Author: Kate Wilson

Walks round Granollers

~ Kate Wilson ~ 4 Comments

We went for a beautiful walk on Saturday. It wasn’t far away – just up the hill past the hospital and then through the industrial estate and suddenly there was the countryside. When you get to the edge of Granollers or somewhere up high, you realise it isn’t so huge really.
We took the car so Blue could come too and after parking she walked up the hill in fine fettle (what is fettle I wonder?)

In the distance that’s Montseny crested in snow

On the top of the ridge there is a mirador, a sort of folly which was build in the early 20th century. There were wonderful views all around – Montseny on one side and Montserrat on the other.

It was the end of the day and the moon had risen – here visible through the bare branches of this tree.

A figuera, fig tree – such a stout strong tree which is resistant to both dry and salty conditions.
I love discovering these new walks and this one although too far for Blue, could be reached entirely on foot. We had a phone call while up there asking if we wanted some last minute tickets for a Barça game. Somehow I didn’t feel like starting to rush home after this lovely walk so we decided to wait for another time. Also, the cold was beginning to bite and home and the sofa began to seem very tempting.

Fideuà and Allioli

~ Kate Wilson ~ 4 Comments

Here’s the recipe I made this evening

Fideuà is a Valencian dish which is now eaten all over Spain.
This is my vegetarian version with toasted tofu as the protein rather than the more usual seafood.  I don’t really like seafood so for me this is the best!

Clearly you can create this dish with the vegetables of your choice but this is what I had in the fridge this evening. I sliced because I love doing this in the new Magimix but probably it’s better to dice!

I used Fideo Number 0 but there are several sizes available and Number 2 is more traditional.

What you need
Bag of fideo No 0 or bigger
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
half courgette chopped or sliced
two carrots chopped or sliced
half a red pepper diced
slosh olive oil
slosh of tomato frigit or paste
5 cups of vegetable stock
Seasoning – I used salt, pepper and some crumbled dried chillies

In a paella pan if you have one, or a large frying pan, saute all the vegetables with seasoning in the oil, then add the tofu and after about ten minutes add the fideos. At this point you can stir but not too forcefully.
Pour in the stock so that it just covers all that is in the pan. Let this cook for about 20 minutes. Don’t stir but you can open it up a little with a wooden spoon. When the fluid is no longer obvious put the whole thing under the grill (this is where a paella pan comes in handy) and leave it until the tails of the fideos are turning upwards towards the sky. Put a lid on and serve soon with allioli on the side.

Allioli


 I used about 8 garlic cloves and smashed them in this beautiful mortar which belonged to my partners grandmother. Adding olive oil a few drops at a time you keep smashing and stirring with vigour until it is creamy and completely smooth. Traditionally menstruating women shouldn’t make allioli as the oil will not blend with the garlic. I think I proved this wrong tonight 🙂
Here is the little spoon holder that sits by the cooker and makes me smile when I see it

it roughly translates as – Keep smiling when times are hard. But today I was enjoying the kitchen and the music on iCat fm too much to need the reminder. Hope you too had a good Saturday!

Going to the vet in Granollers

~ Kate Wilson ~ 1 Comment

Second vet visit this week.

We continue to look for the best clinic in Granollers.

This one is cheaper, busier and more friendly.

Bonnie has a swollen face and (had) blocked anal glands(don’t think about that too closely).

Hospital Veterinary Lauro in Granollers so far so good.  I am hopeful.

 

postscript :  This was the veterinary clinic for us. We still go there and I can’t recommend them enough. They are helpful, kind, friendly and open all hours of the day and night.

Cereria Fatima in Granollers

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If you read my last post you’ll know that I finally went into the mystery candle shop last week. It is always full of people and sometimes with queues forming outside.
I took a friend with me to help with translation and because she knew what to expect.
We were lucky and there was only one person in front of us and within five minutes I was speaking to Fatima and describing the question I hoped to answer with the help of the candle. I have been curious for two years now about this shop but I wasn’t just being a psychic tourist. There are many ways to focus on life dilemmas and I don’t have a problem in asking for help by lighting a candle. It’s an ancient ritual and perhaps could throw some light on my path. I believe the answers are within me but sometimes they are hidden from view. I am not sure at the moment what is the best way forward with my work – what should I be concentrating on?

Fatima recommended a particular candle and gave me instructions on how to burn it. Once lit it must be left until there is nothing left but a pool of wax.  The candle is set on a sheet of aluminium paper and once it is finished and hard you take it back for Fatima to read.

Some candles weep, that is they drop wax as they burn. This one didn’t cry one tear. It burned from Wednesday evening until Monday morning and all that is left is a circle of wax about the size of a jam jar lid. Later this week I will take it to Fatima and see what she says. Today whenever I looked inside the shop was crowded with people waiting – chatting and laughing – it’s not a solemn place and Fatima herself is round and twinkly and warm.

Amazon ES

~ Kate Wilson ~ 2 Comments

I’ve just found there is an Amazon espanya!  It started  mid September 2011 and as I was in the UK I somehow missed hearing about it.   I know it’s better to use the bookshops and of course I will get my Sant Jordi book from one of the local shops but books here are incredibly expensive – not unusual to pay 20 euros for a basic paperback.
But it’s exciting news! I ordered a book called Tiny Buddha by Lori Deschene. It offers ‘simple wisdom for life’s hard questions’ and I’m hoping it will be part of my new path forward to inner peace.

Postscript
Now after doing some research I find that there is actually a law in Spain that doesn’t allow price competition on books. I wonder how many people here realise why they are paying way over the odds for books?  And I wonder how amazon es will deal with this?

“Among other reasons because the fixed price law in the book prevents very low pricing strategies (the maximum discount allowed is 5% in both physical book in digital format).”  El Pais