hope your Easter is/was enjoyable no matter what your spiritual followings. For me, its a spring thing with much symbolism and I honor/respect those around me here in Spain for whom it is a major holiday - more so than Christmas, in fact. What do I take from it? A sense of renewal and a reminder to move/improve forward.

Green blessings to you!

Things You Need To Know...

. The dye used to colour the bright red uniforms of British soldiers (think 1700's or so) was made from the root of 'madder', a type of cleaver (Galium family).

. The herb referred to in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' that was for remembrance was rosemary.

. Americans consume about a third of a pound of pepper per capita annually.

. Caraway is the most popular herb seasoning for bread in ...Germany and Austria (why are we not surprised).

. One of the most used herbs in Spanish cooking is laurel (bay leaf) followed by thyme and rosemary.

. Stuff fennel in the key hole to keep the witches out!

...and now you will all be able to sleep better tonight! ´ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

:D

Traditional Easter Braid (Osterzopf)

This afternoon after discussing with Mama who's doing which cake when, I decided to make a yeast cake - a traditional German one. This version has ground hazelnuts and grated apple as the main ingredients for the filling. The eggs were coloured raw as they bake with the cake.

I know Mama likes a good, fresh baked yeast cake so she took home half. Tomorrow I'll be baking a regular cake but one in the shape of a lamb, the other of a rabbit.

Why not...afterall I've got the forms. Mama will be making an egg shaped one from another form of mine. So Sunday after our lunch, we'll have plenty of cake for dessert. I groan already.

The second photo is one I did last year. No filling in that one.

It's an Easter thing to do ;>D

Alpha, Beta, Theta...Have a Snortfull

Here's a little herbal trivia for you from my notes:

Increase your beta brain waves and heighten awareness by sniffing stimulating essential oils, such as rosemary or peppermint.

For promoting relaxation, a sense of well being, activate the alpha and theta waves by sniffing on lavender and sandalwood.

It's not a bad idea to carry a homemade sniffer with you depending on your situational needs. A small bottle (like those used for liquor samplers or digestives) with a little cotten stuffed in it and a few drops of EO (essential oil) is all you need.

Carry a rosemary or peppermint one when you need to be more awake/aware at work or driving and another with lavender or sandalwood for when you suspect a stressful situation (going to a meeting, dealing with aggressive situations/authorities).

Does it work? I think it does, of course subtly and like many things believing it will is a real boost. Just remember that EO's should be used judiciously and when a true need is there and not just for making the room air 'smell nice'. They are, afterall a powerful medicine.

I made one for my cold and head congestion. A personal blend of thyme, tea tree, and peppermint oils - a homemade Vicks sniffer. Just unscrew the cap, close off one nostril and SNIFF. Wooooo! It worked and I am certain the anti-bacterial properties of the oils (especially the thyme and tea tree) helped keep my head cold in check.

More trivia: the ancients used a crown of rosemary to honor academics. In ancient Greece, students studied with a sprig of rosemary behind the ear believing it helped them study better and increased their power of memory. Now we know WHY it works, something the ancients didn't - rosemary stimulates the beta waves helping memory, concentration and even mood.

Which is why, never take a bath with rosemary bath essence and think you can "sleep easier after a bath". Wrong. It WILL stimulate you. Save it for the Monday mornings.

The Eggs Have It

Easter is upon us and besides chocolate bunnies for Reggie and bringing up a few Easter decorations, my thoughts are on eggs...which I love anyway. Mama enjoys the holiday bits and, well, if it makes her happy I play along. So, we colour eggs et al. Some Easters together, other times - suddenly Easter is upon us and we do our thing separately until time to exchange our baskets.

But none of the above has to do with my tip for today...except that I doooo appreciate eggs, eat them at will and have no cholesterol problem - which is a lot of rubbish anyway. I get mine free range and ultra fresh.

So, do you know how to tell fresh eggs from not? Here you go:

Guidelines To Ensure That You Are Consuming Fresh High- Quality Eggs
You can go to the American Egg board for a great overview of eggs.

Always check the freshness of the egg right before you consume the yolk.

If you are uncertain about the freshness of an egg, don't eat it. This is one of the best safeguards against salmonella infection.

If there is a crack in the shell, don't eat it. You can easily check for this by immersing the egg in a pan of cool, salted water. If the egg emits a tiny stream of bubbles, don't consume it as the shell is porous/contains a hole.

If you are getting your eggs fresh from a farmer it is best to not refrigerate them. This is the way most of the world stores their eggs; they do not refrigerate them. To properly judge the freshness of an egg, its contents need to be at room temperature. Eggs that are stored in the fridge and opened immediately after taking them out will seem fresher than they actually are. Eggs that you want to check the freshness of should be kept outside the fridge for at least an hour prior to opening them.

