Crafty in the Med

I am here to enjoy meeting other bloggers and to share my love of craft ,mostly crochet, my thoughts and my daily happenings here in Alicante,Spain, my adopted country. I belong to a local choir because singing and music makes me happy. Flea markets and book shops are two of my favourite places to be. I read lots......sci´fi/fantasy,buried treasure, and off world adventures. I have a passion for history! I walk and walk and walk for about 10 months per year during the hot months I swim.

Tuesday 17 July 2012

Hippity hop off it goes off to OZ


and there it was gone!!!!

Finally got my jar of love filled and sent to my swap partner Sandi...over there across the pond.....crossing my fingers it arrives safe and sound!!!

image from www not my one!!!!


 BUT surprise surprise I received my giveaway prize yesterday from Sally at Lavender Attic .....how exciting I couldn't get the package open quick enough:::
and this is what was inside :
and it smelt absolutely wondeful!!!!

Jingle Bells Jingle Bells....oh! sorry a bit early 'aint it!!!!


and this was what was inside:

 including my fridge KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON magnet which is already on my fridge door.


THANK YOU SO MUCH SALLY IT IS ALL WONDERFUL....and now to hide the tealight candles before my daughter calls in.


       
                                     *************************************
                                             MERLUZA A LA VASCA 
                                                                 (Basque Hake)

Sr P always deals with the seafood side of cooking in our house and last Saturday he made Basque Hake served with clams which was really delicious which we ate accompanied by a  very but very cold (the frosty type) glass or glasses of Jose Pariente white wine....lovely to come home to after work and all set out and ready. Bless him! Mind you he is still finding it rather difficult that I hover with a camera when he is cooking and I have tried to explained to him why but blog and bloggers just hasn't sunk in yet.

INGREDIENTS
80 ml extra virgin olive oil


8 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced


clams, scrubbed


6 small fresh hake steaks


 dry white wine


8 Tbsp chopped parsley 
and the personal touch which Sr P found on rummaging among my tubs of herbs. One bouquet garni sachet which my sister sends to me form the UK. You can't get them here.


shrimps


half glass of water


tinned asparagus


2 tablespoons of flour to thicken the sauce
salt and pepper


1 low-sided casserole dish with lid


METHOD
Heat the oil

Pour the oil into the casserole dish and place it over medium heat.
Cook the garlic
Add the garlic and cook until it turns slightly brown.
Add the shrimps and white wine
Add the hake, clams ,bouquet garni sachet and the white wine and continue cooking with a lid on.
Cook for 8-10 minutes
Leave it to cook for about 8-10 minutes or until the clams have fully opened. Season with black pepper.
After this time, also check the texture of the hake. It should be "flaky" rather than bouncy.
add parsley
Season and serve
(some people slice up a hard boiled egg add before serving with the tinned asparagus.)


don't forget the glass of cold cold white wine :-) enjoy!!!! 




Hello to my new follower Susan at My mother's apron strings welcome and glad you could join me here 


Amanda :-)



22 comments:

  1. Hi Amanda

    Your prize was lovely
    well done you for winning!

    Love the recipe you shared with us
    it sounds delicious.

    Wishing you a good week.

    Fiona x

    ps just to let you know that I am going on holiday and so won't be around for a week or so
    and won't be able to comment on your lovely blog.

    Be good!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Amanda what a lovely prize. Thanks for sharing the recipe I'm very tempted to give it a go. It sounds delicious. Hope your having a lovely week. Ali x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is Ali and really easy to do....if you can't get fresh hake get frozen but defrost and soak them in a little milk before cooking it'll improve the taste.

      A x

      Delete
  3. You lucky girl, love your surprise, lovely bunting.
    Hugs,
    meredith

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I adore surprises Mere and ones like this more

      Have a great week

      A x

      Delete
  4. What a lovely surprise, it's always so exciting to get goodies through the post. Looking forward to hearing more about the jar swaps. x

    ReplyDelete
  5. It is exciting to receive something through the mail, and even more so when it is a parcel. Love your giveaway wins! It will be interesting to see how long it takes for our jars to reach each other. What a lovely Sr P you have there, I would love to come home to a meal cooked for me. Sometimes my son will cook something for me on the nights I get home very late from my second job.
    xx Sandi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My Sr P is very good like that and he also knows its not my forte cooking seafood. He is also most particular about how its cooked so its best if he does it!

      A xx

      Delete
  6. A husband who cooks! Not only that he cooks mouthwateringly delicious seafood. Lucky girl...and what a lovely surprise inside your parcel, such pretty bunting and scented tea lights - little things which make life so pleasurable.

    ReplyDelete
  7. wow! looks like a fab meal and also a pretty good give away!

    Kate xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was and the giveaway was wonderful...thanks for your comments

      A x

      Delete
  8. What a wonderful giveaway! Loving all the swaps you have been doing lately! Very nice.

    ReplyDelete
  9. hi amanda, thank you for your lovely comment over on my blog, yes the crochet is going to be a blanket, when i get time to finish it just been super busy for a while, x

    ReplyDelete
  10. hi amanda, thank you for your lovely comment over on my blog, yes the crochet is going to be a blanket, when i get time to finish it just been super busy for a while, x

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi, just popping in to say thank you for becoming a follower of my blog. I'll be popping in again later this evening to read more. Your meal looks great. We'll definitely try it - without the clams for me though.
    Love from Mum
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Mum
      Glad you called in!
      The Basque Hake is really delicious and you don't have to add clams you can add any other seafood.

      A x

      Delete
  12. Lovely goodies in the parcel, I love good post days when things like that arrive :-)
    Lori xx

    ReplyDelete
  13. True Lori....I do too and now more than ever LOL

    A x

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Amanda
    Many thanks for the lovely words about your goodies!
    X Sally

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had to comment it was all so very good.

      A xx

      Delete

Thank you for your comments. I do read them and try to reply to all as well.Please keep them coming. Amanda :-)