Two Burners Can't Stop Me

I have been challenged by my kitchen.  It has mocked me with its lack of an oven.  It has stared blankly at me when I'm holding a hot pot and have nowhere to put it down.  I can hear it chuckling at me when I attempt a dish that needs more than two burners on the stove.

But, since we are also challenged by our budget, I've had to accept my kitchen's gauntlet throw down.

Of course, it's not entirely fair for me to blame it all on the kitchen's size.  Some of the fault lies with Spanish grocery stores.  They don't have everything I would like...or more importantly, things I know how to use.  They sell lots of fish, which I'm no good at cooking.  They don't sell hot or spicy things, like Sriracha.  And how do I make rice without a measuring cup??  These are the next roadblocks I must overcome.  In the meantime, here is what I have been able to achieve:

Pasta Carbonara

Eddie's favorite.
This dish is super easy because: it only requires 2 burners, diced jamón from Spain is way better than bacon, and the weird powder that passes for Parmesan here makes for a very smooth sauce.

 Sauteéd Chicken with Beans & Jamón over Rice

The beans and jamón are sauteéd together in a good amount of olive oil with garlic.  Typically, this is a tapa served with bread slices, but I love the combination and think it makes for a good side dish.  I have yet to figure out what kind of beans these are, but they come frozen and still in their shells.  They required a bit of work, but they tasted so fresh it was as if I got them straight from a garden.

 Pork Chops with Mashed Potatoes, Balsamic Mushrooms and Homemade Applesauce

 This dish was far too ambitious for my 2 burners.
Applesauce and potatoes were cooked first, and by the time I got the mushrooms and pork finished the potatoes were cold.  However, it was extremely delicious, especially the applesauce!!

 Chicken Roll-ups with Asparagus and Spaghetti

Another far too ambitious dish, requiring 4 burners.  But yummy nonetheless!
The best part of this one is that the grocery store sells chicken breasts sliced, so I don't have to pound meat with my non-existent mallet.

 Chicken Stir-fry with Ramen Noodles

 So I had this pack of Ramen noodles, which I knew I was never going to eat (the seasoning packet sucks).  And I knew I was going to make a stir-fry.  Together with the peanuts and lime, I had something close to Pad Thai.  Not bad!

 Fried Chicken Tenders with Mashed Potatoes & Sauteéd Spinach

I really needed a 3rd burner for this, but the bigger problem was that I only had one pan in which to cook the spinach and the chicken.  And the flour I bought to fry the chicken with had the weirdest texture--I couldn't even touch the chicken once it was coated because it felt like cotton...you know, when it rubs the wrong way.  It makes me shudder all over just thinking about it!

So clearly I have some shopping to do when the next paycheck comes...aluminum foil, measuring cups and spoons, and trivets.

But, I am really going to challenge myself soon.  The next big attempt will be something I'm desperately missing from the States: BBQ!  Pulled Pork Sliders with Cole Slaw to be exact.  I just need to find some chile powder...

Good Friday, Toledo

Semana Santa, Holy Week in Spain...in the days leading up to Easter, Spanish Catholics honor a tradition that dates back to the 16th century when the Church decided to present the Passion of Christ in a way that the everyone could understand: a series of processions through the streets, depicting scenes from his story.   The processions take place in several cities around the country.

On April 6th, we were feeling a little lazy.  We wanted to leave the house, but we didn't want to go too far, and we didn't want to have to worry too much about Maddy.  So we thought, we'll hit the Prado for a couple hours.  Just as we finished getting ready, our friends Borja and Daphne called, and invited us to hitch a ride in their car to Toledo--the closest city to Madrid with Semana Santa processions.  And Maddy was invited to join us.  Time for an adventure!

With the weather alternating between sun, hail, and rain, we arrived mid-afternoon to see the Good Friday festivities.

  

 

Even Maddy was happy to be going on an adventure!

 

We entered the city by crossing the river and walking through the gate,

along the same route as Don Quixote.

 

  

Our first stop was La Abadía...

 ...where we enjoyed marinated cockles and puff pastry cups
filled with aioli and topped with baby eel...

...and four hot plates: potato and parsnip puree, mixed with bacalao, and topped with crispy fried onions; fried potatoes and green peppers, topped with crispy jamón and a fried egg; a traditional Castilla la Mancha stew of pork tenderloin, tomato sauce, peas, garlic and onions; and breaded chicken in a fresh tomato sauce.

 More Don Quixote

and Cervantes, of course

Killing time by the river, before the processions start.

Eating marzipan made by nuns.  Yum!

We stationed ourselves at Plaza de San Vicente, and the pomp and circumstance began...

The most exciting part was watching to see what would come around the corner next!

First to be presented was Christ's Descent, carried by 13 men.

Each piece of artwork in the procession is accompanied by a Brotherhood, or local guild.  In addition to the men carrying each float, members walk in front of and behind the float.

Here the members wear the traditional nazareno, a medieval robe for penitents.
The people march very slowly and solemnly in unison to the beating of drums.
When the drums stop, everyone remains still and waits.

The crowd around us

 The nuns in the window above

 The next float: Lady of Sorrows

Which stopped and was turned so the nuns could pay homage

Holy Sepulchre

 True Cross

After this float had passed, we decided to leave.  Unfortunately, we were stuck on the inside of the parade route!  As luck would have it, however, we only had to watch the end which we just missed.

The final float: Our Lady of Solitude

What an amazing cultural experience! Sometimes, Eddie and I can't help feeling like we're in a movie, or like we've been transported to another planet, another time. Whenever we go out we get caught up in some crazy adventure; we find ourselves in surreal moments, always astonished at how lucky we are to be here. Is it really that everything is so different? Or are we finally just paying attention?

Feeling at home...

I used to get manicures and pedicures.  I used to wash my hair with expensive shampoo.  I bought new clothes on a regular basis.  I’d cook fancy dinners on an average weeknight.  I spent $200 a month on cable TV.

But that has all changed.  My nails are short and bare.  My hair has seen better days.  We survive on spaghetti and eggs.  We don’t watch any TV, except for an occasional Law & Order that we rent from iTunes.  And I couldn’t be happier…

This new way of life has been transformative and liberating.  It's no longer about money and stuff and accumulation.  Now we spend Sundays strolling through the city, gawking at everything we pass.  Fridays and Saturdays, we’re out with friends—eating dinner as cheaply as possible, watching futbol, drinking (perhaps too much).

We walk around our own block and it’s like we’re in a movie.  We run into our friend Mike while he walks Danko, Maddy’s new doggie pal.  The baker waves to us from the cake shop, saying, “Buenos Dias.”  At our favorite restaurant, the barkeep shouts through the window, “Hola, chicos!”

We worked so hard to get here.  And it’s by no means easy now that we’re here.  I need to pick up more work.  We get lost.  I can’t speak the language.  We miss our family and friends back home.  Yet, I have not once felt homesick.  Quite the contrary, for the first time I feel settled.  I feel like I could stay here.  It amazes me that we had to travel so far away to shift our perspective so dramatically, and to find a place that truly feels like home.