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| THE CHURCH OF NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL CARMEN NEIGHBORHOOD: LOS BOLICHES. CITY: FUENGIROLA. PROVINCE: MÁLAGA. |
Oh, the title of this post? San Geraldo headed to the butcher shop the other day and was elated because he was able to converse with the butcher entirely in Spanish. In addition, when he asked if it was still possible to order a turkey for Christmas, the butcher said "yes" (well, actually, he said "sí"). So, San Geraldo ordered a turkey. An 8-kilo turkey. (That's close to 18 pounds.)
When I gasped, he said, "We'll have plenty of leftovers for everyone!" (But that's not what I was worried about.)
We went to buy a roasting pan. When I found one that I thought would be big enough for an 8-kilo turkey, San Geraldo said, "Oh, I don't think that will fit in the oven." (Spanish ovens are most often much smaller than what we're used to.)
That's when I said, "Uh-huh. And will the turkey???"
San Geraldo said, "I hope so."
So, yes, there will also be turkey pictures (and stories).
Today, a glimpse of what Fuengirola looks like just before Christmas. No music. Just hum to yourselves.
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| WINTER FLOWERS. (CLICK ANY IMAGE TO GET INTO THE SPIRIT.) |
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| OLIVE TREES AND POINSETTIEAS. |
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| TREES FILLED WITH ORANGES ALL OVER TOWN. |
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| AN "ICE-COVERED" TREE DOWN THE STREET. |
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| MESON SALVADOR. PASTRIES FILLED WITH SHRIMP AND TIED WITH ONION. |
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| A "RAW" WINTERY MORNING ON THE MEDITERREAN SEA. (IT GOT UP TO A CHILLY 18C/68F.) |
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| CREPE WITH FRENCH CHOCOLATE, COMPLEMENTS OF CAFE EL NOVENTA. |
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| MY FAVORITE SCULPTOR, PAUL BLANE, IS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE SIMPSON FAMILY WITH THE HOLY FAMILY. |
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| ONE OF SAN GERALDO'S HIBISCUS ON THE TERRACE. |
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| SAN GERALDO'S LEMON BARS. (SHORTBREAD, LEMON CUSTARD, RASPBERRY JAM, POWDERED SUGAR.) |
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| ON PLAZA SAN RAFAEL, LOS BOLICHES. |
Feliz Navidad! Have a great one, all the best!
ReplyDeleteHayley-Eszti:
DeleteGracias! And a very merry, happy, and healthy Christmas to you!
Mitchell your place looks fantastic.Especially Iove oranges trees
ReplyDeleteGosia:
DeleteI love seeing all the oranges, too.
Because there is only 2 of us we never buy a whole turkey just pieces and it is easier to cook, something we did when in Europe with those much smaller ovens. This year we are doing an Italian Roman dinner and having roasted lamb. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteLaurent:
DeleteJerry used to buy a huge turkey even for just the two of us. Mmmm... lamb!
I have never seen an orange tree up close. Very pretty. I like the public Christmas tree too.
ReplyDeleteAndrew:
DeleteThere are lots of orange orchards around but also trees in gardens and along city streets. Sevilla has more than 14,000 orange trees planted throughout the city. They're the bitter oranges (for making marmalade).
Mr. Block, you are such a tease!! Yes, you must be FREEZING!!
ReplyDeleteLove the winter blossoms and range trees.
And the chocolate crepe!!
And the shrimp pastries.....lemon bar.....
Have a wonderful week Mitchell and San Geraldo!!
Jim:
DeleteAnd it just keeps getting colder. Right now it's only 17C; and it's supposed to go down to 13C overnight! The winds have been blowing, which makes it so much more raw. (And, yes, we are seriously cold!)
Oh, my heavens, San Geraldo's lemon bars... how gorgeous! Yumm! I especially love the last photo (the tree on Plaza San Rafael).
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to San Geraldo on conversing totally in Spanish with the butcher! 8-kilo turkey, eh? Small oven, eh? *LOL* Looking forward to the report. He may have to cut it in half down the center and cook it over two days :)
Judy:
DeleteHis lemon bars give me a shiver every time I eat one. They are SOOOO good. Yep. 8 kilos. I first thought, "What are you nuts?!?" I then realized he was about to give so many stories to tell. (I hope we don't have to remove the kitchen door from it's hinges to get the turkey through.)
Merry Christmas to you and San Geraldo, along with your fur balls (the cats I mean :)) Cheers!
