a weekend of baking

my mother's tuned up  cornbread recipe.she added sugar eggs and lots of butter and while keeping the crumbly consistency turned it cake-like.

it was such a hit last year that i decided to repeat it, christmas fruitcake is somewhat alien here but cornbread ,although not the sweet kind, is familiar to their tastebuds.

now comes the hard part, delivery. everyone's busy during this time finding a spot to coincide with the different agendas is a work of art.

set up the lights so that's down ,need to start working on the xmas card animation.

xmas dinner already thought up and half shopped,tablecloth and napkins need to go to the cleaners. anxiously waiting for tai chi to end this week.

neki desu

 

production mode

it's that time of the year when i buy yuzu and start processing it. cut,cut, squeeze  squeeze the juice and freeze it.

make ponzu for next year. this year i added yuzu kosho to the repertoire. just a minute speck of it and it brings food to another level creating complex notes of flavor. 2 kilos of yuzu. doesn't seem much but trust me processing them is a big task.

some peel is frozen to be used during the year. the aroma holds throughout the year. other batch gets candied and the syrup is kept to make yuzu tea.

and then some more is dried and kept for whatever creative cooking  or maybe  added to granola.

between one thing and the next i spent the whole weekend . as i was already exhausted why not make some dessert?

yuzu kanten with a layer of coconut cream and coconut flakes.that layer was still in my mind when i took the photo. plus the kanten had not yet set.

see you  next year. V（＾▽＾）V

neki desu

 

last babies

there are three coming up and most likely they'll be the last of the season. weird year this one for the urban garden. winter works will start as soon as i collect the last cucumbers. perhaps will leave the white eggplant plants as they still are in flower. who knows with this crazy weather.

the jalapeños are already wintering 

inside as the nights are quite chilly.i need to order the yuzu ,this year ill be making yuzu kosho with those beautiful jalapeños.

last year i hauled a considerable lot  of yuzu kosho from japan. gosh i'ts already been a year.!

（´＿｀）

neki desu 

 

another realm

literally and figuratively.leon was the seat of the kings of leon.it has a spectacular gothic catherdal, a well kept city wall. and a farmer's market to die for . 

it's not quite northern spain as it is on the meseta, the castillian plateau where the rain in spain stays if you recall my fair lady.talk about poetic license.¯\_(ツ)_/¯ the cantabrian range stops the rain and that plain is dry,dry.we skipped the cathedral bcse we had visited it some years ago

but went to the colegiata and its museum. my heart stopped there looking at the samit textiles they had. no photos, no postcards in the shop.ಠ_ಠ

if only i need to work on my memory to treasure what i saw.

well kept city walls

the old city has a lot of character and it isthe old city has a lot of character and it is

 not excesively touristy. yet.

 

the food both cooked or produce is serious-

frehsly ground smoked  sweet and hot paprika for sale.cheese and wine galore. and assorted kinds of dried beans.it is a veritable feast for the senses.

we banqueted and for a more than reasonable price.

it was a glorious saturday and accomapnied by good friends. life is good.

neki desu 

 

husband-san b'day

eggplant with tempeh, cheese slivers and mallorcan sausage.

chicken rice unlike no other, made with a native breed of chicken, not your regular pale faced ones.

lemon crumble with tiny merengue kisess.

and wine of course. a feast in one of our favorite restaurants.

neki desu 

 

elusive until now

joining the ranks of lovers.

have a good weekend

neki desu

 

of weaving and japanophilia

managed to get two bobbins of yarn and was itching to get into the next one of the series. have just accomplished around 5cms but it's keeping its promise.think that by the weekend i'll be cooking.

which brings me 

two weeks before xmas i bought a kilo of yuzu locally from valencia,citrus country spain. you cannot begin to imagine the treat it was. spent days preparing the fruit, squeezing juice, freezing some of it and using the rest for making ponzu. the peel,which is the real jewel of the fruit, was scraped from the white membrane,made into zest and then frozen. just break  small piece of the frozen yuzu.chop it and add for a citrus kick  the aroma still holds after freezing.i also candied half of the zest and that's added to the granola.

