Mis fotos

        A group of friends, named “Little tapas with friends” tell us about the spanish mushroom croquettes. And for doing it, they talk about Zugarramurdi.

      The “Cave of Zugarramurdi” is in Navarra (North of Spain) and it is known cause of its history of phenomena associated with witches, and other occult arts.

Cave of Zugarramurdi

Zugarramurdi, by Bart and Co, at flickr.com

       But, Zugarramurdi is also a famous place, thanks to its mushrooms. The group “Tapitas con amigos” (Little tapas with friends) say that mushrooms can be eaten alone, but also inside of a croquette. And that is what I want to do now: to talk about “Mushroom croquettes”.

"Y ahora croquetas de queso y setas y empanadilla de morcilla", by Antonio Domingo, at flickr.com

      For those croquettes, the group “Tapitas con amigos” propose us to use some mushrooms named “Senderuelas”, it means: mushrooms that you can usually find near a road or a trail. These mushrooms are very little and, therefore, they are perfect for cooking croquettes.

"Setas", by Carlos Pérez-Aradros Herce, at flickr.com

      Here you have the recipe for cooking “Croquetts with mushrooms”:

Ingredients:

n       -1 liter of whole milk

n       -15 gr. Of dehydrated mushrooms

n      - ½  onion

n      - 3 tablespoon of flour

n       -100 gr. Of butter

n      - Salt

n      - Pepper

n      - Nutmeg

n      - Eggs

n      - Breadcrumbs     

       For this kind of dough of croquettes, we will not first make a bechamel roux of butter and flour, but incorporate the flour to the sautéed mushrooms, and then, little by little, we will be adding milk until getting a slightly thickened béchamel.

      We start chopping half an onion into very small pieces and we rehydrating the mushrooms, dipping about 20 minutes in warm water. After that time we will have a generous amount, equivalent to about 150 grams of fresh or frozen mushrooms.

      Start chopping half an onion into very small pieces and we rehydrating the mushrooms, dipping about 20 minutes in warm water. After that time we will have a generous amount, equivalent to about 150 grams of fresh or frozen mushrooms.

       If using frozen mushrooms, thaw them in the refrigerator, placing them in a colander over a bowl to drain water and not left flooded. This will require thinking ahead and do that operation the day before and so we get the best results. Drain well and chop into small pieces, which are the trips that we find in each croquette.

      In a large skillet, melted butter and in it sauté the onion and mushrooms for about three or four minutes. Season and lower the heat to low and add the flour all at once. With a wooden spoon, stir to let the flour is distributed on the stir, covering every portion of onions and mushrooms, and forming a kind of sticky paste. We leave it to brown the flour stirring until dough begins to turn brown.

      Added a stream of milk and stir the slurry, allowing the liquid absorbs it, until it virtually has disappeared. We continue to add streams of milk, and letting the paste dissolves gradually, it will not take more than 15 minutes have added almost three quarters of a liter of milk or a little more, until our cakes dough is perfect and to our liking .

The process of cooking "Croquettes with mushrooms"

       We add a touch of nutmeg and turn off the heat, stirring to incorporate the flavor of the spice with the intense flavor of the mushrooms in the sauce. Having done thus mass, flour has been slowly eating milk to absorb, not dissolved in it, so we will not have even a single crumb. In addition, mushrooms have been all along in the bechamel, so have brought their taste for much longer. Try it and you tell me.

      We extend the dough onto a platter and let cool and set. Finally, it only remains for us to form the kibble, this time round I did them, and fogging with beaten egg and bread crumbs. The last step is to fry the croquettes in hot olive oil, drain on absorbent paper and serve immediately.

      Working time | 1 hour and rest.

      I hope that you can come to Navarra so soon.

Kind regards,

Luis.

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         An expression so used in Spain is the following:

        A ojo de buen cubero = A rule of thumb

       You do by approximation, by trial and error, by simple visual estimation; it is the same way as when in the past did their job makers buckets of wood ("cuberos") or other hollow volumes artisans as blowers glass, pottery,and so on. Example: "Nothing theodolites or bagpipes, a rule of thumb we calculate everything."

"Cubos de madera", by Miradas de Andalucía, at flickr.com

 Till soon, kind regards,

Luis.