ReplyDeleteCheapchick:
DeleteBack at you... except for the hair balls (I mean fur balls part).
There is a story about the person who was asked why she cut the ham in half before putting it in the oven. The reply was "that's the way my mother did it" so her mother was asked the same question and she replied, "that's the way MY mother did it" so grandma was asked the same question and the reply came back, "because otherwise it wouldn't fit in the oven!"
ReplyDeleteNew tradition: cut the turkey in half before cooking. What can I say, my mind works in mysterious ways.
Happy holidays!
Frank:
DeleteThis story is wonderful. And it follows right along with why Jerry ordered such a big turkey in the first place... It's what his mother always did. Wishing you a very merry Christmas (and snow if you want it).
Next Christmas, Spain! Omnomnom.
ReplyDeleteNo turkey this year, I'm doing a leg of lamb with a cranberry/orange/red wine and crystallised ginger concoction.
Jacqueline:
DeleteElena mentioned lamb. Jerry could have bought a whole one! That liquid combination sounds so good. We're having Swedish glogg Christmas Day (us... not the bird).
Happy Christmas/Solstice to you both, Mitchell! Enjoy it whatever way you enjoy!
ReplyDeleteBrian:
DeleteThanks so much. Very happy to see the back end of the year's shortest day. Wishing you a very merry Christmas.
Our cats have gotten used to the tree, though, not being outdoor felines, they revel in laying under a tree ... even a fake one.
ReplyDeleteIn Miami, we had no tree because those cats--now all sadly passed--would tear it up, so we hung our balls from the ceiling.
Not as painful as it sounds ... Christmas balls.
Cheers to a fabulous Christmas and a good swift kick to get the turkey into the oven!
Bob:
DeleteOur previous cats never touched a thing on the tree. It's obvious these two would leave nothing alone. They are, however, easily trained. They very quickly know what they're not supposed to do. And, once they learn, they wait for us to leave the room before they do it again. Speaking of balls, however, the first time our old cat Dobie saw a pair (NOT Christmas balls), he tried batting at them with his paws.
Do have a lovely day, the four of you. Hope the pussies like turkey, otherwise sounds like it'll be turkey sandwiches until Easter.
ReplyDeleteI'll give you a thought as I tuck onto my Xmas dinner of beans on toast. But in recognition of the big day going to do something a little but extra - I'll top it off with TWO fried eggs! .- and dessert will be, a little exotically, an avocado. (Bet you're already slavering at the thought of such a banquet.)
Ray:
DeleteSandwiches, soup, salad... I have to admit I DO have an immediate physical reaction to your beans on toast. However, slavering is definitely not a part of it. the toast and the fried eggs sounds great... as does the avocado. Wishing you a very merry unChristmas.
Thanks for sharing your Christmas in Spain. It always looks so bright and festive. Merry Christmas to both of you. Take care.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteWishing you, Mrs. C, and the extended family a very merry Christmas in the Great Northwest! Much more to come of Christmas in Spain.
I want some of San Geraldo's lemon bars! Look delicious as well as some of the other items you included. Great pictures for us. Happy decorating and hope the turkey works out for ya!
ReplyDeleteLinda:
DeleteAnd Beacon Hill Brownies came out of the oven yesterday afternoon. So many recipes to share. (The turkey is home. It fit in the elevator.)
I wish I'd taken a picture of our daughter's tree up near Ft Worth... It's perfect for folks with cats ... or, in her case, a dog that pees on everything. She put sticky stuff on the wall in shape of a huge 6' tree, then strung the lights and stuck them to the wall. It's actually pretty neat... and the sticky stuff comes off the wall after Christmas. Hey... this could really wig a cat out, couldn't it?
ReplyDeleteSharon:
DeleteWhat a great idea, although I don't think it would put Dudo off at all. I used muscle tape to repair something the other day. Dudo found a long piece and had a ball with it stuck to his feet, then his nose, then his feet. He wasn't at all upset and was only finally annoyed when I took it away from him. He tried to get it out of the trash.
I can see you are going to have a well-fed week of gastronomic debauchery ~ correct!?
ReplyDeleteWinks!
Ron
Ron:
DeleteUHUMPH he mumbles as he chews on marzipan rolled in pine nuts. (But that's simply to wash down the Beacon Hill brownie.)
Your holiday food looks lovely; I hope it was delicious for you.
ReplyDelete