I really couldn't stand it anymore. I ran out of some decent Asian ingredients over 6 months ago and some things you just can't buy in Carrefour! I was really missing some ingredients in my weekly cooking, such as; coconut vinegar, a decent bottle of soy sauce (that didn't cost the earth!) and some seasonings and spices that I can only get in Asian stores! I've been putting it off for a while, but I know this week, that I had to get my ass into gear and go to the city to get some … [Read more...]
Els Calçots: A messy gastronomic gathering!
Even though the calçotada is a long term Catalan tradition, you don't have to be in Catalonia to enjoy this messy gastronomic gathering! Last weekend was my second calçotada experience with friends here in Valencia. To be honest, I think it's just an excuse for another get-together, but, I'm not the one to complain, especially when it's something to do with food! Plus, it's nice to catch up with our friends, and it's a welcome change from paella! So what is a calçotada (pronounced: … [Read more...]
Feeding My Italian Vice: La Pappardella Valencia
Just over a week ago we celebrated my husband's birthday, with family coming over too, it was a great excuse to try something other than paella! Don't get me wrong, I like the stuff, but it's also nice to try something different other than Spanish food once in a while! I remember seeing a little funky Italian restaurant in Calle Bordadores when we visited Crêperie Bretonne during the Fallas. Impressed with its unusual exterior and menu my friend and I have made a pact to give it a try one … [Read more...]
RECIPE: Scrambled Eggs with Spinach and Jamón Serrano
It's been a while since I shared a quick recipe with you, so I want to share something that's really easy to make and one of my favourite tradional Spanish breakfast - scrambled eggs with spinach and jamón serrano (revuelto con espinaca y jamón). My husband prefers this to be served in a bocadillo, but I find it far too heavy to be eaten with thick bread. I much prefer to have a plate with just a few slices crusty bread on the side. But however you want to serve it, it's a very healthy and … [Read more...]
RECIPE: Slow Cooked Curry
It's been a hectic few weeks regarding work and home, I am currently at an end of a project and it's been taking up a lot of my time, hence the lack of appearance on my blog. But fear not, I have something tasty for you to get me back in to the swing of things in blogland. This is something I tried last weekend, missing the usual comfort food the UK, I decided to create my own version of a slow cooked madras curry. Back in the UK, I always used my slow cooker, and ideal piece of kitchen … [Read more...]
RECIPE: Simple Brownie
My boys are crazy about anything chocolatey and cakey and sometimes we we try one of those ready made cake mixes. Since moving to Valencia, I've never really found any that the boys are fond with, if I do have to make something out of the box, I prefer to use the Betty Crocker Cake Mixes which you can usually get from British supermarkets or the specialty aisles in Carrefour. They're pretty convenient, easy and fair enough tasty, but nothing compares to real home made … [Read more...]
RECIPE: Really Simple Lemonade
This week have been scorchingly hot. With temperatures reaching up to 38ºc we have been trying all sort to keep refreshed and watered. My six year old had a brilliant idea to make a lemonade stand outside the house. Being in the country is not the best location for his little business venture, but I'm not the kind to discourage a good idea. So, I suggested that instead, we should make a lemonade stand right in our back garden, that way, we can still make and pretend. It didn't take much … [Read more...]
Creperie Bretonne: Something quirky to try in Valencia
This is an overdue post, actually about 4 months late, I have been pretty slack with writing reviews since then as there have been a lot of things going on and work taking over my life, not giving me the free time to spend with my blog. And for that I put my hand up and promised myself that during these summer months, I will rethink and try to remember the places that I have been around Valencia, hopefully giving my readers a little insight of what's been going on and what funky places I can … [Read more...]
RECIPE: Apple Crumble Cake
To look outside you would think the mediterranean weather is refusing to leave summer, the weekend was spent with family and friends and even though you can feel the chill outside it was still sunny and warm during the days. The kids have been nagging me for a few weeks to make my special homemade apple crumble cake recipe with vanilla custard. So this weekend we spent a few hours in the kitchen creating this belly warming treat! Apple Filling 4 to 5 medium apples (Bramley or substitute … [Read more...]
A quick coffee and charsiu bun @ Birmingham China Town
It's been quite a week of traveling, last Wednesday I flew back to the UK to attend to some personal matters. Now that Valencia Airport have stopped flights from some major airports in UK, I had to resort to long haul traveling to catch my flight from Alicante to East Midlands. On Wednesday I am again due to fly back just for a couple of days, then hopefully that would be my traveling back to the UK for this year. I should have expected it really but since I got back on Friday I have been … [Read more...]