pick six: tapas to try in spain

Another instalment from Aspiring Kennedy, tapping in further to the wealth of Lauren's travelling experience. Her 10 month old baby is the most well travelled teeny tot I've ever met! So well travelled that they'll pretty much be out of the country until April. Here she gives us some tips for tucking into tapas. You can't go to Spain without it! Oh and do check out her blog...

I hadn't been to Barcelona in a long time- in almost 10 years, actually. When I got the chance to meet up with some of my best friends from high school there for a girls weekend, I couldn't' book my RyanAir flight fast enough. Eventually, the girls weekend expanded into my husband + baby coming, too. Three nights in Spain was enough to wet my appetite for spending more time there in the future. The combination of the relaxed culture, the great style, the affordable prices won me over…. and, of course, the food! I could eat tapas all day long. And with the affordability of traveling to Spain, that dream can become a reality!

If (and when!) you find yourself in Spain, here are the six tapas items you need to fully embrace. Not only will they get you the best taste of Spanish cuisine… but they'll just give you the best taste in Spain period.

1. Pan Con Tomate

This is a basic staple for any Spanish tapas spread. Simple bread rubbed with a juicy tomato and lightly salted. Mmm. The combination leaves a tasty (and toasty) combo.

2. Croquetas

This is the tater tot's classy cousin. Mashed potatoes mixed with delicious accompaniments like manchego cheese, tasty local meats like jamon or spiced chicken, are then rolled in bread crumbs and pan fried. The best part- most restaurants sell them for about €1.50 each. Yum.

3. Patatas Bravas

I'm a potato girl… if you saw my butt, you'd agree. I like my starches. I'm a universal starchie. Wherever carbs & potatoes may be across the world, I'll seek them out and befriend them. In Spain, there is no exception to this affection. Lightly roasted (ok, maybe fried) potatoes with delicious spicy & creamy aoili on top. Si, señor.

4. Peppers Padron

Just because these are low in calories doesn't mean they skimp on flavour. I could pop these like chips. Oh man. Apparently, 1 in 100 is spicy, but don't let those odds make you sweat. Padron peppers have a fantastic (and not too spicy) flavor that makes them easy to inhale, err, eat.

5. Tortilla
I think of the Spanish tortilla as the love child of a quiche & potatoes dauphinoise. To us Texans, it's a bit confusing as we conjure the corn or flour variation upon hearing this word. However, the tortilla of spain involves potatoes, eggs & various additions cooked in a skillet… and the result, well, it's really delicious.

6. Chorizo
Maybe this is an obvious choice, but how could a meal be complete without Spain's beloved chorizo? I'm not a huge pork eater, but this spicy delight will make me a believer.

Tweet

little mini

A bit slow off the mark but here’s my next guest recipe post over at the lovely Aspiring Kennedy. This time you can have a go at making mini cheesecakes because desserts look so much more appealing in miniature. Or is that just me? Find the full recipe here and there isn’t even any baking involved so there’s no room for over-enthusiastic ovens to ruin this treat. 

Enjoy! 

Tweet

so that was december...

From right to left...

*December was kicked off with a cute and edible blogging social organised by my pal Aspiring Kennedy and held at Biscuiteers in Notting Hill. Proseco and piping made for a fun evening.
*One 'Freelance Friday' started with a brutal scalpel injury and was followed with a visit to a walk in clinic and lots and lots of waiting around. Needless to say that was not a fruitful day of work! Never fear!...Santa Claus popped some nail glue in my stocking.
* We had such a lovely Christmas back in that place we used to call home. I scored big time with Christmas gifts this year. Not a questionable gift in sight, just pure pressie gold!
* A very happy December Sunday, when my friend Camille was baptised, cheered on by the TW family.
* Trinity West's first public carol service. I did a bit of decoration which mainly involved instructing big strong boys up ladders in the art of hanging giant baubles. A highlight was the kid's chance to get involved in a song, aided by the beautiful sound of clashing percussion instruments.
*Our second London Christmas has been and gone and I'm sure London is the best place to be in the run up to all the festivities. Unless you don't like crowds that is.

Well Happy New Year to you all! Hoping the year has lots of great things in store for you. I spent the last day of the year working on a bit of a blog overhaul so I'm looking forward to getting that up and running in 2014!

Tweet

hug in a bowl

Nothing spells out winter quite like a whopping, great, big bowl of soup. I usually make big vats of vegetable soup during the hibernation months, to take to work for lunch or I whip it out as a speedy dinner (only if Nick isn’t around as he insists that it doesn’t count as dinner). Much as I love squeezing as many vegetables as humanly possible into one broth, I tried something a bit more interesting. Grab your hand blender, follow the link to the fabulous Aspiring Kennedy for maple carrot, apple and bacon soup and get cracking.

Tweet

autumn flavours

It's recipe time again over on Aspiring Kennedy and it's feeling pretty autumnal in my kitchen at the moment. Keep pumpkin cravings at bay with my seasonal take on our much loved Italian did. I'm sure Italians would not approve but in my opinion it's tastier (although perhaps sightly biased as I hate mince), easier and quicker. Follow this link for the full pumpkin, pancetta and sage lasagne recipe and enjoy this Autumn warmer with a glass of wine.