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       The town of Alájar is located at 115 kilometers of Huelva and 102 of Seville. It belongs to the Natural Park of Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche. Its extension is of 41,9 Km2 and contains seven organizations of population: Alájar, El Cabezuelo, El Calabacino, El Collado, Los Madroñeros, La Peña de Arias Montano and San Bartolomé. Its altitude is of 577 meters, except the zone of the Rock with 700 meters. The population according to the register of the 2003 is of 813 inhabitants.

"Alájar", Huelva, Southwest of Spain, by SantiMB, at flickr.com

       Alájar belongs to Huelva  and it gives name to the mountain pass, that divides the towns of Alájar and Castaño del Robledo.

      The “Peña de Arias Montano” is visited every year by many people, because there is a bust of the great humanist and theologian of the sixteenth century. He lived there.

Alajar seen from the Peña de Arias Montano

       In 2011, a part of the movie, “Sólo se vive una vez”, by the Director  Zoya Akhtar, was shot in Alajar.

      The date of origin of the municipality is uncertain, the name is of Arab origin, means stone or rock. It was a village that comprised of the municipal term of Aracena, within the Tierra de Sevilla. Two villages existed: Alfajar de arriba (hermitage) and Puebla del Valle (locality). On 1480 each one it had about 10 neighbors, dedicated to agriculture, doing reference to orchard, fruit trees and cattle ranch. It had to be fitted in the Kingdom of Niebla before Reconquista. During second half of 16th century it acquires certain reputation due to the presence in the Rock of Benito Arias Montano and to the operation of lead deposits and silver. It obtained the title of town in 1702.

      Till soon, kind regards,

Luis.

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 Ángel, 3 años:

Un dia llevaron a Án gel al cine, a ver “La Bella y la Besia”; y cuando apagaron las luces, dijo: “Oh, oh…….!, me parece que es de miedo”.

Ángel, 3 years old:

One day Angel was taken to the movies, to see “The Beauty and the Beast "; and when the lights went out, he said: " Oh, oh ....!, I think it is scary. "

Meritxell, 5 años:

Mientras cenaban, viendo las noticias, sus padres hablaban de la crisis.Meritxell se quedó mirando a su madre y le preguntó: “Mamá, ¿Estamos en crisis?”, “Sí”, le contestó ella.Entonces la niña se puso muy seria y dijo: “Ydespues de la crisis, ¿Qué viene?: ¿El verano?”.

Meritxell, 5 years old:

While they were eating, watching the news, her parents spoke of the crisis, Meritxell stared at her mother and asked: "Mom, are we in crisis?","Yes", she answered.Then the girl became very serious and said: "And after the crisis, What comes?. The summer?".

Eloy, 6 años:

Una noche le dijo su abuela: “¡Venga, Eloy, a dormer ya!”. Y Eloy respondió: “¡Es que si duermo mucho no disfruto de la vida!”.

Eloy, 6 years old:

One night, his grandmother told him: “¡Come on, Eloy, to sleep already!”.And Eloy answered: “¡Is that if I sleep not enjoy life!”.

Manuel, 4 años:

Su madre llevaba ya bastante tiempo sin trabajo, y un dia Manuel le dijo: “Mamá, ya va siendo hora  de que trabajes otra vez.Yo necesito hacer mi vida”.

Manuel, 4 years old:

His mother was quite some time without work, and one day Manuel told her: “Mom, it's time for you to work again. I need to make my life”.

Dani, 5 años:

Estaba viendo una revista del Corazon con su madre y habia una foto en la que salia un niño con la cara pixelada; y dijo Dani: “Mamá, ¿Tan feos son que les borran la cara?”.

He was Reading a magazine of heart with his mother and there was a picture, in which appeared a boy with his face pixilated; and Dani told her: “Mom, So ugly is it that they blur the face?”.

To be continued……..

Till soon,  kind regards,

Luis.

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       From next May-14 till May-19, the “V Ruta del Atún 2013” (“Tuna Fifth Route 2013”) shall be celebrated, in Zahara de los Atunes (Cádiz, South-west of Spain).

      This year, 36 restaurants there will be as participants. They will offer several “tapas” of tuna (Atún de Almadraba). This tuna is caught not far from the sea shore. Here you can see a photograph, made the last Saturday, in the evening, where you can see some little ships, that were caughting tunas, these last days, in the morning. When fishermen caught tunas, they name it: “La levantá”, because they “Levantan” (“Raise”) the tuna. This photograph was made in Atlanterra (five kilometers from the village, Zahara de los Atunes):

"La Almadraba", Atlanterra, Zahara de los Atunes, Cádiz.

