Merry Christmas from sunny Spain!

Hello!
Well I have finally settled in the south of Spain having spent one month touring down from Santander to Malaga. We stopped off in La Rioja to spend time with my daughter Lara and her wine maker partner Pete, it was beautiful, the vines were full of Autumnal colours and of course the Rioja had to be sampled daily! It is strange to see the bodegas of the many wines we buy in our supermarkets such as Faustino and Campo Viejo, to think real people make these wines!! The food has been pretty amazing as they seem to eat every part of the animal in the north, deep fried intestines beautifully bound in a light batter, testicles swinging in the butchers just waiting to be braised in wine and garlic......( gave that a miss!! ) trotters, tails, whole faces of pigs that look like halloween masks apparantley stuffed, but the most fascinating thing I saw has to be air dried donkey!! I have eaten air dried beef and even tuna known as mohama, but Im not sure about eating a donkey!!
Of course the pinchos and tapas are superb and my waistline is evidence of just how much I am loving this food!!
We are now at the finca where I will spend Christmas with my family, and then in the New Year will be organising the cookery classes and I have some bookings for cooking for groups that are coming to the finca. Dont forget if you have a special occasion to celebrate or you fancy a break let me know, the finca is ideal and easily accessible from Bournemouth, and its always sunny!!
Meanwhile have a fabulous Christmas and a joyful New Year is wished for you all. !

Camelia xx