Although our time in Spain will be limited to about a month (a long “holiday” some might think, but for us it’s a case of changing one home for another for a short while) we need to make the most of our time here. Sorting out a house and garden that have been looked after but not lived in for many months. Catching up with family and friends. Running around and sorting out paperwork and the dealing with the “officialdom” that invariably comes with it.
The plan had been to eat out frequently – a menú del día (a daily set menu in many restaurants) is not expensive in Spain – and not to spend hours in the kitchen. So far, I haven’t spent too many hours in the kitchen, but the lure of fresh, local ingredients which are quick and easy to prepare has been irresistible. Add to that the fact that we can also cook outside and it’s mostly quicker to just get cooking while multitasking with the gardening.
We’ve eaten chicken (reared by a pal who gifted us two hefty chicken thighs and drumsticks) cooked in one of our cazuelas with peppers, onions, garlic, olive oil and wine.
And rabbit, marinated in a paste made of thyme and rosemary from the garden with our own olive oil and lemon and a neighbour’s garlic then cooked on the barbecue.
The weather may have gone from 40 degrees to grey and miserable, but with full bellies and a glass of wine, who can complain?!
Chica Andaluza 
I really miss the menu del dia, but I’d probably be keen to fire up the barbecue and cook the fresh local ingredients too. I bet you’ve got some cooking instruments that you’ve missed in England and your outstanding olive oil 😉
So right MD – I’ve dug out all the earthernware pots and some big deep paella dishes!
Ha ha – I thought about them in the picture – I really miss earthenware pots 😉
Can bring you one back if you tell me what size you’d like? Good excuse to meet up once we’re back!
Wow – that sounds really cool. I keep meaning to bring one back, but flying with hand luggage only, complicates things. Could you bring me one that’s about 32 cm across, or something like that? Thanks so much 🙂
It would be a pleasure (especially as I never managed to track down that Salsa Brava sauce last time!). Consider it done!
That’s fantastic – thanks!
Enjoy, lovely ones. xxx
Thank you Celia – we will!
Beautiful chicken.
Thanks Chef Connie!
Very well said, will best love to pair it with a glass of red wine.
Oh yes indeed!
It can also be paired with Beer Cheese Dip
Give it a try 🙂
http://bitly.com/1G4iCmH
Delish – sounds very much like something we make in the UK called Welsh rarebit (strange name, I know!) which is then spread on bread and toasted until bubbly and golden 🙂
Aah yes, nothing like a full belly and glass of wine for comforting our souls even on the hot days.
So glad you enjoying your stay back home Tanya.
🙂 Mandy xo
Thanks Mandy – it’s a good reminder to appreciate the simple things in life!
Nice..
Sounds just idyllic.
Well…it has its moments!
I’m sure it does!
Sounds like Spain has gone out in sympathy with its sister “city” Sidmouth for the duration Ms Chica. At least the food is buoying us on both sides of the Atlantic (or whatever oceans are in between us at the present moment. Geography was never my strong point…)
Rubbish at Goegraphy too but many oceans separate us 😦 Let’s stick with cooking, drinking, dogs and growing things to eat!
I reckon that’s a plan Ms Chica 🙂
And I can’t spell geography either 😦
I can’t spell ANYTHING after a good bottle of wine 😉
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It is hard to resist when you have such fresh ingredients and the great company of friends and family 🙂 Enjoy your time in lovely sunny Spain
Thank you Sawsan!
Life mostly is day -by-day or should be – so the daily menu in situ and the glass or three of wine whilst getting the necessary and that not quite so done seems a most practical approach 🙂 ! Have fun in between and betwixt!!
Thrills/spills to see the Hemphill logo on your community board . . . hello – we Aussies are here!! Now what is going to happen on the absolutely ‘strange happening’ of ‘Australians’ being part of ‘Eurovision’ over the next weekend I quite fail to comprehend – just know I am madly ‘voting’ for both the absolutely wonderful Guy Sebastian and the just as great Estonian team . . .go . . go . ;. go!!!
Eurovision is completely bonkers anyway…so yay for the Aussies!!!
Hear hear (or is that here, here)?! Cheers!!!
Oh Eurovision: bonkers, yes. but awfully political at the same time!! Do think it bonkers we shall be in it within hours with Down Under and my birth country of Estonia [which has won before!] amongst the top-four candidates!! Guy S stupendous but simply does not belong!! Please, please, please DO vote for the Estonian combo of Elinor Borg and Stig Rasta: dark duo beautifully presented, rhythmic and ‘meaningful’ [see YouTube!] . . . . thank you!!!!
Chicken thighs – my favourite part of the chicken – and yours look yummy, Tanya.
My fave part too – see, we ARE related!!
Ooh yum! I love rabbit. Enjoy the time your home even though it is fleeting.
Thanks C&C – we’re doing our best 🙂
Enjoy every day of your time in Spain and I am going to brave up and cook rabbit this year 🙂
If you do decide to cook it, I hope you enjoy and share the experience with us!
I’m with you Tanya… “with full bellies and a glass of wine, who can complain!?” So true!
🙂
That’s my kind of gardening – eating / cooking at the same time. I’m sure I could multi-task 🙂
I know you could! Hope all is well x
Trowel in one hand chicken leg in the other. Would need a third hand to uold a glass either that or one of those hats with a straw attached.
Aa you xan see I’m on fine form my friend
Oh my goodness. Chicken reared by a friend and rabbit….sigh. Country living and wonderful vacations. Make the most of it and enjoy! Nothing wrong with eating out every single day in Spain too. What wonderful choices, great food or great food!
Decisions, decisions! We are very lucky to have two such wonderful places to call home.
Hopefully a nice time to be back in Spain! That chicken looks delicious.
The weather is a bit unsettled, but that’s fine, we have so many things to do and so many people to see it’s not bothering us!
yeah, sure with simply damn delicious dish!!!
Tasty dishes that need to be tested , but similar to Asian cuisine , especially in Indonesia ?
Interesting!
I think this is a delicious recipe to try , the required materials are also not too Suli . But similar to Asian cuisine , especially in Indonesia ?
I really liked the chicken based dishes, tastes it loh maknyooooos, chicken meat does not contain kolestrol except peel.
Omg sampai menelen ludah ngeliatnya
I personally prefer the grilled chicken recipe. As meat is the same, prefer the burned.
Grilled chicken is a great dish!
chicken thigh was extremely teasing I assure you it feels definitely favors