Look who I found in the garden!
Tag Archives: East of Malaga
Salmon fillet with a zingy coconut and coriander crust and leeky mash
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?
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Wordless Wednesday: Flower-filled pots in Torrox pueblo
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CBBH Photo Challenge: FOOD
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]
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VOTING IN SPAIN: LOCAL OR EUROPEAN ELECTIONS
Voting for took place yesterday (22nd May) in the UK for both local and European elections, but we have to wait until Sunday 25th May before election day arrives in Spain.
Thanks to the 1992 Maastricht Treaty, I am entitled to suffrage (the right to cast my vote) as an EU citizen (UK expat) living in Spain, in both the local and European elections provided that:
- My name is included on the official Town Hall Register (Padrón Municipal), and
- I have indicated my desire to be included on the electoral roll
As I have done both of these things, my census card (Tarjeta Censal) has duly arrived through the post confirming my municipality, and informing me of where my polling station will be (Cómpeta Town Hall).
On election day, I will need to take along my photo ID (passport or driving licence) as proof of identity and my census card to cast my vote.
Providing a person is registered on the Padrón and the Census, then they will still be entitled to vote even if they have not received their census card through the post, though it might be best to check with the Town Hall where their Polling Station will be.
Unlike the system in the UK where voters place a cross (X) next to the name of the person they wish to vote for – here in Spain it is the party for whom you cast your vote. Each political party will have already chosen their list of candidates who will represent them, and these lists can be found inside the voting booths.
All I will need to do is pick up the paper listing the candidates for the party I choose, place that list into an envelope, take it to the official at the electoral table, prove my ID and then slot the envelope into the ballot box.
In the Spanish voting system not only are you are not required to mark an X against the name of the person/party you wish to vote for, but if you do mark the paper, your vote would be spoiled.
On Sunday, the people of Spain will be voting for 54 MEPs. Polling booths are usually open from 9am – 8pm (but times may vary).
The list of parties that you can vote for in Andalucía can be found here.
East of Málaga 