after being depressed when i lost my yuzu tree two years ago i am an extremely happy camper.

neki desu 

 

aiming for bread

but after 3 hours the result was matzo. theoretically the yeast was fine, the kitchen warm enough,the kneading exhuberant.

let's see if resting overnight does something .if not repeat. this time with another kind of yeast.

neki desu

 

and now for foodies

tako yaki! octopus balls yumm
have a great weekend




neki desu
 

the art of beautiful sweets

as in all things japanese restrained beauty.
enjoy your summer weekend





neki desu
 

bet you know them

  

some comic relief  for this very hard winter.

enjoy your weekend.

neki desu

my hero giving hope to the world

have a great weekend!
 and remember, don't buy food that lists long weird words you can't pronounce ;)



neki desu

too hot amigos

to run a vat, to thread a needle, even to think. i propose my hodgepodge salad as a no brainer  cool and refreshing recipe.
 in a platter:
3 tbs lentils
2 sliced tomatoes
some black olives
fresh goat cheese
generous amount of chopped coriander
some basil leaves
paper thin cucumber slices
baby capers
mix with extra virgin olive oil.

enjoy with a watermelon fizz and fresh fruit.

what you get:
 the protein from the cheese and lentils,
coriander provides potassium,magnessium and flavonoids;
tomatoes: anti oxidants, flavonoids and potassium  + vitamins A C E K
kiwi and coriander:calcium plus vitamins A K E
watermelon: beta carotenes, anti oxidants + lots of vitamin B6
the cherries and yellow plums are for pure pleasure.

not bad for a no brainer ;)

 more nutritional facts here



neki desu

worth its name

 the burgos cathedral,one of the architectural wonders of spain in a town full of notable architectural sites.

and after sightseeing you can relax enjoying the foods and wines of the region. not a bad plan at all.

                                       

                                              partridge escabeche                                      rioja rosè                                                           

more photos  here.



neki desu
 

food for the bod

a quick perk up to help the bod  with the steep spring climb.

to

lentils marinated in sherry vinegar and thyme

add

cooked broad beans

diced red onion

quartered kumato tomato

black olives

tiny capers

dress with a vinaigrette to which chopped  fresh mint leaves and a dash of tabasco has been added.
or substitute the mint for chopped coriander for a good dose of magnesium and other health benefits.

for extra nutrition you may add boiled quail eggs. they also look pretty :)

neki desu

now, don't tell me mom isn't cute

 wonderful recipe from my favorite cook. if you don't eat pork, you can use the sauce recipe and roasting  for chicken or beef.

have a great weekend!


neki desu
 

did you miss me?

determined not to re-surface until i finished the yardage.finished it is and washed and ironed.i could have woven 50 cms more, but it was getting difficult with all the tension problems created by the infamous slubs.and life's too short. but then again, no pain no gain so after all i'm pleased with the outcome.pretty crepe!
this week will be cutting and sewing week, the pattern's almost finished.

but an empty loom highlights the  resident chaos in the studio,therefore the new warp is going up.

the sakura dyed organzine! my hopes are high, no slubs to fight with. organzine is smooth and tightly spun.bliss factor?

speaking of bliss factor this nytimes article will either scare the dickens out of you or will make you change your eating habits. one thing i can grant; you won't remain aloof.

 it's been snowing during the weekend in the hills surrounding the city. and it's cold! around 2-3º C. i know, i know,this is nothing for you people who live up north. but remember, this is the med.

neki desu

a little bit of knowledge transfer

from fb. because i know how frustrating it can be.
you're welcome.



neki desu

boxing day

controlled gluttony:

the view

      

octopus galician style                   steamed mussels                        

                                         fried sardines                             white wine

 then  last night we watched a documentary on lapland. we longed for the snow.

  neki desu