Another Year in Spain -October 2008

Octobers

Here we all are again  - riding the back of the tiger in October. Bizarre weather patterns and we havent got to the autumn equinox yet; stinking financial climate on a global scale - I have taken the position that in the end "they" wont do anything so stupid as to bring the financial system to the abyss so I shall just ride it out...

However it was part of why we came to Spain - not to be debt ridden.  We are always careful with precious commodities like water, food, power and the land on which we live is always bountiful, even here on the Murcian Almerian border.  So while the financial world rampages with the tiger on its tail I have fallen back to bringing in our own particular harvest.  This week pomegranates.  By careful watching we beat the birds to our well loaded pomegranate tree.  Have now tried lots of ways to juice but in the end it is a very manual task as all the pithy bits and seeds within the seeds need to be separated. Basically cut into quarters, turn each quarter inside out, and remove the red seeds.  Small batches are put into a fine colander  or mouli sitting over a pan and press with a mortar or something similar.  Pomegranate juice is incredibly good for you particularly for an impaired  immune system.

Just throw a handful over meat cooking in its own juices for instance. It is a tenderiser and brings something special to the gravy or sauce.  Whilst Spanish pomegranates are not the best in the world (the Iranian pomegranate has that honour) it is wonderful for molasses.  Basically just reduce down  the juice of a couple of pomegranates with a little lemon juice to a thick syrup and keep it covered in the fridge until you need to use it.  Juicing the pomegranates

Vegetarians  - try putting some seeds and mollasses with chickpeas and some garlic.

Now the heat of the day is something like reasonable it is nice to be able to think to cook in the oven again.  I used my own aubergines, tomatoes and rosemary, olive oil, yesterday's bread turned into migas for a wonderful pie.  The only thing I had actually bought were the onions and some tasty cheese.

More rosemary was picked and has been dried and put into a screwtop jar.  Creating value from the things around you is one way to keep the tiger at bay.   Which leaves us money to spend on our sick cat. 

Yes another one - and we are getting pretty pissed off with vets and boy! we should know. We and other friends have stories of misdiagnoses which can lead to inappropriate treatments.  Also if in doubt go for a second opinion. Pretty hard when your animal in in pain and you just want someone to do something.  BUT not necessarily anything  - so keep your cool if you can.

October is our fiesta time in Puerto Lumbreras.  Just being around and joining in certainly lifts the autumnal gloom.  It doesnt have to cost you a penny but usually I am tempted to spend by quality cheese, hand made jewellery and face cream.  I was and I did.

I thought I was going to have get up in arms about the performing bear but when I saw his keeper walking his brown bear around the market with no lead on him and taking instructions as if a dog I  changed my mind. I dont know how he got there but he was a fully stimulated creature.  I know there are arguments for and against any animal being put through its paces but then why do we ride horses, keep cats, dogs, birds , drink milk from cows yah yah yah....