      La Levantá of the tuna.

       When the fishermen caught the tuna, they take them off the wall of the village (Zahara de los Atunes). There, the tuna is cut in several pieces.Then, the tuna make a sound like human snoring and it is named "The ronquío" (snore) --because it remembers to that sound--.

       This route is organized by the ACOZA (Asociación de Comerciantes de Zahara de los Atunes = Merchants Association of Zahara de los Atunes). If you want to have more information, please click on the next link:

http://www.rutadelatun.com/#!prettyPhoto[featured]/1/

       In this web, you can see a photograph, up and right, where you can see how three fishermen are raising a tuna, in La Almadraba .

      Down there, you can read:  Premiación….  (it is the same than Awards….)

      And you can read: “Certificado de los premios a los Ruteros” IV RUTA DEL ATUN  2012. “Certificated of the awards to the route-makers” Fourth ROUTE OF TUNA 2012.

      To the right side, you can read:  Comparte  (Share it)

      And down it, you can read:  Share the V ROUTE OF TUNA with your friends, from the different social networking.

      Down the pictures, you can read:  Protocol agreement signed Caixa and Acoza and ceremony of the two TV Samsung 22 " awards at the V Route of Tuna, courtesy of the Caixa.

      Down another three pictures, on the left side you can read:  Ruteros Ganadores 2012  (Winners Route-Makers 2012) receive their awards, delivered by President Castro and Julian Gaspar Romero. in representation of the business association of Zahara, ACOZA.

      Down the picture in the middle, you can read:  FITUR 2013  (International Fair of Turism). And down it, you can read:. We were joined by the Artists:  Marina San Jose,  Rafa Reaño, Rafael Alkorta, and Pablo Carbonell on this occasion,  to the presentation of the V Route Fitur Tuna.

      Down the picture, on the right side, you can read: Vente a la Ruta (Come to the Route. And  down it, you can read:  In this year, 2012,  Tuna IV Route was very busy for a figure that exceeded five thousand Route-Makers in 5 Days, from different parts of Spain and foreign tourists.

      This year, the price for one “tapa of tuna” shall be 3,50  Euros.

      The participating restaurateurs choose the prize for best cover (tapa), to be elected by popular vote. Consumers will be filling a passport that will do testing sealing caps as they come in different bars and restaurants attached to the route, and there is where you can vote for the caps they like. As always, at the end of the route, there will be raffles and gifts for those who deliver these passports duly stamped and refilled.

       I hope that you have enjoyed; but, with this post.

Till soon, kind regards,

Luis.

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      A las tres va la vencida = At three time's the charm

      It means that after two unsuccessful attempts, if you persevere in the effort with energy, the third is usually achieved. So it is used by Lucrecia, in "The Celestina", a very famous novel, by Fernando de Rojas, where Lucrecia wants to encourage to Calisto, who has tried to get the Melibea ´s love.

"Celestina.La tragicomedia". Almagro, Ciudad Real, almost middle of Spain, by Festival de Almagro, at flickr.com

      I always thought that it was said: "A la tercera va la vencida"..."A la tercera" instead of "A las tres".

Till soon, kind regards,

Luis.

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       A Fan (Abanico) is an instrument and a fashion, which was invented and manufactured in order that manually it could  move air and facilitate cooling when you are in a hot environment, without ventilation.

      Fan was originated in China. Its operation is very simple, just enough arm waving harmoniously supporting it with more or less intensity, but its manufacture is delicate because it incorporates artistic trims and quality materials.

      These are the components of a fan:

--Baraja (Deck):  Rigid and folding base of a fan.

--País (Country):  The fabric that is attached to the “Baraja”. The fans which have no “país”, are named  “de baraja” or simply “Barajas”.

--Varillas (Ribs):  Wood that can be fretworked or painted.

--Caberas:  First and last ribs,  thicker than the rest.

--Calado (Fretwork):  Holes made ​​in the ribs.

      The Flabélum or the high fan comes from the Egyptian and Asian antiquity, as manifested in the reliefs and paintings at least since the nineteenth dynasty in Egypt. But only used in the palaces.

      The Greek civilization made ​​use of the fan from the fifth century before Christ. The Greeks were followed by Etruscans and Romans and it is followed during the Middle Ages, such in civil life as in certain religious civilizations. Fan is to the very different ways and with varied materials, predominantly fabric and feather.