First, check all the eggs by rolling them across a flat surface. Only consume them if they roll wobbly.

Open the egg. If the egg white is watery instead of gel-like, don't consume the egg. If the egg yolk is not convex and firm, don't consume the egg. If the egg yolk easily bursts, don't consume the egg.

After opening the egg you can put it up to your nose and smell it. If it smells foul you will certainly not want to consume it. (Duuuhhhh? - my comment)
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And there you have it. Anyone for a soufflé?

Wished for Wisteria

Besides bouganvilla, wisteria must be one of my favourite climbing plants and one that I always aspired to have gracing a wall of my house. For me it is a romantic, elegant plant with the similar grace of willow trees. I always have an emotional reaction to them.

We planted this pale wisteria about 3 years ago and were told that it can take 4 years to bloom. Promptly that year it gave us two stunning clusters. The next year about 20 and this year it is just magnificent. We couldn't begin to count the clusters. It has made it up to the upper terrace as you can see so we enjoy it sitting out on the table.

The other wisteria, more blue, is in a large raised bed by Reggie's office in the back garden. Perhaps it is not so happy there and gave us in the second year a few clusters as it did this year too. Well, we are grateful for that too and praise it. Perhaps its roots are restricted, as it doesn't climb much.

Unfortunately, wisteria blooms only for a few short weeks a year. But it has become an event we look forward to!

Herbal Walks with Canine Guide

A few days ago I went out to Cap i Corp again to one of my favourite places to gather certain wild herbs. Sometimes I take Tosca with me, my favourite herbal walk companion.

This time, while I was gathering tender, young fennel fronds (somewhat out of the photo and more to the back) I noticed that Tosca found one of her favourite munching herb - Daucus carota aka. wild carrot or Queen Anne's Lace. She loves it. Next time you buy carrots with the tops still on, you'll think of Tosca.

Plucking and tugging with her teeth, she goes about her business while I go about mine. The difference is that while I am amused by her, she's not amused by my herb choice. Not a fennel fan.

In our area, wild fennel and wild carrot grow everywhere. And one can note where they grow, the thyme and rosemary do not...the latter preferring dryer ground. (You can find lots of information here on fennel, written by yours truly. I gather it to make my version of a Sicilian speciality - patties made with dried bread, parmesan cheese and chopped, blanched fennel fronds. They are sooooo tasty!)

Other times when we are out and about and she is curious what plant I am paying attention to, she'll wander off on her own investigations. When I have a look at what she has found... it is the same herb I had shown her...fennel excepting.

Tosca, the herb hunter.

Busy Updating

I have finally updated my Epicurean Table site with the seasonal menu (and of course vegetarian suggestion) and other updates. Much of it 'maintenance' work and I am still at it...since this morning until this evening. With breaks of course...little walk with Tosca, lunch, this and that and almost two hours at the pensionista dance. Not much going on there though this evening. So I came home early, puttered...and finished up tweaking my website.

Still have a little more to do tomorrow. Hopefully no more than an hour on a little reformatting articles.

What weather we had today, up in the 30's. Lunch on the terrace was lovely. This evening Reggie said the House Dragons (a small family of gekkos) - the female came out of hibernation and took up her place behind the decorative plate on the wall of the terrace. A stratigic position as the lamp just above it attracts late night snacks!

Mi Mimosa

...and here it is today in its full glory, bees and all busily buzzing about to and fro. Yes, this tree buzzes or so it seems until you look a little closer. Note the difference in the photo montage of 'How Does My Garden Grow' post.

I too, have been really busy these last days, mostly readingreadingreading until my eyes cross. But I have been out for my long morning walks (Nordic Walking about 45 min, that is to the light house and back) and in the evening a shorter walk with Tosca - since She-the-Sled-Dog and the Nordic Walking sticks do not function together well.

Amazing what 6 kilos of terrier-power can do. She could easily be lead dog in the arctic races...and drag the team on to win. She just needs a heavier fur coat.

Are terriers trainable (to walk)? Some, with difficulty, yes. Australian Silkie Terriers? No. She listens rather well to me, until she is out in the captivating magic of 'Out There' meaning 'walkies' where there are stray cats, other dogs, untrustworthy 'other humans' and exciting scents.

By the way, leashes are for humans to attach themselves to their lead dogs. Otherwise they'd (the humans)get lost, you see. Or silly you, did you really think they served any other purpose? ;>D

Ask 'Madam'...whose favourite 'thing' is 'On a Mission' power walking with me in tow.

