What’s That In My Chocolate?

October 4, 2011

So, I’m on a little vacation across the way in Italy, and we go out to dinner the first night there.  I’m thinking this is the hotel receptionists’ cousin or brother or something and that the food will be mediocre at best.  Not. The place is a family place, but there are lots of locals, [...]

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Familiar in the Middle of Foreign

September 20, 2011

I’m a country kid.  Grew up in the middle of godforsaken nowhere, in Texas.  Only one person  in my extended family — my Uncle Teddy — had gone to college, or traveled outside the country.  I come from a long line of (very wonderful) “hicks.” That means that every time I come to Spain it [...]

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The Real McCoy – Gypsy Flamenco

September 16, 2011

My feet had barely hit the ground in Jerez de la Frontera when we started seeing posters and hearing people talk about the benefit concert that would be held that night for La Chiqui – a well known Flamenco dancer who needs to travel to the U.S. for treatment of an illness that I never [...]

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Learning Russian

September 14, 2011

Have you ever been with someone who had absolutely no sense of appropriateness?  They’ll ask for anything, while you’re trying to hide behind the nearest tree?  Well, that’s my new friend Merche.  Thank goodness. Merche picked me and Salli up, with the plan of driving us over to see Cadiz.  We piled in the car [...]

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French Onion Soup – Thermomix Spanish Style – Part 2

September 6, 2011

Here’s the finishing touches to make a wonderful French Onion Soup, Spanish Style – in the Thermomix.  Teresa is an incredible cook and this is a great example of the usefulness of the Thermomix.  This soup is something she threw together on the spur of the moment, with ingredients she happened to have on hand.  [...]

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French Onion Soup – Thermomix Spanish Style – Part 1

August 31, 2011

I’m closing in on buying my very own Thermomix, so whenever I’m in Spain I ask my cooking buddy Teresa to teach me more recipes.  Since fall is approaching, I thought it would be fun to show something simple and quick and warming.  Besides, the ingredients just happened to be on hand in Teresa’s kitchen, [...]

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Ingredients for a Great Time

August 17, 2011

Last weekend 6 women drove 10 hours from Kansas to Colorado for a private Tipsy Toro cooking and wine class.  I was excited and a bit nervous — you never know what’s going to happen when you invite 6 strangers to be with you for 2 full days.  But I didn’t have to worry one [...]

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Party Like a Spaniard

August 4, 2011

OK, I admit it.  I’ve gone over the top.  The first official Tipsy Toro Spanish Wine and Cooking class is tomorrow and I got a little carried away.  I just couldn’t help myself.  So allow me to gush for a moment.  The food and wine of Spain is so wonderful  (and healthy, by the way) [...]

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Travel Hacking – Keeping It Simple (Stupid?)

July 21, 2011

I’m not the kind of traveler who’s on a plane every month.  I go to business conferences, and then mostly I go to Spain and do hops from there.  This year South America is calling my name too, so I’m giving that one some thought — but that’s another story.  Anyway, I don’t consider myself [...]

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Surprise! What’s that in my Salad?

July 15, 2011

The first time I sat down for a light lunch with fashion-conscious (and weight-conscious) Spaniards, I couldn’t believe my eyes.  The salad was piled high on a dinner plate, almost overflowing the sides.  And that was just for me — and there were 2 other equally laden plates for my friends. I looked at these [...]

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