      The folding fan was invented by a Chinese in the seventh century, inspired in the mechanism of the wing of a bat. In Europe it is known from the late fifteenth century, where it was brought by the Portuguese people,  who opened trade routes to East. It was extended through all Europe and, at the beginning it was used by ladies of high society; but after for all layers of society. In the seventeenth century came to be the way it is now unfolding in recent centuries the whims of fashion and miniaturists introducing inventive fretwork, reliefs, inlays and precious materials. The Mores is a common motif in the design of the "país", where yet fit all kinds of images.

A fan with fretwork

       In the eighteenth century Spain settled in the French craftsman Eugenio Prost1, under the protection of the Count of Floridablanca, making Spain one of the world's leading producers competing with French and Italian. That same century guild is created abaniqueros cited and late century, is based in Valencia, the Real Factory Fans.

      Although fan was an instrument for ladies, some men also used little fans, in their pockets. And other biger fans, named “Abanicos de pericón” (“Fans of pericón”), specially for Flamenco dance.

      However, their use becomes exclusive ladies early twentieth century up to these days, although today you can see men fanning. Apparently these ladies had such skill with the fans, who came to invent a "language of the fan", consisting of the position as it stood or the way as a lady grabbed the fan, it was transmitting a message type or another one.

The language of fan

      I want to show you a nice videoclip, by a Spanish singer woman, who I love, named Diana Navarro.This is her song “ Mira lo que te has perdío” (“Look at what you have missed”), where she uses a fan:

Diana Navarro, in Live, with "Mira lo que te has perdío"

Till soon, kind regards,

Luis.

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       Ángela Ruiz Robles was a lady, who was born in Villamanín (León, North-west of Spain) in 1895, lived and died in Ferrol ( La Coruña, Galice, North-west of Spain), in 1975. She was a teacher, writer and inventor, pioneer of the electronic book. She left us an amazing "mechanical Encyclopedia", but it was never manufactured. She patented the mechanical Encyclopedia in 1949.

Ángela Ruiz and her "Mechanical Encyclopedia"

      Ángela presented the Encyclopedia in 1972. The Encyclopedia was intended to lighten the weight of the portfolios of children going to school. It consisted of a metal box with interchangeable rollers for the subjects. It could incorporate sound, a calculator, a diccionary. On its way, it got ahead the e-book and even tablet.

      A grandson of Angela remembers that she worked on the project at night, but she did not find funding, to see it come true. Therefore, now Angela's family and friends have wanted to pay a tribute, with a permanent exhibition at the Museum of Science and Technology of La Coruña (Galice, North-west of Spain).

      Finally, Angela has the recognition that she always deserved.

Till soon, kind regards,

Luis.

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       In Málaga, a nice city in the South-east of Spain, there are still several expressions, based on several words used in the past.

      For example, one funny expression is “Estar Aliquindoi (or Alikindoi)”, that means “To be attentive”.It comes from the English expression “Look and do it”.It is said that the English expression started to be used, when the first English people came to Málaga, through the port; but it was changed with the popular way of speaking  in the Andalussian language.

      Another expression, that I find curious, that is known, in Málaga, since the beginning of the last 20^th century,  is “Canequi” or “Darse un canequi”.

      As another words, “Canequi” was a word originating in the port of Málaga. This port has been through its history the main entrance to the city. Through it came bad and good things, currencies. One of the visitors were those “Bocoyes” (Casks) and “Toneles” (Barrels) of wine, which largely departed from the port to distant lands, but they also came from many parts of the world.

      Our port was seen on many occasions invaded by large containers carrying Cuban rum. According feature there were two models of containers:  some similar to the barrels and other thin ceramic with a capacity of 26 or 34 pounds, besides ceramic bottles. These large and heavy containers was given the name of "Canéis". The transport from the port to the carts that had to move this precious nectar to taverns or ethyl main wineries of our city, it was hard and heavy, plus fragile, so some trucks were available with rubber wheels instead of iron, carrying the "Canéis" to the main wagon, which was pulled by nags accustomed to working hard and heavy to haul barrels to wineries.

      In those carts, pulled by hard men, are carefully placed those large containers, called Caneis. The children of the last century wanted to play, like those of any age, and began to climb on trucks and take a fun ride, next to that rum come from Cuba or Jamaica. The children knew that those containers were called Caneis, but for them it was easier to say “Canequi”, then began to ask the workers of the port to let them take a Canequi in the cart, that is a walk. From here, that word became so popular that it was used for any kind of ride; so much so, that we could hear as such other person was invited to take a "canequi" by the Lighthouse or in the field, etc.