Tweet

aspiring kennedy: lovely places you need to see

Introducing my friend, Lauren Knight from her super duper blog, Aspiring Kennedy. You may have noticed my guest posts on her blog and taken a trip over there yourself already. If not then do! Originally from Dallas, she now lives in London with her hubby Tyler and adorable (like beyond a joke adorable) little girl, Viola. She's incredibly well travelled throughout Europe, partly because of her job and partly because she LOVES to explore new places. Despite being from across the pond, even just within London she knows exactly where to head to make the most of the city around her. So here she is, in what will be a regular feature. Pick 6 will be a window into some of this acquired knowledge and a chance to enjoy her charm.

It took me several times across the pond to venture off the normal American-visiting-Europe path. Like most people, London, Paris, Rome, & Germany sat on the itineraries for each of our first trips.Obviously, these cities are popular for countless reasons…but might I suggest six places that you might not have ever considered? But six places that could absolutely rock your world? None of them are too far off the beaten path either. Trust me, I'll walk you through it.

1. St. Andrews

I love St. Andrews so much.

You don't have to be a golfer or royalist (guilty!)

to enjoy this place either.

I adore wandering through the tiny town

and enjoying quiet moments along the quiet coast…

typically with a cone of Sticky Toffee Pudding ice cream 

from the town's beloved ice cream shop, B. Jennetta's, in hand.

The prices are reasonable,

it's easily accessed by train or bus from Edinburgh,

the charity shops never disappoint in kitschy treasures

and the food at the small cafes is affordably tasty.

I love it there,

and I don't know a person who hasn't adored it 

after venturing that way, either.

2. Prague

Obviously, this one has to make it to my list:

It's where Tyler & I honeymooned!

Something about this city's fairy tale architecture

and lamp lit cobblestone streets,

makes a trip here unforgettable.

And the goulash isn't bad, either!

Accessible via rail or budget airlines,

Prague is a gorgeous city 

that has your name all over it.

Okay, not your name…

but you'll be glad you went.

3. Verona

Verona is a household name

thanks to every high schoolers favorite love story,

Romeo & Juliet…

but the experience you'll have 

in this wealthy city

is anything but textbook.

The restaurants serve homemade food with great presentation,

the gelato cones are heaped generously,

and the streets unfold with stereotypical Italian splendor

at every turn and piazza.

Spend two nights here

and I promise,

by the end of it

you'll be spouting romantic feelings

towards this little gem

in a way that might make Shakespeare blush.

4. Avignon

Most people first venture to the riviera 

when heading to the South of France…

but if they only knew what treasures

awaited them so nearby

they may change their plans entirely

and head towards Provence.

I'm embarrassed to say 

that my first time to Provence was in recent years.

After uncovering the glorious of Avignon

and it's neighbors, Aix-En-Provence & Arles,

I'm not sure I'll ever get enough of this tiny area

sat near the Rhone river.

Every moment feels dreamlike

as you float through the small daily market stalls 

and sit in cafes while wine glasses clink 

and small poodles snooze by your feet.

If it was good enough to lure the papacy 

out of Rome for a stint

and inspire Van Gogh to create his masterpieces,

I can promise: 

you'll love it, too.

5. Portugal's Algarve

I can't say that I was expecting much

out of our trip to the Algarve.

In fact, I didn't have a clue what to expect- 

but, woah, am I glad we whimsically chose to go there.

We constantly refer to it

as one of our favorite spots ever.

Sunny, affordable, stunning views, great food

with easy flights form London…

man, I'm having a hard time not clicking 

to a new window for a budget flight there right now.

6. Iceland

Iceland?

Isn't that, like, completely out of the way

when traveling Europe?

Obviously, but…

not really.

IcelandAir offers great prices

on transatlantic flights

with layover options at no added cost

for a stay in Iceland.

Quick dip in the Blue Lagoon

and a weekend in Reykjavic?

I couldn't recommend this idea more

as the past two treks we have taken there

have rocked our world.

***

So while you're planning your European vacation,

add in a few days somewhere off the beaten path

and enhance your trip with a stop off 

to one of these (dare I say, "life changing?") destinations.

Tweet

everything's peachy

It's that time again! Click your way over to Aspiring Kennedy to get the full recipe for these peach & lavender cobblers. Pretty and perfumed...what more could you want and in cute separate dishes they're perfect for entertaining. Why are individual desserts so much more appealing I wonder?

I'm very excited that Lauren will also be guest posting over here on The Lovely Drawer. I'm pretty pumped to share some gems from this Texan beaut!

Tweet

stay green

Hello! I'm back from the Turkish sun and boy was it amazing. Last night I was left dreaming about fresh fish and mountain views but hey ho, back to drizzly London it is. This post is late out as lovely Lauren over at Aspiring Kennedy has already posted the recipe but I'm sure my frustratingly moody internet connection abroad means it's forgivably late! Hop on over to Aspiring Kennedy for this broad bean brushcetta recipe. It's a mish mash of a few recipes I've seen floating around which is why the measurements aren't all that precise. Just make sure you don't let all the green fool you, it really is addictive.

Tweet

Summer Stew

Today is a fun day as it's my very first guest post over on my lovely friend, Lauren's blog. She has a really sweet blog full of all sorts of interesting reads, giveaways and fun photos of their travels so I'd definitely check it out if I were you.

When I think stew, it conjures up images of chilly winter days, big cardigans and a huge bowl of something warming but this Chorizo and Butter Bean Stew with Lemon Cous Cous, is what I'd consider a summer stew, if there ever was such a thing. The Mediterranean flavours would be really nice on a warm Summer evening with a glass of wine. For the full recipe skip on over to Aspiring Kennedy.

Tweet