Summer Sunshine Salad

Posted on July 10, 2014 by Marianne under Recipes

It’s that time of year when it’s often too hot to eat anything heavy, so this lovely salad not only looks good, but is quick to prepare and really tasty, too.

SUMMER SUNSHINE SALAD

As with most of my recipes, feel free to use more of the ingredients that you like, and substitute the ones you don’t.

Put three eggs in their shells into a pan of water and bring to the boil. Allow the eggs to boil for 5-6 minutes, then plunge the boiled eggs into cold water. Once they are completely cool, remove them from their shells and cut into quarters.

Whilst the eggs are boiling, chop some carrot, red pepper, green pepper and red onion into small pieces. Place all the ingredients into a dish and add salt and pepper, extra virgin olive oil, and lemon juice, to your taste. Mix together.

I also added some freshly chopped coriander or cilantro (though you could just as easily use flat-leaf parsley if you prefer), a small jar of ready-prepared red kidney beans and a tin of tuna.

All I had to do then was arrange my boiled eggs in a circle to complete my Summer Sunshine Salad. 🙂

Serve with crusty bread and a glass of chilled, white wine.

What could be nicer on a hot summer’s day?

Salmon fillet with a zingy coconut and coriander crust and leeky mash

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Marianne under Axarquía, Recipes

Now that summer’s here, I’m always looking for fresh and inventive ways to tickle the old taste buds. So, I came up with a delicious twist on a seasoned favourite.

I’ve noticed recently that in the cool-display near to the fresh fish counter at Spanish supermarket, Mercadona, they now have what they call “Plancha de Salmon, sin espinas” – larger pieces of salmon fillet (without bones), usually weighing around one kilo. At €12.50 per kilo, it’s not only a saving of a few euros over the smaller pieces, but no fish bones to contend with either. Result!

I cut the salmon into portions, sprinkled some lemon juice over them, and put them onto a plate in the microwave on a low setting for a few minutes, until they were well on the way to being ready.

In the meantime, after peeling some potatoes to make the mash, I put them on to boil and, in a separate pan, gently fried some leeks in butter – until they had just softened.

For the zingy topping, I didn’t want to use breadcrumbs so I mixed together some grated coconut (coco rallado), finely chopped one of these lovely little chilli peppers I grew in the garden last summer (which has been in the freezer ever since), half a teaspoon of wholegrain mustard, a dessertspoon of mayonnaise, freshly-chopped coriander (cilantro) straight from the herb garden, a twist of black pepper and enough milk to ease the mixture so it was spreadable.

All I had to do then was carefully transfer the salmon fillets onto a baking tray, spread the zingy topping mixture over the salmon and pop them under a medium grill.

Whilst keeping an eye on the salmon, I mashed the potatoes and added a little milk and butter then gently stirred in the softened leeks.

After three or four minutes, the crust on the salmon was just starting to brown nicely, so it was time to serve the leeky mash into bowls and drape the salmon artistically on top!

This crust topping will work equally well on any white fish or chicken.

Why not give it a try? Let me know how you get on, won’t you?

CBBH Photo Challenge: FOOD

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Marianne under CBBH Photo Challenge, Challenges, Photo challenges, Recipes

We all need it. Most of us love it – some maybe a little too much! But, whatever your relationship with it, FOOD is the subject of this month’s CBBH Photo Challenge.

Is there a food typical of your country or area where you live? How about your favourite recipe or something you once ate that you would never try again?

Well, show me with a photograph!

Most people know that Spain is well known for it’s tapas – the tasty treats offered along with your drink. I enjoyed these delicious prawns and tuna in the Atarazanas market on a trip to Málaga city, recently. There are two tapas bars, one at either end of the market, both offering ultra-fresh ingredients, cooked to perfection, from the market.

During May, I’ve been following the tapas route around Torre del Mar. One of my favourites has been this vegetable stack with a cranberry jus. Yummy!

Talking of yummy, how about this dish made with fresh figs plucked straight from the tree, stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped with smoked bacon?

And, to finish, a piece of my easy, chocolate fudge that will make you drool, which you might remember I took on a recent trip with friends when we rode on Mr Henderson’s Railway!

So, now it’s YOUR turn.

Don’t forget that the CBBH Photo Challenge is a little different from some other challenges, in two ways. First, it’s only once a month – giving you lots of time to consider your entry before the end of the calendar month. Second, and most important, this is a BLOG HOP (after all, it is the CBBH – Conejo Blanco Blog Hop, conejo blanco means white rabbit in Spanish), so DON’T FORGET that in your post you need to add links to two blogs that you have visited and commented on during the past month.

That way, when we visit each other, we can HOP OVER to your links, connect with others and share a little blog love around!

Before I move on to my two featured bloggers for this month, I want to offer my CONGRATULATIONS to Maggie Woodward who’s blog The Trepidatious Traveller I featured in May. Maggie was about to commence walking the Camino Portuguese from Lisbon, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. I can report that during the month of May, she has walked a total distance of 669.9 km, completing her Camino walk on May 28th, and is now safely back home in Spain, only a few kilometres away from me. I know that a few of you have been following Maggie’s progress as I’ve seen your comments on her blog posts. VERY WELL DONE, MAGGIE – you are an inspirational woman!

My Featured Blog Links for this month:

*** Christine of Dadirridreaming, lives near to the sea in Australia, surrounded by bushland and beautiful wild beaches. Kangaroos and wallabies graze all around her house and red bellied black snakes hunt the frogs in the dams nearby. Christine takes time to explore the spiritual side of life, which is reflected in her lovely blog posts, all of which have stunning photographs. She is currently exploring my part of the world, and has visited Ronda, Seville and Córdoba, amongst many other places. We will be meeting up in Málaga city on Thursday June 5th. Can’t wait!

