Merisas!

Today, Margaret attended a workshop of the Amas de Casa in Torre del Compte. Have I mentioned that she is the president again this year?

The workshop was to construct a special type of "doll".

Of the 2 styles on offer, Margaret chose to make a "Witch" rather than an "Angel". There must be some reason for that but it escapes me at the moment.


To see all the photos, click HERE

To go to the Merisas blog, click HERE

More Spanish recipes!

All the details for these recipes are on the blog of Asociación "Lo Portal" de Torre del Compte

The great advantage of seeing the recipes on Lo Portal's blog is that they include step by step photos as well as the instructions being given both in English and Spanish. Absolutely foolproof! Also a big plus is that these are recipes from a professional chef who uses ingredients which are easy to find in your local supermarket.

Just follow the links given below.



The first is Merluza en Papillote con Verduras / Hake baked with Peppers as shown above.


Next up are Milhojas de berenjenas con brandada de merluza /Layers of aubergine with potato and hake.



Then to finish off, Crema Pastelera / Egg custard with Baileys.

These recipes can be seen in detail HERE

In another cookery lesson Carlos showed the ladies how to produce the following:

Solomillo de Cerdo en Hojaldre / Pork Loin en croute,

Chipirones Rellenos / Stuffed Squid...

...and his version of Pudin de pan bimbo / Bread & Butter Pudding.

These 3 recipes can be seen in detail HERE

No wonder they all look so happy!

Pablo's 50th and Calçots

We went to Rosi and Pablo's masería near to Valdealgorfa last Easter Monday but this time it was to celebrate Pablo's birthday...


...and to experience una calçotada. Calçots are a special type of baby leek only grown in this part of the world.


Una calçotada is a gastronomic party typical of Catalunya where the calçots are cooked on the BBQ...

...wrapped in newspaper to allow them to steam and cook some more...

then "skinned"...

...dipped in a salsa...

...then eaten.

As it tends to be rather messy it is better to eat them outside, (and often wearing a bib).

However, this is followed by the remainder of the meal eaten inside...

...once it has been cooked on the embers from the calçots.

Pablo had a rather generous birthday cake...

...which was enjoyed by everyone.

After the meal it's time for a walk and here we discovered yet more of the Via Verde.

To see all of the photos, click HERE

More blossom!

Our Níspero or Loquat tree is in blossom today and the bees are drawn to it by it's strong perfume.

Also today, our pear tree has started to blossom.

Hopefully there will be sufficient bees to go round! They're having a great time.

It's a new record!

Margaret's getting faster at Sudoku. This time the level is "Devious" which sounds quite difficult.



With a time 98% faster with a total of 524 people having attempted it, or better than 514 of them, it can't be bad. Well done!!



Ever in pursuit of improvement, the latest score is 97% which is better than 2017 people! And that was at "Nightmare" level!

Is there no stopping this marvel!!

Snow Driving in Andorra

We have just returned from having a few days in Andorra. At this time of year it is very cold there and the main activity is skiing.


However, while we were there the weather was fine with only snow overnight on one occasion. It was still cold though!


This is the view from our hotel room; they had their own ski run for beginners. Even though it looked like great fun we still weren't tempted!


The purpose of our visit was to go to the Land Rover "Snow Driving" course which was being held even further up into the mountains at Pas de la Casa, Grand Valira, at 2,050 metres, next the the border with France, where you are guaranteed plenty of snow and where there were hundreds of skiers enjoying themselves. The photos above and below were taken just before Pas de la Casa at Port d'Envalira which is at 2,408 metres the highest point of the main road in these parts.


It was a relief to learn that we were to do the course in one of their cars and not ours!


The course was covered in fresh snow with compacted ice underneath which added to the fun.



The instructor drove around the course first explaining where the features of the car were to be demonstrated.


Margaret then drove around the course (twice) absolutely perfectly and then I drove round it twice really putting the car through it's paces and driving it to the limit! Great fun!!


Apart from the fantastic scenery, Andorra is worth a visit at any time of the year. The photo above was taken in a shop where they made their own perfumes.


In the capital of Andorra, aptly named Andorra la Vella which is at a mere 1,013 metres, our walk around included the Caldea, which is more than a spa according to the advertising.


To see more photos of our Andorran experience, click HERE.

I'm working on the short video of the driving course, so watch this space!