Grab a skillet, there’s a new Two Old Fools cookbook coming
What would you like to cook? Some delicious Spanish tapas? Or Middle Eastern delights? Choose from these and a host of others.
Read more…
Spanish & Arabian Recipes
Many of these Spanish recipes were given to me by the village ladies, and also Gayle Macdonald from Orceserranohams.com. Thank you to Nadia Sawalha for the Arabic recipes.
Sticky Toffee Pudding a la Glennys
When I asked if anybody had any photos of recipes they have cooked from the Old Fools series to be added to the new recipe book coming soon, I wasn’t prepared for a response like that of Susan Franey!
Read more…
Fast Minestrone
Read more…“Minestrone soup from your book, Two Old Fools Down Under! Along with tapas, lovely on a rainy British day!”
Linda Powdrill
Traditional Garlic Mushrooms
Have you ever wondered which of the Spanish recipes in the Old Fools books gets most mentions and positive feedback? Well, it’s this one! Six steps to heaven…
Read more…
Easy Strawberry Mice
Hard to believe it, but it’s true. My granddaughter Indy will be 4 years old on Monday. Her mum organised a cat theme birthday party, and all the food and activities had something to do with cats. My contribution was strawberry mice, recipe below.
Read more…
Chickpeas and Paprika
Spanish chickpeas are great for making a simple side dish, tapas dip or ingredient in a salad. Here’s a delicious recipe using chickpeas with paprika.
Chili Rubbed Steak
If you enjoy a ‘kick’ of chili, (or chilli) then this chili rubbed steak recipe is for you! It offers a great flavour and takes on hints of smoky paprika. This simple recipe for Spanish steak served with fresh salad and thick potato chips or wedges will never disappoint.
Mushroom Tostada with Fino Sherry
Mushroom Tostada with Fino Sherry
60 – 70 minutes preparation and cooking
Tostadas are extremely popular in Spain and this dish is ideal served as a tapa or breakfast.
Chilli Chutney
This chilli chutney is a great way of savouring the warm summer flavours, long after the heat of the sun has gone and winter draws in. Seasonal eating is a way of life here and towards the end of September you get the last, and the best, of the season’s sweet red peppers and local red chillies. It does have a bite but combined with the chargrilled sweetness of red peppers, the chillies appear warm and the blend is amazing.
Lemon Sorbet
Sorbete de Limon or Spanish style lemon sorbet is such an easy dessert to do. A most welcome refreshment in the heat of summer or a classy after dinner treat whenever. With an abundant supply of lemons all year round, this dish is welcome at any time of year and depending on the options you choose for added flavour, you can transform this dessert from a cooling, invigorating summer dessert to a fresh, fragrant Christmas indulgence.
Tuna with Spicy Salsa
A perfect barbecue dish for summer evenings.
Andalucian Rice
Andalucian rice is a lovely simple rice dish with Mediterranean vegetables. Serve in small portions as a tapa or as a side to chicken or fish.
Crema Catalana
Crema Catalana is a very popular dessert in bars and restaurants. You can easily buy pre-made ones but the homemade version is by far the best. It is basically homemade custard with a topping of caramelised sugar. Simple but delicious.
Spanish Garlic Prawns with Mushrooms
This Spanish garlic prawns idea is paired with mushrooms or “setas” (wild mushrooms). Any mushrooms will do but a selection for this dish adds a woodland twist with a flavour of the ocean! Fantastic tapas, this dish can be made in less than 10 minutes and is best served in true Spanish style – with bread, olive oil and all on one plate with forks at the ready.
Tomato and Garlic Dip
Tomato and garlic dip is a classic combination not just in Spain but all over the Mediterranean. It’s a classic combo of flavours which can be adapted with the addition of peppers, chilli, smoked paprika and more. Here is the classic tomato and garlic dip which is great served in tapas bowls with bread sticks, tortilla chips or batoned vegetables.
Leftover lamb salad with hot potato cakes
A fantastic recipe for leftover lamb. Cold lamb is delicious in sandwiches and also in salads, and this lamb salad recipe uses almost everything from a roast leg of lamb cooked the evening before. Cold lamb, salad, olive oil and hot potato cakes . . . economy gastronomy!
Courgette Chips
Light and crispy with a hint of paprika, these never fail to impress kids and is a great way to use up excess courgettes if you are stuck for ideas.