Till soon, kind regards,

Luis.

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       Old words may be also named “Palabras viejunas” (“Viejunas words”). Most of these words have disappeared from the Spanish, but were used extensively in classical literature, such as books of Cervantes.

      Between other words, we find: “Olgura” (it meant “Party”, “juerga” = “bringe”, “amusement between many people”).

      There was an expression: “A boca de sorna” (literally: “A mouth of sarcasm”).It is refered to the moment when the light of day is gone –when night is coming--.”Sornar” means “Sleep” and “Sornar” comes from the latin “Surnia”, that means: “Mochuelo” (“Owl”), who is the “Ave nocturna” (“Night owl”).Then, the moment, when owl goes out and it is the moment to sleep, is baned “A boca de sorna”.

      Anyway, many words, between all of them, are still used by old people, in some villages of Spain.

      Another old expression is: “A campana herida” (“To a bell wound”).But it was used another similar expression: “A campana tañida”. Both cases meat: “When people were called, cause something important, they were called “A campana”, “with the sound of a bell”. People were warned when there was danger.

      Other word is: “Amancebado”.It comes from “Amancebamiento”, that means: “The sexual treatment anong a man and a woman, who are not married among them”.

      Another word is: “Virote”, that is refered to a “Boy single, idle and precious handsome”.

      In Extremadura (almost south of Spain) it was used the word “Cancamurria”, that meant: “Melancholy” –in Galice (Nort-west of Spain) is still used “Morriña”--. Talking about “Morriña”, here you can watch a video of the song “Un canto a Galicia” (“A song to Galicia”), by Julio Iglesias:

Song: "Un canto a Galicia", by Julio Iglesias.

And this is the lyrics of this song:

Eu queroche tanto, 
e ainda non o sabes... 
Eu queroche tanto, 
terra do meu pai. 

Quero as tuas ribeiras 
que me fan lembrare 
os teus ollos tristes 
que me fan chorare. 

Un canto a Galicia, hey, 
terra do meu pai. 
Un canto a Galicia, hey, 
miña terra nai. 

Teño morriña, hey, 
teño saudade, 
porque estou lonxe 
de eses teus lares. 

Eu queroche tanto, 
e ainda non o sabes... 
Eu queroche tanto, 
terra do meu pai. 

Quero as tuas ribeiras 
que me fan lembrare 
os teus ollos tristes 
que me fan chorare. 

Un canto a Galicia, hey, 
terra do meu pai. 
Un canto a Galicia, hey, 
miña terra nai. 

Teño morriña, hey, 
teño saudade, 
porque estou lonxe 
de eses teus lares. 

Teño morriña, 
teño saudade, 
porque estou lonxe 
de eses teus lares... 

De eses teus lares... 
De esos teus lares... 

¡Teño morriña! 
¡Teño saudade! 

Un canto a Galicia, hey, 
terra do meu pai. 
Un canto a Galicia, hey, 
miña terra nai. 

Teño morriña, hey, 
teño saudade, 
porque estou lonxe 
de eses teus lares. 

Un canto a Galicia, hey, 
terra do meu pai. 
Un canto a Galicia, hey, 
miña terra nai. 

Teño morriña, hey, 
teño saudade, 
porque estou lonxe 
de eses teus lares. 

Teño morriña, hey, 
teño saudade, 
porque estou lonxe 
de eses teus lares. 

Teño morriña, hey, 
teño saudade, 
porque estou lonxe 
de eses teus lares.

      Another old word was: “Churrullero”, that means: “Charlatán” (“Chatterbox”), someone who talks too much.

      There was another word, very used, named: “Engarabulloso”, that means: “Someone who lies, who cheats”.

      Another word is: “Cañuto”, that means: “Someone, who betrays you, accuses you”.

      Other old word: “Abigeo”, that means: “A rustler”.

      An another one: “Matungo" , that means: “Old horse”.

      Another one: “Acerico”, that means: “Where you prick pins”.

      Another old word: “Caramillo”.I was a musical instrument, concretely: a flute made of cane.

      Another expression was: “To sing for the pad”. It is refered to sing without instrument and just for distraction. It happened when someone, who sang very well, was asked to sing something, but it, by humility, said it only sang “for its pad”.

      I hope that you have enjoyied with this post.

Till soon, kind regards,

Luis.

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