La versión español está después de la versión inglés.
IN ALL OUR 38+ YEARS together, San Geraldo and I have never gone without a restaurant meal for this long. As a matter of fact, I would venture to guess that, until now, two days might have been our record. Although I can’t be sure we ever even lasted that long.
As you know, I’ve branched out in the kitchen in recent days (yesterday’s post). However, SG can always be counted on to provide us with proper nourishment. Two nights ago he made paella and two nights before that it was a traditional Spanish stew with sofrito. (NOTE: Sofrito means “gently fried” and, in this case, is a sautéed blend of onions, garlic, peppers, and tomatoes used as a sauce.) Both recipes were provided by Pedro (aka my pal Luke’s father). These dishes give us at least two meals. And that’s something else we don’t often “do.” Leftovers.
To show my gratitude, yesterday morning I made coffee for SG. We don’t have a machine, nor do we have a moka (espresso) pot. And, as I mentioned a while back, even our electric tea kettle is no more. So I had to start from scratch. In addition, I simultaneously made a cup (mug/beaker) of tea for myself. One thing I really hate is juggling multiple dishes in the kitchen, so making coffee AND tea at the same time is quite an accomplishment.
Although I forgot about the water boiling away on the cooktop and returned to an almost empty pan and a fog-enshrouded kitchen, I refilled the pot and watched it on my second try. And, despite what they say, a watched pot does boil. San Geraldo was so impressed, he even told his sister Linda what I had done.
Above is last night’s pink moon as viewed from our terrace, the biggest super moon of 2020. Click any of the below images, especially to make the recipe readable.
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EN TODOS NUESTROS MÁS DE 38 años juntos, San Geraldo y yo nunca hemos estado sin una comida de restaurante durante tanto tiempo. De hecho, me aventuraría a adivinar que, hasta ahora, dos días podrían haber sido nuestro récord. Aunque no puedo estar seguro de que hayamos durado tanto tiempo.
Como sabéis, me ramifiqué en la cocina en los últimos días (la entrada de ayer). Sin embargo, siempre se puede contar con SG para proporcionarnos una alimentación adecuada. Hace dos noches hizo paella y dos noches antes era un guiso tradicional español con sofrito. Ambas recetas fueron proporcionadas por Pedro (también conocido como el padre de mi amiguito Luke). Estos platos nos dan al menos dos comidas. Y eso es algo más que no solemos “hacer”. Sobras.
Para mostrar mi gratitud, ayer por la mañana hice café para SG. No tenemos una máquina, ni tenemos una moka. Y, como mencioné hace un tiempo, incluso nuestra tetera eléctrica ya no existe. Así que tuve que empezar desde cero. Además, simultáneamente hice una taza de té para mí. Una cosa que realmente odio es hacer malabarismos con varios platos en la cocina, por lo que preparar café Y té al mismo tiempo es todo un logro.
Aunque olvidé el agua hirviendo en la estufa y volví a una sartén casi vacía y a una cocina cubierta de niebla, volví a llenar la olla y la miré en mi segundo intento. Y, a pesar de lo que dicen, una olla vigilada hierve. San Geraldo estaba tan impresionado que incluso le contó a su hermana Linda lo que había hecho.
Arriba está la luna rosa de anoche vista desde nuestra terraza, la súper luna más grande de 2020. Haz clic en cualquiera de las imágenes a continuación, especialmente para que la receta sea legible.
Cazuela de Garbanzos, Albondigas, y Espinaca con Sofrito.
Coffee and Tea at the same time, you must be exhausted.
David:
I spent the rest of the day in bed.
instant coffee? oh the pain.
anne marie:
I know! Which is why I’m drinking tea.
Time for you boys to get yourselves a proper coffee ‘pot’. may I suggest an Italian coffee maker/stove top….some call it a ‘Moka pot’……. easy peasy.
Great shots of that pink moon last night!
We are missing our daily lunches out at local restaurants/eateries.
Hang in there guys…..stay safe.
Jim:
Remember who you’re talking to! Easy peasy? That’s like SG telling me baking a pie is “a piece of cake.” Hah! Anyway, an automatic machine with a foaming attachment is what I want.