Mimosa Tree

Mama's mimosa tree coming into bloom is one of the reasons to look forward to spring for. It is glorious - preceeding that may be a few bulbs coming up such as daffodils and crocuses - but a mimosa tree in coming into bloom is simply a spring delight.

I can watch hers progress from our terrassa.

Hers is a different type to mine (see right) which always blooms after hers, as if not wanting to distract. The type I have distinguishes itself not only by the much different leaf, but in the fact that it grows quicker and stays in bloom longer. The 'yellow pom-poms' are larger and the tree has a delicate 'weeping willow' character to it.

In the second photo you can see the progress of just a few days later. Ah, and the scent is faintly sweet too.

How does my garden grow...

...with lavender, iris and mimosa tree too! I had to share with you what is blooming, or some at least. The mimosa tree photo is from last year and it (the tree :D) is much taller now. I'll photograph it tomorrow, it is just starting to burst into bloom.

Note the lemons behind the iris? This year the lemon tree is laden with so many lemons as we have never seen before. Reggie does baby it all year and so far we have not had to spray it - except with a weak solution of dishwashing liquid and water to rid it of a pest or two.

The golden plum tree, bursting in snowy bloom, buzzes with bees going about their bustling business. Snowy bloom, I say...and today was 34C in the sun? heh heh!

The pool had maintence on it, tiles regrouted, a few water vents replaced and finally refilled. Very inviting blue.

Spring has spronged in my part of Spain!

Loved this one...

I have to share this quote from probably the oldest working pediatrician:

Dr. Leila Denmark, a pediatrician, who "sort of" retired at 103 in 2002:
Quote:

"Anything on earth you want to do is play. Anything on earth you have to do is work. Play will never kill you, work will. I never worked a day in my life."

-Dr. Leila Denmark, 100, USA's oldest practicing physician.

Don'tcha jus' love it?!

Preoccupied and More Quotes

I've been preoccupied lately by a new project that really takes up my time with reseaching and reading a lot. I can only say at the moment that it involves another website - this time I want to have the background work really honed so that it is optimized in the best way for the search engines. Already have a domain name and designed a logo (which I had graphically perfected by the woman who did my graphics for http://www.epicureantable.com/) . Turns out my new domain name may not be optimal. Part of the researching for that is brainstorming and keyword pondering.

Luckily, I signed up for a fantastic system that walks/talks you thru all that and eventually much will be automated. This is great, because to leave things up to one's self (keeping on top of seach engine alograms and submitting regularily, autoresponders etc etc) I find is very mood dependant - at least with me. Then I do fall into the D's - distracted, disoriented, discipline (intermittant lack of) disorder, dis-, dis- you name it.

Anyway, since I have NO idea if anyone is even reading this blog - going by the lack of commenting here :>/ I won't go into the project at this point. When I have it up and running, we'll have an online launch party, yes? Champagne and all.

This morning I want to share following quotes:

There is only one thing more powerful than all the armies of the world, that is an idea whose time has come.- Victor Hugo

To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right.- Confucius

That first one really resounded with me at this particular period for me. The second one is soo, soooo true. It all starts with setting hearts straight. Would that we could (globally) achieve that. May sound irrelevant, but besides our own (hearts) wouldn't it be nice to get Hollywood, the media, those aggressive 'game' developers to take responsibility for what they are 'contributing' to society and her children...to have more 'heart' for society...which we are all part of, like it or not.

And then the politicians...do they have any?
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Closing thought: concentrate more on your heart's needs.

Take heart.

More Quotes

Ran across two interesting thoughts this evening, from www.aksworld.com at the blog:

"Fear has been described as F_E_A_R = False Expectation Appearing Real."

Unfortunately such clever anograms usually work only in the originating language. I'd love to pass this one on to my (German) Aunt. The anagram won't work, but the statement is 'real'. On second thought, I should just leave it alone (about her). Her fears are like dear old friends to her. She knows them so well and so intimately. Reality, and how she has created it for herself is just too frightening for her (another fear?). Yes, of the unknown - happiness. Well, at 85 ......

And then this one from the newsletter (aksworld.com):

Quote For Thought

In Tibetan, the word for body is "lu", which means "something you leave behind", like baggage. Each time we say "lu", it reminds us that we are only travelers, taking temporary refuge in this life and this body.

That is a lu-lu (groan...sorry couldn't resist)! Humour aside, that quote, I find is a gentle reminder.

Give yourself a hug today. Tell your body how much you appreciate it...yes even with its quirks.

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By the way, has everyone drunk enough water today??