Tales of Spain and it's a wrap - a spinach and mushroom one....

Lauren tucking in to a racion of wild boar
stew (jabali) and  boiled potatoes

I love Rick Stein I really do, I love that he's so passionate about everything and enjoys what he eats and makes. I watched the first episode of Spain last Thursday with great anticipation. Immediately I thrown into the Spain I know, Galicia, where my mum was born and where my parents both now live, where I have visited several times, first when I was just 2 and then more recently to meet my Spanish family with all my English family in 1995, for a tour of Spain by car from Madrid up to Galicia and Asturias (also visited in the programme) in 2000, a Spanish camping holiday to Santander and then 3 times to visit the parents flying to Santiago de Compostella and visiting them in Ferreira, for Summer, Autumn and Christmas.

Lauren and Tio Ricardo
in the local bar in Ferreira

When I got the accompanying book for my birthday I was very excited about the things he might cook in this episode, but although the Spanish scenery delighted I thought the programme was a bit sparse on cooking, maybe a ploy to get you to buy the book, a promise of something to come. I was also disappointed that the recipes in the book are a diluted version of what he saw, I wanted  the full on Spanish recipes as a swarm of people asking for weird and wonderful ingredients is often the push supermarkets need to start stocking those illusive Spanish ingredients razor clams, morcilla, padrones, cuttlefish, tetilla etc. He went to a restaurant in Asturias and saw a wonderful hake and cider dish being made, but what ended up in the book despite copious note writing was nothing like...maybe the ingredients don't translate, I've saved the programme so I can give it a go at a later date and then I will know. Don't get me wrong I still enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next instalment!
Yesterday was a strange day, we've had a lot of things on so there was a lot of catching up to do around the house and because of this I knew a full on Sunday dinner was not going to happen. Lauren had some pasta for tea as at 6 o'clock we weren't hungry, but by half past eight I was ready to eat. You'll have to bear with me on this and believe that it was tasty..Tony wasn't convinced but once he smelled them cooking he couldn't resist

Cooking the pulpo....

...eating the pulpo. 

Spinach and mushroom wraps

Place a soft tortilla wrap on a microwaveable plate. Peel and slice 2 mushrooms and place them in the middle of the wrap. Next slice some fresh spinach and pile on top (a small handful). Add a good grinding of black pepper and then a sprinkle of cumin (the amount depends how much you like it). Grate on some cheese (I used cheddar) and sprinkle with some dried chillies.

Pop the whole thing in the microwave and zap for 1 minute 30 seconds (900W/E). Everything will melt and cook and shrink down from the great big pile that had been there. I fold in the sides and then fold forward 3 times to make a little parcel.

I found this very tasty, surprisingly so, but very juicy, it was best to eat it in a napkin (or some kitchen roll!!) to catch the juice, as eating it on a plate with a knife and fork, the juice made the wrap soggy.

No photos I'm afraid, they just looked like wraps, but I am learning that wraps are not to be underestimated, they are very versatile. You might remember the M&S
"Terribly Clever" jars that I showed you on 6 July "What's in your Cupboard?". Well we tried out the coronation chicken one,mixed into mayonnaise with some chopped cooked chicken, I thought it was lovely a really nice old fashioned curried chicken taste. Tony said he liked it but thought it was too sweet.

Tomorrow will be Peppers de Padron, Carne en salsa de almendras and broad bean rice.

And finally you probably know this already (unless you have been living in a cave), remember I mentioned that Lauren was photographed for The Sun when we went to Waddington, well the article finally made it into the paper today Lauren in the Sun