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The Wild Asparagus Hunters are Out and About

It´s that time of year. Cars parked in odd places, the solitary person - usually a man, popping up above a bank or from behind an olive tree. The hunters of the wild aparagus are here. The plentiful rain scattered with a day or two of sunshine has brought them out in droves. Some have their route, others instinctively know where to go. They appear, walking back to their cars, with a huge bundle of foot long green spears of asparagus. And off they go, probably not to be seen for another year - or another week if the rain continues. No matter how hard the shoots try and hide the older men hunt them down with stick in hand, to fob off the spiky old growth, and uncover the tender new stems of wild asparagus. Everyone has their favourite way of cooking them but the most common seems to be in a Tortilla - the thick Spanish potato omelette to which you can add anything that comes to hand - or is hunted down. My one or two shorter stem finds don´t come close to the experienced hunters catch. I...

Spain Buddy Recipe Book Review - Popular Spanish Dishes & Tapas

From Ajopringue (Stewed Pigs' Liver) to Brazo de Gitano, literally meaning 'a Gypsy's Arm (Swiss Roll) this Spanish recipe book is packed with popular, easy to prepare dishes and tapas from Spain. Put together by the lover of Spanish food (and wine) Elle Draper. A long-term lover of all things Spanish who left the Canary Islands for the hills of Almeria in Andalucia.



Elle lives with her photographer partner Alan and several huge dogs. See her Instagram feed- Spain Buddy for great photos (by her and sometimes Alan) of food, wine, their 3 dogs and Spain. Elle is as gregarious as she is prolific in writing (on her Spain  Buddy website and elsewhere) and as a self-proclaimed lover of food she delights in sharing the dishes she loves to both eat and cook.


With over 100 Spanish dishes and plenty of mouth-watering inducing photos this is not a book to peruse when hungry. Many of my favourite tapas are in here including Pipirrana de Jaen which is a tomato salad which comes from my home province of Jaen in the north of Andalucia. Another favourite of mine is Gambas Pil Pil a hot, garlicky dish of spicy prawns - finger lickingly good.



I'm happily ploughing through the recipes (the Ajopringue may wait until last!) Right now in the heat of the Spanish summer it's dishes like Gazpacho (chilled tomato smoothie) and Ensalada Rusa (Russian Salad) that are most welcome. In the cold months of winter (in the mountains of Jaen it does get cold) Barrecha de Libre o Conejo (Hare or Rabbit Stew)  or Magra con Tomate (Pork in Tomato Sauce) that win the day.



You can purchase the recipe book directly as a PDF or Kindle version via the Spain Buddy site - Spain Buddy Recipe Book for the low price of €4.99 then you can get cooking popular dishes & tapas from Spain in your own kitchen. I wouldn't mind an invite as I prefer eating to cooking!





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