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| NEWSLETTER February 2009 | |||
| This edition: Winter walking, Herbalism 2009 with taster recipe, trainspotters’ green discount, Gula Melaka, Down on the Farm, Yoga & Detox week, and chance to win a recipe booklet in this month’s competition…… | |||
| WINTER WALKING FROM CORTIJO ROMERO | |||
 Winter Walking group in Sierra Nevada national park above Pitres |
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And, like the rest of Europe, Andalucia has felt the bite of the North Wind this year! Rain was forecast every day - hearts sank. But the Dunquerque spirit, as Paul remarks, is still alive… and as the photo above shows we made it out there and touched snow and felt the sun. Dances were danced; the Arab baths in Granada warmed our bones; many songs were sung - in the immortal words from our Janet: we survived! Thanks to all you Winter Walkers for making this a very special week that we’ll always remember “The Winter Walking of 2009” brrr! |
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 Near Oselling Tibetan Retreat Centre, La Alpujarra |
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| TRAVEL | |||
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| Be greener! TRAIN TO SPAIN: €35 discount | |||
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We pledge to give you a €35 discount on your Bootlace week if you travel to Spain on the train! Send proof of purchase to Fiona for your discount. For more information on travel from London to Granada go to - Seat61 |
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| HEALTH | |||
| Beat the Winter Chill with natural remedies | |||
| Information on Herbalism Week 23 - 30 May 09 | |||
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As a herbal taster here’s a delicious remedy from a newly qualified practitioner to help ward off those winter colds. We think it tastes great - take as much as you like, but with all that garlic make sure your friends have some too!
Sophie’s Garlic and Ginger Syrup recipe |
optional - lots of extra garlic ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice ¼ cup water ¼ cup honey (runny is best) 2 tsp freshly grated ginger 2 cloves garlic (crushed) 1 dash cayenne pepper Mix all ingredients in a jar, shaking vigorously to mix in the honey. | ||
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| Yoga, Walking & Detoxification
Retreat, Relax and Revitalise in southern Spain 20-27 June 2009 |
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Unwind in the beautiful Orgiva valley of the Alpujarras surrounded by orange groves, in sight of the imposing snow crowned Sierra Nevada Mountains in southern Spain. This is a week in which you can totally disengage from the rigours of life and immerse yourself in an area of outstanding beauty to rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit. For more information contact Rumana Zahn at: Rumana Health |
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| FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD! with love from Fiona |
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Following Paul’s aromatic Suji recipe for semolina that a few priviledged Bootlacers might be acquainted with, I join the crusade to redeem the foods people love to hate. My offering is Gula Melaka. This Indonesian dish is one of my brother’s favourites and comes from my mum who lived in Malaysia for a while. It’s made with tapioca pearls - small balls of dried cassava starch, which become jelly-like when cooked (yes! frog spawn!). For folk who enjoy strange and varied textures in food it’s a little culinary adventure! The palm sugar traditionally used in this recipe is produced from the sweet, watery sap that drips from cut palm flower buds - you can use a good brown sugar to make the syrup - tasty and only a bit naughty! |
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Gula Melaka recipe |
Bring water to boil in a large pot. Gradually stir in the tapioca so that it doesn’t clump. Return to the boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cook until the tapioca turns translucent, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Stir in the dessicated coconut. Pour into jelly moulds, chill overnight. In a small saucepan, stir together the sugar and water. Bring to a boil, and cook until the sugar has dissolved and reduced a little. Unmould the puddings, and serve with sugar syrup separately for each person to pour over their serving. |
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Tips to get perfect tapioca each time |
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Don’t forget the BOOTLACE KITCHEN RECIPE BOOKLET - Tasty Ways to Eat Healthily Looking for a tone up/slim down after Christmas? To guide you through delicious wheat/dairy/sugar-free cooking the booklet provides a week’s worth of good eating with salad lunches and three course evening meals. To get your copy email Fiona with your name and postal address and she’ll send you the payment details. (£9 per copy plus £3 post and packing) |
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| DOWN ON THE FARM | |||
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Winter Working Weeks - With the weather that all of Europe has experienced this winter the Sierra Nevada has been drenched in more rain than we’ve seen for many a year. We’ve been out with spades and azadas clearing mini landslides which threatened our track and laying a pipe and small new balate to support some sagging soil and carry away excess water. There’s been plenty of snow from 700m upwards as it lashed down with rain below. Here at La Dominga we’re well above that line, and we’ve seen snowy blankets around the house four times! As a consequence many branches have broken on the willow trees which line our acequia. Clearing up this automatic pruning of the trees provides us with double warmth from the physical work and with all the firewood we’ve gleaned. Here in Spain we can burn the green willow in our wood-burner once a hot fire of dry wood and seasoned olive wood has taken hold. Money in the bank says PP! Another winter job has been building a bridge across the barranco which divides the two halves of our veg garden. Luckily we had great technical support from our winter worker, bootlacer (and architect) Dave Lawrence. |
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New arrivals - Paul would also like to proudly announce that the peas and beans are well up above ground with the sticks marshaled in place and he’s pruned the house vine. |
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Glossary - Andalucian A to B for puzzled readers |
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| Acequia - from the arab saqiyah means water conduit. The Arabs brought the technology to Spain during their occupation of the Iberian peninsula. The technology was adopted by the Spanish and utilized throughout their conquered lands. Wikipedia - acequia Azada - name for the many different varieties of hoe used in Spanish agriculture - the right tool? See The Right Tools for the Job? Balate - from the arab balat meaning stone wall supporting a terrace Barranco - ravine, gully, steep sided valley…. |
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THIS YEAR’S BOOTLACE EVENTS - dates prices and venues… Easter Walking, Heart of the Alpujarra, High Mountain, Autumn Walking |
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And finally - who are these people and what are they doing? |
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