Receta sorprendente la verdad. Me ha faltado el sésamo, porque no encontré en el supermercado y ahora no estamos en momentos de dar vueltas por la ciudad así que, sin semillas de sésamo, aunque aceite de sésamo si que tenía. Las chalotas aparecen en las fotos de los ingredientes, pero al final decidí no ponérselas porque machaqué todos los dientes de ajo. La receta espectacular, ¿que de donde es?: pues de el libro de "Recetas adelgazantes" de David de Jorge y Martín Berasategui.

1. This is a surprising recipe really. There´s one ingredient missing, because I couldn´t find sesame seeds in the supermarket and this is not a time to go around other shops to buy an ingredient. I had sesame oil in any case. Shallots are in the first pictures but in the end I decided not to add them because I crushed all the roasted garlic cloves. The recipe is gorgeous, I got it from a basque book.

Me encanta usar el mortero en las recetas, los sabores se mezclan y se intensifican.

1. I love to use the pestle and mortar in my recipes because it maximizes the flavours.

Esta receta la he hecho con cosas que tenía en casa. Tercera semana en casa, vamos a animarnos un poco ya que la situación es terrible. Los tomates los tenía que utilizar. Me encantan estos tomates,  porque se pueden usar montones de ingredientes para sacar todo su sabor. Van genial con una ensalada como guarnición o simplemente con un poco mas de couscous.

1. I made this recipe basically with leftovers I had at home. Third week at home, let´s cheer up ourselves because the situation is very complicated. I love these tomatoes because you can use tons of different ingredients to switch up the flavours. They work great paired with a salad as a side dish or simply more couscous on the side.

Tengo otros tomates rellenos que podéis ver aquí, hace 5 años ya pero estaban buenos. Este relleno que traigo hoy es mucho mas sabroso.

1. I have another recipe for stuffed tomatoes, you can see it here, I posted it 5 years ago and they were good. This stuffing I´m giving you today is tastier.

Agosto 2019

1. August 2019

Se me ha hecho muy raro estar terminando mi entrada de las vacaciones de Agosto, cuando todavía podíamos salir, tocarnos y respirar enfrente del mar. Ya hace una semana que nos quedamos todos en casa y vamos a seguir así. Menos mal que hago diario escrito del viaje porque si no, ahora sería imposible recordar.

1. It has been weird for me to end this post about my holidays last August, when we were still able to go out normally, touch ourselves and breath infront of the sea. It´s been a week already, trapped at home like every soul in our country and things aren´t going to change so far. Thank god that when I travel I write a diary every night, otherwise, I wouldn´t be able to remember everything.

Con esta entrada, seguimos en Ravello, digamos que esta entrada es la continuación de la entrada anterior. En los tiempos medievales, Ravello tenía mercaderes con mucho éxito, quienes construyeron la mayoría de lo que ahora se conoce como Ravello, incluyendo Villa Rufolo, los palacios, el Duomo (Catedral) y las Iglesias de Santa María a Gradillo y San Giovanni del Toro. Su contribución a la arquitectura transformó Ravello de ser un pueblo típico en la montaña a una maravilla medieval. Para el siglo XIII, Ravelo ya era admirada por sus jardines, arquitectura y sus vistas que quitan el sentido.

1. We are still posting about Ravello, let´s say this post is the second part of the previous one. In medieval times, Ravello produced several successful merchants, who built much of what we recognize today as Ravello, including the Villa Rufolo, the palazzos, the Duomo (cathedral), and the churches of Santa Maria a Gradillo and San Giovanni del toro. Their architectural contributions transformed Ravello from a sleepy mountain hamlet into a medieval wonder. By the 13th century, Ravello was widely admired for its gardens, architecture, and breathtaking vistas.

Nadie sabe por qué la familia Rufus escogió asentarse aquí en vez de coger otro barco, es posible que se quedaran sin dinero. Y ahora si nos fuímos a visitar Villa Cimbrone. Situada a lo alto de un promontorio que ofrece unas vistas increíbles del Mediterráneo y de esa costa escarpada. Villa Cimbrone es la corona de laurel de Ravello. Los orígenes datan del siglo XI, pero la villa y los jardines fueron extensamente renovados por un noble Británico, Lord Grimthorpe al comienzo del siglo XX.

1. No one knows why the Rufus family chose to settle here, rather than flagging down another ship, but it´s possible that they just ran out of money. And then we moved on to visit Villa Cimbrone. Sitting high atop a promontory that offers stunning views of the Mediterranean and the dramatic coastliine below, the villa Cimbrone is the crown laurel of Ravello. It´s origins date back to the 11th century, but the villa and the gardens were extensively renovated by a British nobleman, Lord Grimthorpe, in the early 20th century.