Ham with Cream and Bay
A rich, satisfying dish of ham with cream and bay is a fragrant and indulgent tapas dish. Makes the perfect appetiser with a chilled glass of white wine and as a starter with salad you won’t get anything better. Really easy to do and super quick yet full of flavour.
Chorizo and Chickpea Soup
Chorizo and Chickpea Soup
Sopa de chorizo y garbanzos
This recipe is a real winter-warmer but also makes a pleasant starter for a main meal.
Ensaladilla – Spanish Potato Salad
A very popular starter or lunchtime tapas dish that is served all over Spain, lovely with a beer or a glass of Fino sherry.
Vegetable Kebabs for the Barbecue
It’s barbecue time! Use any combination of your favourite vegetables. Try aubergine, courgette (zucchini) and cherry tomatoes.
Spanish Garlic Prawns with Paprika
This is one of our favourite tapas dishes that goes well with a cold beer, or as a supper snack. It combines some beautiful, authentic Spanish flavours, like prawns from the Mediterranean, Fino sherry from Jerez, and smoked paprika. It’s a combination that can be enjoyed at any time and is particularly delicious eaten outdoors.
Lemon Curd
What to do with all the lemons we’ve been given? That was the question. Well, this is one fantastic, delicious way to use up lemons, a recipe sent to me by Judith Benson who lives in my part of the world, rural Andalucía. During winter, trees round here are laden down with oranges, lemons, limes and mandarins and we’re always looking for ways to use them.
Book #4 and recipes, can you help?
Book #4 is coming along, and my thoughts have been turning to what recipes to include. Then it struck me, why not ask my readers for recipes? I have quite a few recipes already, but it would be fantastic if I could use yours, too!
Orange mousse with caramelised oranges
Living in southern Spain, we are surrounded by orange orchards. From Christmas time to the end of March, the trees are laden down with oranges, lemons, limes and tangerines.
Spanish Rabbit Stew
I know many Brits turn up their noses at eating rabbit, but it’s a common dish here in Spain, particularly amongst our village neighbours. Samfaina refers to Catalonia’s famous rich vegetable sauce (or pesto), and is the essence of this satisfying, social dish. It is best cooked slowly.
(If you don’t want to use rabbit, use chicken instead.)
Chickens made from hardboiled eggs
No, they’re not Spanish, or Arabic, but I think they’re great! Perfect for Easter, and a wonderful way to use up surplus eggs.
Moira Ashton posted them onto my Facebook timeline. I believe the idea originally came from **Everything Holiday**.
Schnitzel for dummies with tragic mash
I’ve never made schnitzels before, but my friend and website designer, Elle, assured me that it was very easy. She’s right, it’s a bit fiddly, but delicious and well worth the effort.
Tepsi (Aubergine, Onion and Potato Bake)
‘Two Old Fools on a Camel’ is finished, apart from the twiddly bits, and choosing the Arabic recipes. I’m so lucky to have Nadia Sawalha’s permission to use her recipes from ‘Stuffed Vine Leaves Saved my Life’.
Barbecued Lemon Sardines – Delicious!
Cooking sardines on the barbecue is very popular here in Spain, taking advantage of the hot coals to get that lovely, smoky flavour. This recipe for sardines is really simple and uses lemon and thyme.
Mama Ufarte’s Lemon Sponge Cake
Recipe and excerpt from ‘Two Old Fools ~ Olé!’
(Joe and Vicky have become unwilling baby-sitters for their neighbours’ children.)
I heard the activity long before I reached the kitchen. Standing in the doorway, my eyes swept the scene before me. The fairy twins were cross-legged on the floor, Joe squatting with them. Cupboard doors hung open, and most of my saucepans and wooden spoons were already spread all over the tiles. My heart sank. Where was the orderly kitchen I had left just moments before?Read more…
Pine Nut Crunches – Oops!
As you can see from the picture, this batch of pine nut crunches was a bit of a disaster…. The reason why is because they were left too long in the oven. However, as long as you don’t get distracted by toddlers and remember to take the cookies out of the oven, they are guaranteed delicious!Read more…
Spanish Vegetable and Ham Tortilla
This traditional Spanish tortilla has been adapted with additional fresh vegetables and ham, making this dish both colourful and exciting. Here, we used green and red peppers, but spinach, broccoli or peas make great alternatives. If you don’t feel brave enough to flip the omelette, cheat by finishing it off under a hot grill.Read more…
Fabulous Spanish Dessert ~ Sweet Toast
Very similar to the savoury dish called ‘French toast’, this sweet, ‘eggy bread’, is popular as a dessert in Spain. The grown-up version makes a nice after-dinner dessert served in small pieces, with a bit of vanilla ice cream. Our chickens usually provide us with enough eggs for this delicious dish. Unfortunately, we rarely have stale bread as the chickens eat it…Read more…
Traditional Spanish Three Kings cake recipe
Recipe and excerpt from ‘Two Old Fools ~ Olé!’
