Oranges!
Candied Orange Rinds. (still drying)
Or Homemade Orange Marmalade, (to eat with toast this morning)
it was an incredible adventure in cuisine.
(recipes to follow)
Also nearly finished with Cela's The Hive and enjoying it, even if there are 100 different characters of which to keep track.
Spent a bit of time learning about Pablo Picasso's Blue Period in Spain 1902-1904 before he left for Paris.
Although I was familiar with this
I had never seen La Vie...considered one of his most important works from this period
 |
| La Vie |
Or knew the story behind his Blue Period...which began after a suicide by one of his close artist friends. The friend is immortalized in the painting (portrait) at the bottom of La Vie.
In 1904 Picasso left Spain and went to Paris.
And, of course, my favorite bit of Andalusia. The Beautiful Horses.
Andalusians are known as PKE (Pura Raza Espanola) Pure Spanish Horse.
And represent the oldest bloodline in Spain.
Equally important to the Seville area is Traditional Flamenco Dancing.
https://youtu.be/XNhfV_53W7A
and last but not least...the area is known for its fine sherry making.
Where the veneciadora elevates serving Sherry to an art form.
Is it any surprise, then, that every April they combine the three (Andalusian Horsemanship, Flamenco Dancing and Sherry Tasting) to have a huge Street Fair known as Le Feria de Abril?
I also learned more about Queen Isabella and Ferdinand...who not only financed Columbus' journey to discover The New World (us) but also was instrumental in financing The Spanish Inquisition. Who knew, right? They certainly didn't stress this tid-bit in school.
Back here in real-time the 2016 US Presidential Primaries have taken several ugly twists and turns.
 |
| Bernie Crowds Nationwide |
As Bernie Sanders is ahead both in Iowa and New Hampshire...and Hillary has completely imploded over the entire thing.
Since the polls showed his rise she has started throwing more and more attacks. Uglier and uglier. She has pulled a couple of pages directly from The Karl Rove Handbook and it is transparently pathetic, desperate...and sad.
 | |
| But it is MY TURN! |
"Are you going to vote for the most ELECTABLE candidate, Hill? Because it would appear that that would be Bernie."
Sanders has stayed classy, on message, and perhaps even a bit bemused at his rival's temper tantrum. We've GOT this!
And then there is THIS GUY
And seriously...I think I understand what he is doing, now. It is some form of psychological study to see just how out there...just how outrageous....just how offensive...just how stupid he can present himself and STILL be the GOP front-runner. If I wasn't sure of this, when he announced bringing Sarah Palin into his camp...I know I was when he tweeted agreement with a White Supremacy
Group..then proceeded to have his likeness used outside an Auschwitz-type gas chamber with Bernie Sanders image on the inside.
Since Bernie Sanders grandparents were KILLED as JEWS in a Concentration Camp...this goes beyond tasteless and into the surrealistic.
How can anyone seriously want this man as the face of our Nation?
(...as though proving my theory, Trump just issued a statement...I shit you not...proclaiming "I Could SHOOT Someone on the Crowded Street...on 5th Avenue and Still Win"...that is a direct quote, people.)
Trump/Palin...it is like Dumb and Dumber, and I am seriously not sure which one of them deserves top billing.
One of the best thing about having friends all over this country (besides the outstanding political conversations) is when a snow event happens like we are seeing in Washington, Pennsylvania and New York.
 | |
| Minnesota Cold! |
I think I want to do this with an old pair of blue jeans.In Indiana, the Rapture-philes might have a damned stroke.
 |
| In Virginia |
 | |
| Mike and Gail in Pennsylvania |
 |
| New York |
 | |||
| New York Makes Snow Removal Not Quite As Bad...lol! Thank's Ann. Not sure I'm believing this. |
 | |||
| Mike P. (Virginia) who just reports Near Zero Visibility and no sign of letting up. |
Hoping everyone stays safe and warm.
"Idgy" reports that they have CLOSED both Kentucky and Tennessee...lol! Yeah...the whole damned states.
We have been working up our October Fall Adventure dates and after a drive-by Girl Scout Cookie Ordering yesterday we have decided to hang on to a box of Thin Mints for the sole purpose of making Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream together while she is up, and using them broken as a mix in!!!!
OMG!
I must add that the Mix In was solely her idea, and that I am easily led into temptation.
So yeah...this year three of my four grand-daughters are selling them...that is why I have 6 boxes coming...lol! Lennon....Chris...Tagalongs are on the way!
So Tucker and I are settling in for a Zen Weekend!
 |
| Every Day is Zen for Tucker |
Here are those recipes I promised:
Seville Roasted Orange Chicken
2-4 pieces of raw chicken.
1 cup of orange juice.
1/2 cup of olive oil.
1 large sliced orange
fresh or dried basil.
Salt and Coarse ground pepper (optional)
Mix olive oil and orange juice together. Place chicken in deep roasting pan and pour mixture over to coat. Sprinkle with spices and/or add fresh basil. Top with sliced oranges and bake at 350 degrees until chicken is done.
Serve with tablespoon of sauce from the pan.
Enjoy!
Candied Orange Peel
Quarter and then peel whole orange.
Reserve orange meat for another dish. (I used the juice for my Seville chicken)
Slice peeling into 1/4 inch strips.
Boil strips in water for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and rinse several times. Discard water.
Add 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar to pan. Bring to a boil. Add peelings and let simmer for 45 minutes. Peelings will get very soft and translucent. Remove peelings and save this liquid mixture to add to marmalade.
Toss candied peel in granulated sugar and spread in single layer on drying rack.
Candied Peel will be completely dry in about 2 days.
Can be used in confections.
Eated as is.
Dipped in Dark Chocolate
or shredded to add to Orange Marmalade recipe below.
Orange Marmalade
(This only makes one jelly jar full for home use. This was a test...and it worked well.)
The Reserved sugar liquid from Candied Peel.
Add one full cup sugar and another 1/4 cup orange juice.
Bring to a vigorous boil until mixture foams. Then simmer.
Test for jelling with a cold spoon. Mixture will coat spoon and a drop will hold its form when it is ready.
Shred a couple of the Candied Peels to add zest to the Marmalade.
(optional: I added a pinch of cinnamon for flavor)
Pour into jelly jar and invert to seal.
Will be ready to use in 24 hours.
Have a wonderful (and warm) Weekend!
