Les Olives

Yesterday my husband and I drove to Granollers to pick up our kitten we adopted from Vilanimal. Right across from the veterinarian's office was this specialty store that sells pickled olives prepared in different marinades. They were stuffed or pickled with spicy peppers, garlic, spices to compliment a range of Spanish palates. I have not seen a store like this in Barcelona, though I am sure there some. We bought spicy  marinated olives with peppers that the owner said were  slightly spicy. Ho! The olives were beyond spicy, they were fire burning hot! Imagine eating chili peppers and olives together. We enjoyed them despite the fiery flavor. We couldn't skip buying "boquerones en vinagre," which are anchovies in vinegar. They were delicious!!! We'll be back for more olives and other delicacies at Les Olives.

p.s. I never use the date option on my photos, but somehow after recharging the battery camera it went back to default settings.

Adeu!!

Pickled garlic.

Olives in pico mojón.

We purchased some of these fiery olives.

Staff here were very friendly.

Salted cod without fish bones at 26,95 € the kilo or with bone at 9,90€ the kilo.

Ponç, the Saint of Herbalists

I never tire of the endless Saint celebrations bestowed on this fading Catholic country. Today was the celebration of Sant Ponç, the patron saint of Herbalists. Today’s excursion was planned weeks ago by my friend Teresa, who I think will become my official informant of all relevant activities of special interest happening in Barcelona. She took Ace and I to Carrer Hospital and we found stalls selling herbs used for remedies and cooking, dried fruit and fruit in syrup, and honey sold in different forms. This fair was  consigned to  Herbalists more than six centuries ago who every spring sold their healing herbs to the sickly.  The celebration became Christianized (surprise) in the 1600s and is now dedicated to Saint Pointus. 

I reveled in the colors and pleasant wafting aromas of herbs sold on the street. The official herb associated to Sant Ponç is rosemary. There will be a procession tonight that I will miss because I will be writing critical reviews and other assignments due this month.

Feliç Sant Ponç!

I burst out laughing when the vendor told my friend Teresa not to tell lies in front of the customers when she remarked that she thought the licorice root was to dry to buy.

Snake ointment for burns and other skin afflictions. 

Licorice root ready for chewing to settle digestive problems.

Licorice sold in gelatinous form.

Licorice

My candied fruit ready to go home.

We ended our excursion at Plaza del Rei where Teresa and Ace engaged in deep conversation.

Núvols

Since my move from the great cosmopolitan city of Barcelona for a quiet neighborhood in the outskirts, I have seen Venus at night, a shooting star, and lollying clouds. Today after lunch my husband and I had our coffee in the terrace. It was a national holiday today, Labor Day, so we enjoyed the beautiful sunshine and excellent temperature. Then the sky clouded over. As I looked up and stared at the sky I was taken by the beauty of the clouds. I leaned my head back and looked at the núvols hanging so low above us it felt as if we could reach out and and tear off a piece. The clouds looked like giant spun cotton candy twirling slowly in the sky. The moment was so beautiful. I could see how the air pressure spun and pushed the clouds in opposing directions. I had never noticed this before. Enjoy these magnificent núvols!

Adeu

The Dough in St. Jordi

Sigh sigh sigh. This year I will miss celebrating St. Jordi's Day as I will be cloistered in a computer lab listening to a lecture on T-tests and independent variables  in my statistics class at the university. Every year I look forward to photographing events on this day, but since I will be en absènsia, I will display creatively themed St. Jordi edible items all made from dough (the title meant to be a pun to all the money made on this day), instead of the usual books and rose tradition. I found these lovely treats depicting the Catalan fable between the the dragon and the brave knight (the princess is missing). I act as semi-curator of all things Catalan, and I found pictures on Facebook and on Google searches of cookies and cupcakes having to do with this adventurous tradition.

This was the first thing I found on Facebook.

Like the dragon and St. Jordi (shield and tower), but they should have included a princess cookie! These yummy cookies are from BONPASTÍS.

also from BONPASTÍS

More darling dracs from Somnis Pastís

Rose and book cupcake are from Flickr by La Vie en Doux...

No need to tell you were I found this picture...OK, I'll tell you Mama muffins. They even have workshops too!

You can learn to decorate these artistic creations at a Taste of America...

These rose motif cupcakes were swirled and designed at Alicia's Cakes... amazing!

Tea and cakes from Karma's Cakes

Rose cookies from I Feel Cook. I wonder if that is a Raymond Carver book?

Enjoy eating, smelling roses and buying books! Adeu.

p.s. I do have previous posts on Sant Jordi you can visit by clicking here and here.
p.p.s. If you want me to add any edible item you've made for St. Jordi, send me an email and I will add it to this post. Happy St. Jordi!!