(Joe and Vicky are invited next door on the 6th January.)
“Lovely cake,” said Joe as he munched his way through the slice of Roscón handed to him by Carmen-Bethina. He took another big bite.
Nobody warned Joe. Nobody told Joe to be careful.
Sherried Chorizo
This chorizo tapas recipe is incredibly easy and quick to make and is packed full of flavour. Use spicy chorizos for a fiery kick, accompanied with fino de Jerez sherry. The flavour combination works really well and creates great tapas for the summer.
Crispy Potatoes in Spicy Tomato Sauce – Patatas Bravas
This is one of the most highlighted recipes in the Kindle edition of Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools, and I can understand why! Our neighbours cook it often, and we love it because it’s perfect as a tapas snack or with meat or fish. Patatas Bravas is probably one of the spiciest dishes cooked in Spain.Read more…
Bethina’s Ham, Tomato and Garlic Toasts – Jamón, tomate y ajo con pan
- Slices of bread (baguette, cut diagonally)
- 1 clove garlic, cut in half
- 1 very ripe tomato
- Slices of jamon serrano or ham of your choice
- Extra virgin olive oilRead more…
White Bean and Sherry Garlic Dip
A lovely smooth blended dip full of flavour that goes exceptionally well with raw vegetables such as carrots, celery and summer salads. A perfect dip for hot potato wedges with a bite that comes from the garlic and cracked black pepper and hint of sherry vinegar. Great for the tapas table!Read more…
Grumpy’s Garlic Mushrooms Tapa
This recipe is one of the most highlighted by Kindle readers in Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools. It is a very traditional, totally delicious tapas dish.Read more…
Marinated Spanish Beef Kebabs
Spanish beef recipe using traditional Spanish ingredients such as smoked paprika, olive oil and herbs.
These kebabs are ideal for the barbecue and are hot and spicy. Other vegetables, such as mushrooms, green peppers, tomatoes, etc., can also be used.Read more…
Roast Pumpkin with Chilli & Honey
This recipe for roast pumpkin combines the flavour of chili pepper with honey. A great vegetarian side dish or to accompany main meals. Butternut squash can be used instead of pumpkin.Read more…
Herbed Chicken Wings
This dish is simple and tasty and makes for great summer tapas, a must at any summer function.
Tapas for 4Read more…
Beef in Sherry
This Spanish recipe for beef uses sherry along with various herbs to create a real flavour of Spain. The dish is quite spicy although only fresh herbs are used. It is best served with Spanish rice or on a simple salad.
Tip: For tapas, serve any leftover strips of beef on top of tomatoes or peppers, drizzle with olive oil and enjoy with bread.Read more…
Spanish meatballs in tomato sauce
This recipe is another of the most highlighted recipes in Kindle editions of Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools.
Meatballs are very popular in Spain and make a delicious meal served with rice, or as tapas with drinks.Read more…
Sticky Toffee Pudding a la Glennys
Fiesta winning recipe!
We did a house-swap with Australian Ken and Glennys, and their stay coincided with the El Hoyo village fiesta. Glennys baked a sticky toffee pudding and entered it in the contest. This is part of her email to us, telling us all about it.Read more…
Chicken & Prawn Paella – Paella Mixta
There are many variations of paella, some meat, some seafood and others mixed, like this recipe. In our village, people grow their own saffron, the beautiful spice that gives paella its distinctive golden colour.Read more…
Really Easy Homemade Tomato Soup
A lovely, lazy way to make a tomato soup that is packed with flavour and colour. Everything goes in the oven. This is a rustic soup made with skins, burnt bits, and all – delicious! Any leftovers (as if!) can be reduced and mixed with pasta for a rich sauce.Read more…
Spicy Mediterranean Dip
A mildly spicy, smooth, light dip perfect for an aperitif or buffet.
You will need:
- 1 large jar of chickpeas (not dried)
- 175 ml olive oil
- Salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons hot paprikaRead more…
Garlic prawns with paprika
This is one of our most popular recipes, frequently highlighted by Kindle readers, so we definitely needed to include it in our new Spanish Recipes book!Read more…