Con sus extensos jardines y esas vistas, la villa es muy popular para bodas, lunas de miel y recepciones varias. La villa es un hotel de 5 estrellas privado Hotel Villa Cimbrone pero los jardines están abiertos al público y está en las listas de la mejor vista de la costa Amalfitana.

1. With its expansive gardens and dramatic views, the villa is a popular place for weddings, honeymoons, and receptions. The villa is a private 5-star hotel Hotel Villa Cimbrone but the gardens are open to the public and it ranks, perhaps, as the most memorable sight on the Amalfi coast.

En realidad la Terraza al Infinito es el mirador de la villa (Terrazza dell´Infinito). El mirador compuesto por una serie de bustos de mármol que en días claros brilla contra el cielo azul y el azul del Mar Mediterráneo debajo.

1. The thing is that the Terrace of Infinity is the villa´s belvedere (Terrazza dell´Infinito). It´s lined by a series of marble busts that on clear days sparkle against the blue sky above and the azure waters of the Mediterranean below.

Villa Cimbrone sirvió también como lugar de una cita romántica para Greta Garbo quien llegó aquí anónimamente en Febrero de 1938 con la intención de casarse con Leopoldo Stowkowski, el director Británico Americano que escribió y produció la película de Walt Disney Fantasía.

1. The Villa Cimbrone also served as a romantic rendezvous for Greta Garbo, who quietly eloped there in February of 1938 with intentions of marrying Leopold Stowkowski, the British-American conductor who wrote and produced Walt Disney´s Fantasia.

Los famosos en Ravello y villa Cimbrone.
Hace un siglo, poco después de que fuera renovado por Grimthorpe, la Villa Cimbrone se convirtió en un refugio popular para el famoso Bloomsbury Group Londinense, un círculo de intelectuales de principios del siglo XX que presentaba a Virginia Woolf y Lytton Strachey.

1. Celebrities in Ravello and Villa Cimbrone. A century ago, shortly after it was renovated by Grimthorpe, The Villa Cimbrone became a popular retreat for London´s famed Bloomsbury Group, a circle of early 20th century intellectuals that featured Virginia Woolf and Lytton Strachey.

Andre Gide, uno de los gigantes de la literatura Francesa del siglo XX, escribió su primera novela en Ravello a la edad de 31 años. E.M. Forster, el gran novelista inglés, conocido mundialmente por Passaje a la India, Howard´s End y Una habitación con vistas escribió aquí una de sus novelas cortas. Winston Churchill  hizo una visita a Ravello después de la guerra y durante la Presidencia de John F. Kennedy, Jackie se tomó 2 semanas de vacaciones con su hermana y sus dos hijos John y Caroline. Estaba emocionada de pisar las mismas piedras que gente tan ilustre.

1. Andre Gide, one of the giants of 20th century French literature, wrote his first novel in Ravello at the age of 31, and E.M. Forster, the great English novelist best known for A Passage to India, Howard´s End and A Room with a View wrote his first short story here too. Winston Churchill made a post-war visit to Ravello, and during Joh F. Kennedy´s presidency, Jackie Kennedy took a two week vacation in Ravello along with her sister and her two children, John and Caroline. I was thrilled to put my foot on the same stone pathways this so glamorous people did.

Si paseais por los jardines de Villa Cimbrone no dejéis de ver La Estatua di Ceres, localizada en un templo pequeño justo pegado al mirador.

1. If you walk through the gardens, do not miss the Statua di Ceres (Statue of Ceres), which is located in a small temple immediately adjacent to the belvedere.

1. Also you have to visit: The Poggia di Mercurio (Crest of Mercury), The Little temple of Bacchus (Tempietto di Baco), Eve´s cave (Grotta di Eva), The statue of David (Statua di David), a copy of Donatello´s famous sculpture of the victorious David. The Rose Garden, Terrazza delle rose, which is situated just a few steps from the villa and the Tea Room or the Stanza del Tè, a rectangular garden next to the rose garden.

Este es el final del viaje por la Costa Amalfitana.

1. This is the last post around the Amalfi Coast.

¡LISTO!/DONE!

En una semana, la vida de todos los Españoles ha cambiado radicalmente debido al covid-19. Estamos en cuarentena y nuestra rutina es completamente diferente a la que teníamos hace 8 días. Ha habido muchos cambios con unas consecuencias terribles. Nuestras fronteras están medio cerradas, nuestras provincias en estado de emergencia ya que nuestro sistema de salud se encuentra bajo presión para hacerse cargo de una entrada constante de pacientes en nuestros hospitales. Parece que estoy hablando de una película de ciencia ficción. Tendrá consecuencias en nuestra forma de ser, de sentir. ¿Qué es lo que mas echamos de menos?, abrazar a nuestros seres queridos, todos estamos igual. Pero si queremos parar esto no nos queda otra.