*** Another blogger I always enjoy visiting is Kathryn at Vastly Curious. Her recent post in the WordPress Photo challenge had me amazed! She showed a photograph of the buds of a plant that looked like liquorice twists and wanted to identify it. It was only when I looked at Kathryn’s later photos of the flower fully opened that I realised that I have one!! She has also been travelling recently to The Netherlands, from where you can see her wonderful photos.

Please HOP over and say HELLO to both of my featured links, and tell them Marianne sent you!

So that´s the CBBH Photo Challenge for June, folks.

Remember, all you have to do is post your entry by the end of the month, tag your entry ‘CBBH Photo Challenge’, link back to this blog and, most importantly, don´t forget to add links to any two blogs that you´ve commented on during the past month, so that we can all HOP OVER and have a look.

Make sure you follow this blog so you don´t miss next month’s exciting challenge!

For more information on how the CBBH Photo Challenge works click here.

I hope everyone taking part enjoys the exposure the CBBH Photo Challenge offers to featured blogs and, who knows, you may end up finding a new favourite!

I´m looking forward to seeing your interpretations.

[CBBH logo Image credit: (cc) Mostly Dans]

Following the tapas route around Torre del Mar

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Marianne under Axarquía, Places, Recipes

From 1st May until 1st June, Torre del Mar is hosting the third “La Ruta de la Tapa” (Tapas route) around the town. With 24 establishments taking part, and a drink plus tapa for only 2 euros, it’s a great way of trying out some new places to eat.

Here’s how to join in the fun!

Choose one of the bars and restaurants taking part, and when you go in mention that you are taking part in La Ruta de la Tapa. You will be served with a specially prepared, gourmet tapa and offered a choice of drink.
Ask for a Tapas Route Passport and have them stamp it.
Each establishment is numbered and shown on the map on the back of the Passport. Follow the route around Torre del Mar.
Make sure to get a stamp in your Tapas passport for each new place you visit and eat one of the special tapa.
When you’ve visited all 24 establishments, hand in your completed and stamped passport for a chance to win 300 euros!

Here are some of the tasty (and not so tasty) tapas I’ve enjoyed so far this month:

This is “Bacalao en tres textures con muselina de alioli” which is a cod-fish tapa from Vintash, Avda. Andalucia esquina con C/Bateria (and one of my favourites, so far!)

Next is “Volován con morcilla de Burgos, queso de cabra y piruleta de chocolate blanco con chorizo”, a black pudding dish with a white chocolate lollipop from Las Yucas, Avda. Andalucia 64, dup. (Yes, another favourite).

Café Bar Centro, Calle del Mar 25, offered delicious Spanish ham with “Coca de pan de cristal con Ibérico”.

The tapa at Brujas, Paseo Maritimo, Ed. California IV bajos, is “Redondo de verdura, queso y salsa de arandanos” – delicious vegetables, goat cheese and cranberries (and yet another of my personal favourites!)

“Delicias de primavera” is Spring-time on a plate at 20 de Tapas at Avda. Toré Toré.

“Mini brochetas de polo braseado con salsa Tikka Masala y patatas artisanas” is a delicious chicken curry dish from Mi Mundo, Avda. Toré Toré 16.

“Roll relleno de pollo y setas silvestres, con reducción de vino de Málaga y virutas de foie” is another tasty chicken dish from A Lareira, Calle Pasillo Batería, 7.

“Brocheta marinera con verduras en tempura y mahonesa de marisco” , is a delicious fish-skewered tapa from Casa Andrés, Paseo de Larios 36.

And last and, in my opinion, very much the least, is “Bacalao Rincón de Paco” offered by El Rincón de Paco (Number 11 on the tapas route) on Paseo Maritimo. On paper it should have been OK (cod), but it was drizzled in loads of unidentifiable sweet stuff, and what the bright pink and green things were, I don’t know! I left my glass of red wine (vino tinto) which tasted like vinegar – so all in all they will be getting 0/5 **Shudder**

So, these are the bars and restaurants I have visited so far on La Ruta de la Tapa in Torre del Mar, but I’ve lots more places to visit before June 1st. Wish me luck!

Which of these tapas would you like to try? Or, if you are in La Axarquía and joining in – which is YOUR favourite tapa?

FYI … there is a similar Ruta de la Tapa going on in Nerja during May, too. Click HERE for information 🙂

Easy Chocolate Fudge That Will Make You Drool

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Marianne under Recipes

We went to a friend’s house on New Year’s Eve, rather than pay loads of money to eat out somewhere. I supplied the bubbles and a starter, whilst she made the main course. I also took this ridiculously easy-to-make chocolate fudge, which was a big hit.

It’s very simple to make and literally takes five minutes.

Here’s what you’ll need:

I cup chopped chocolate (I chopped up 1 x 150g bar of supermarket brand, milk chocolate – but use dark or white chocolate if you prefer)
170g tube of condensed milk
1/8 cup butter
1/8 cup peanut butter (if you don’t like peanut butter – make it 1/4 cup butter instead)

I also added a handful each of roughly chopped almonds and currants, but you can just as easily leave these out.

Here’s what you do:

Put the condensed milk, chopped chocolate, butter and peanut butter into a bowl and microwave at 800W for 2 minutes.

Take out, give it a good stir and put back into the microwave for a further 1 minute.

In the meantime, roughly chop the almonds and currants.

Stir the fruit and nuts into the chocolate mixture

When the microwave pings, add the fruit and nuts to the mixture and give a final stir.

Line a plastic sandwich box (mine was 20 x 13 cms) with greaseproof paper and pour the thick mixture into it. Spread out into the corners and allow to cool slightly before putting into the fridge for an hour to chill.

Cut up into squares and ENJOY!