STILL OVERCAST AND DAMP IN SUNNY MANILVA FOR NOW;

THURSDAY 13th/ FEBRUARY 2014.

This morning it’s still overcast and damp, the improvement starts tomorrow ready for the weekend, the temperature today is up to 20 degs! The rest of Spain is still getting battered by the storms that continue to hit the UK which is not looking good for them!

So this morning we are sorting ourselves out; Brenda is ‘Pottering’ and as you can see I’ am up on the PCs on the WWW and ‘Bloging’ – we have had our menu ‘ Meeting’ so no more ‘ings’ for today! Tonight for supper we are having(!) Pan seared ‘Calves Liver’ with Smoked Bacon, English Pork Sausages, deep-fried Onions, Brussels Sprouts, Garden Peas ‘A la Flamande’( mixed with baby Carrots) and sautéed diced cooked Potatoes.

Friday night is ‘Fish Night ‘so we are going(!) to have for a change a good old classic from the past; “ Filets of Hake( not Sole) Duglere” – lightly poaching(!) them in a savory fish stock then making(!) the sauce with finely chopped Shallots, Tomato Concasse,White wine, Lemon juice, a dash of cream and chopped Parsley! Traditional  Baby New Potatoes and Garden Peas – we can’t wait!

Then on Saturday its you guessed ‘Steak Night’ with another ‘Golden Oldie’ – “ Steak Diane” made with finely chopped Shallots, sliced Baby Mushrooms,Garlic,Lemon Juice, English & French Mustard, chopped Parsley, Worcestershire sauce, lots of ground Black pepper and seasoned to taste – not forgetting double Cream and of course a ‘friendly’ glass of Brandy – flamed !! Traditional ‘Frits’ and finely sliced Green Beans – the mouth is watering(!) - all ready!!

Sundays ‘Hit from the past’ is going to be “ Lamb Cutlets Boulangere” – our favorite Potato dish made with hand cut/sliced, not on a ‘Mandoline’ local Potatoes layered with sliced Onions, very well seasoned with salt and Black Pepper and then just covered with a rich Vegetable & Chicken stock – baked in the oven and finished with the pan-fried Lamb Cutlets placed on top – Cabbage with Acelgas and crushed Carrots & baby Turnips and of course lots of Mint sauce – we are excited now !!!

So this is our own little “ Gastronomic Festival” down here in sunny Manilva this weekend.

Thought for the Day; See above.

..