1. Within a week, nearly every aspect of Spaniards´ lives have changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. There have been changes with enormous implications, too. Our border ir more or less closed, our provinces are in a state of emergency as our health system strains to keep up with an every increasing flow of sick patients into our hospitals. Wow, it looks as if I was talking about a science fiction film. Is this going to have consecuences in the way we are, the way we feel. What is it that we miss the most?, well I have it clear, hug my loved ones, we are all the same I guess. If we want to stop this, we have there´s nothing else we can do.

Es por eso que solamente he hecho 3 canelones, yo intento comer mas verduras durante este confinamiento que nos impide salir a pasear o hacer ejercicio.

1. This is the reason I´ve just made three cannelloni, I´m trying to eat more veggies during the quarantine simply because we can´t go out to walk or exercise.

Esta receta de un libro que me regaló mi tía (el año 1980) que vive en Barcelona y aunque a todos nosotros nos gustan mas los canelones solo con bechamel, estos están buenísimos también.

1. This recipe is from a book my aunt gave me (in 1980) who lives in Barcelona and it´s true we all prefer the ones who just have meat and bechamel.

1. August 2019 - Ravello and Villa Rufolo

1. Ravello Ravello, I don´t know how to start this post and try to express my feelings and thoughts through writing. It´s not going to be easy to write about how gorgeous this village is. Tell you that we almost didn´t visit it, because we had to drive car along twisty and terrible roads and we just had one more day in Sorrento before coming back to SS. Here we are all at home trying to stop the covid-19. We need to be conscious about our health and the others´as well. I´m staying home. I have taken the chance to finish my posts about my August holidays, oh my gosh, that was 6 months ago already.

1. Again, this was a recommendation from the person who also recommended us to stay in Sorrento. Oh wow!, if you ever go there please don´t miss the chance to visit this village, it´s awesome. In the main square of the village, surrounded by high cypress trees, we find the Duomo, the basilica of the city which was built in the eleventh century. Inside, medieval frescoes and Venetian windows.

1. The second item of special note is the pulpit, which is supported by six spiraled columns sitting atop marble lions. Awesome.

1. Thousands of years of history, an enchanting mountaintop setting on Italy´s most beautiful coastline and views that have captivated countless souls, inspired artists and filled hearts with passion (well that´s what my bookleft said). Yet it´s just the beginning of what you will find in this charming village. There are still stories to be uncovered along its medieval streets, garden villas an ancient stone pathways.

1. The real history of Ravello began with a tragedy at sea. The town of Scala, across the valley from Ravello, was settled in the 4th century A.D. by Romans who were shipwrecked on their way to Constantinople. Among them were members of the Rufus family, Roman nobility, whose descendants played a prominent role in the development of both Scala and Ravello.

1. But without a doubt, the most important and gorgeous thing about Ravello are two awesome and impressive old Villas with their gardens facing the sea, Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone. Believe me, I ran out of words.

1. We visited Villa Rufolo first. It tooks us about 20min walking to get there, you go up along a slope path with wide stairs. It wasn´t very crowded so you can go and buy a ticket when you get there. It won´t take you too long to go through it, but you may want to linger at the beautiful views.
2. Built by a wealthy merchant family in the 13th century, the villa has a rich and storied past. Bocaccio, one of the earliest authors of the Italian renaissance, wrote a story about the villa and its owner in his Decameron, which was published in 1353. In its prime, it was one of the largest and most expensive villas on the Amalfi Coast, and legends grew about hidden treasure on its premises. In the 14th century the Rufolo family hosted banquets for King Robert II of Naples and other Norman royalty.

1. When Sir Francis Neville Reid, a Scottish botanist, visited the villa in 1851 it had fallen into ruin. Reid, however, fell in love with the Moorish towers and the expansive views. He purchased the villa and began an extensive renovation of the gardens and the rooms.

1. The villa itself contains two large towers and the larger of them , Torre Maggiore, stands next to a magnificent Moorish style cloister. Wow it´s cool.

1. The gardens and grounds of the Villa Rufolo are open all year around and attract visitors from all over the world.

1. Belvedere in Via Rufolo

1. When Richard Wager, the famous German composer who was 67 when he visited the villa in 1880, was so impressed by what he saw that he stayed in Ravello long enough to write the second act o Parsifal, an opera that he had been working on for over two decades. If he had not visited the Villa Rufolo, he might never have completed the opera, for he died just three years later. Today, Wagner´s spirit lives on in Ravello. The town has become known as "La città della musica", city of music, and for the past several decades the Villa Rufolo has been the center of an annual summer concert series that features piano concerts, chamber music and a grand orchestral performance on a stage built jutting out over the Mediterranean Sea and the rugged Amalfi Coast. It´s awesome. I´d love to attend a concert there.

1. Because of the magnificent gardens, the Moorish architecture and the inspiring vistas, the Villa Rufolo is often described as a smaller version of Spain´s Alhambra in Granada.