I’m thinking you’re thisclose to your own show on the Food Network … Coffee AND Tea with Mitchell!
Yesterday was Carlos’ birthday and I serenaded him with a Lockdown Birthday Song.I had hoped to take a long weekend away in Charleston but …. maybe when this is done?
Bob:
I’ve been trying to come up with a name for my show. Thanks! Oh, feliz cumpleaños a Carlos! Abrazos de Mitch y Jerry!
As much as we might have in common, we are at the opposite extreme when it come to eating at restaurants vs. cooking/eating at home. And we do leftovers (in various re-incarnations) all the time. As a matter of fact, I often cook with a view to how I will use the leftovers in a new creation. I’ll admit, I do sometimes envy your fabulous meals in local restaurants. But here, in New Mexico, unless you go to a really expensive place, everything is smothered in green chile and comes with beans. Absolutely no imagination.
Frank:
Fuengirola has a great variety of restaurants AND many of very affordable. I hope they all survive this lockdown.
Coffee AND tea, you virtuoso!
Debra:
And the result was perfection. I sometimes amaze even myself.
Nescafe Coffee?!?!?!?!!?!? I didn’t know they still even made that!!!!!!! I the only thing I drink at home now for years is Ethiopian Yirgacheffe I get at the market. When I out the coffee guy will even send it to me. So the other day with the market not being open, he called and asked if I need any…I told him id take two pounds Awfully nice of him. That soup sure looks good, reminds me of Italian Wedding Soup. When this is over, can you imagine how crowded placed will be again?
Nescafe is huge here, as is Nespresso. I’ve read that in the US the brand became Taster’s Choice but they introduced Nescafe Taster’s Choice about 15 years ago. I would be having cafe con leche every morning if we had a machine with a foam attachment, and good coffee. SG likes the instant black, which doesn’t replace his usual cafe con leche, and is completely different. I hate instant, so am sticking to tea with milk for the duration. And you’re right, I’m sure the stew is the Spanish version of Italian wedding soup. The seasoning is different. I’m wondering what it’s going to be like around town once things open again.
Oooooh, I loved the banner photo of the castle in Cadiz! I really do need to travel in Spain one day.
We, too, like to go out to eat several times a week (certainly not as often as you two, though), so it has meant more cooking (and cleaning up), which is a bit of a chore, since I am also teaching from home all day, too. But, I’m at least getting paid, which so many other people, are not, so I’m not complaining 🙂
I hope you like the oatmeal and cottage cheese!
Judy:
I’m so glad you’re still working (and, especially, getting paid). Beyond the fears of coronavirus, the anxiety about liquidity must be devastating people. My next batch will be oatmeal and cottage cheese!
I love my Moka pots – I have 3 different sizes depending on needs. But for instant, Nescafe is definitely the best. And kudos for multitasking in the kitchen! We love leftovers and often cook extra to freeze for later. We have never the option here to go out for meals unless we did a day trip, so that has’t changed for us. You sure picked a good guy to be quarantined with, as did he. Cheers.
Wilma:
So glad I’ve got SG in quarantine… and all other times. And not just because he cooks. (He made the tea and coffee this morning.) Although I love the idea of where and how you live (it’s idyllic), I still need to be in walking distance of restaurants and café. We at one time had a Moka pot, but we never used it, although we did use our drip coffee pot.
Oooh, coffee (sort of) tea and, best of all, not a knife in sight! You go boy!
Deedles:
And the coffee-sort-of came with a free Nestles chocolate bar attached! (Same company.)
OMG that’s 2 days in a row in the kitchen (although 2nd one was a bit dangerous). This lockdown might create a chef out of you! Beautiful shots of the moon. Buddy decided he had to pee right at 2 am (almost never happens that late) so hubby saw it but I didn’t.
Cheapchick:
That was so kind of Buddy.
Oh darn! I forgot to look at the super moon! Wonder what it will look like tonight? Slightly less super, I guess.
You are practically a Michelin water-boiler. LOL
Steve:
I, too, had forgotten about the super moon, but just happened to look out the window at a good time. If you had seen the almost empty pot and the fog, you would have taken away my Michelin stars.