A Room with a View

 Finca Aldabra- Boutique Hotel, Finca Rural in Sierra Nevada

There is no place like home! Many people would  agree with me on that. However there is a solution for people who would like to go on holiday and not to lose the family atmosphere, and it is a Boutique Hotel. 

I had a chance to spend a week in Finca Aldabra and I must say that it was an unforgettable experience. This charming hotel is placed in Sierra Nevada mountains, very close to Granda and only 15 minutes away from Alhambra. It is a family business set up by couple very creative and hard-working people: Inma and Jose. They prepared 10 rooms for guests in a old house that belonged to their family. Each room is different, some of them are in Andalusian, Moroccan or French style and all of them have unique pieces of furniture and decorations.

This hotel brings along complete rural experience. On big plot of land there are horses, goats, chickens, dogs and you can even hear birds singing. Home-made food in restaurant is fresh, very often organic and delicious. The hosts have own olive trees and they serve home-made lemon olives and their own production olive oil.

If someone thinks that there is nothing to do in such a place he is  mistaken. There are a lot of picturesque routes for hiking, Sierra Nevada is around half an hour away and Granada only 15 minutes drive. There is a swimming pool, bar, restaurant and also many areas where you can comfortably read. 
  I can strongly recommend a stay at Finca Aldabra to everyone who values relaxing holiday in a nice and friendly atmosphere. Away from loud city rush, close to the nature, but also with many places to visit in the neighborhood, with  healthy lifestyle and beautiful interiors. 

Our room was in typical for Granada style

Living Room

Inma and Jose in from of the entrance to Finca Aldabra

Some of the views in Sierra Nevada

                                         
                                         

Spicy Pumpkin Creamy Soup with Coriander Pesto

This soup has nice, cream texture and spicy, coconut flavor.

Ingredients

Soup:

1 large red onion;

3 garlic cloves;

2 table spoons of olive oil;

1/3 teaspoon of dry chilli flakes;

 250 grams of fresh pumping;

200 ml of coconut cream;

1 vegetable stock cube(chicken cube optionally);

salt and freshly ground pepper.

Coriander Pesto:

2 cups fresh coriander leaves, chopped;

2 garlic cloves, chopped;

lemon juice;

salt, pepper and little bit of sugar;

olive oil (I added 1 cup, but it can be more to have more oily texture).

Garnish:

Garlic croutons;

Roasted pumpkin seeds. 

Method:

•  Add chopped onion and garlic into the saucepan with olive oil. Fry until everything will be nice and soft. 

• Add pumpkin cutted into the cubes and chilli flakes (I added 0,5 of  small teaspoon and soup was spicy enough, but everyone can add depending on spiciness they like)  fry it all together for 1 minute.

•  Add water (I filter it before adding) and vegetable cube. Boil it for 15-20 minutes.

• Leave it to cool down and then bled the soup to achieve a nice and smooth texture. 

•  Add coconut cream  and season it with black pepper and salt.

• Put all indigence for coriander pesto into the bawl or food processor and blend until all ingredients combine and create smooth and fine paste. 

Pour soup into the bowls, garnish with croutons, coriander leaves and coriander pesto.

 Mix it and enjoy it!

My Cooking Style 

 

There are few things that you need to know about my cooking skills before you will follow my recipes:

•  I never follow recipes!

• I am being inspired with some already existing recipes, but I always create my own version of dishes. 

• Sometimes I create my own dish and then I discover that this food already exists, that is why some of my propositions might have completely different names in all cooking bibles and other blogs.

•  I love healthy and not very complicated dishes.

• Cooking and baking relaxes me a lot and make me feel so happy when my family and friends like food prepared by me. 

• I was Restaurant founder and manager.It was organic and French themed bistro.

• I love mixed flavors, multicultural, fusion and traditional Polish food. 

• My best dishes always are being created when I am cleaning off the fridge.

• I hope that at least some people will find my ideas inspirational and will have as much fun cooking as me. 

 Enjoy! 

xxxxxx

Izabela

Sailing Adventure around Gibraltar

Living in this part of Europe has many perks, but definitely one of them is sailing. There is few marinas in Gibraltar and plenty of different boats that also can be rented out. Many companies offer sailing holidays, corporate events, team buildings or more private, family day gateways. Which ever option you will choose you can sail around Gibraltar, Spain or go to Morocco. 
I don't think that there is something equally relaxing as sailing. It gives sense of freedom and happiness, you can admire nature and have lot's of fun on the board and in the water too. 
In bay of Gibraltar there are many different spaces: like dolphins, whales, turtles, sun fish and many other fishes.
I went on such a trip with recently, with  Tomboy Sailing and it was truly unforgettable experience. 
Mix of photos from that day:

Cap- Vans Beach Girl Trucker / Pink Vans

Miss Teen Model 2013

 

Last week I had an amazing opportunity to be one of the judges at Miss Teen Model in Gibraltar. I was already judge in 2011, but each year show becomes more and more exciting. All contestants were stunning, but we were very confident about the winner: Star Farrugia. 

Here is the video from MTM 2013 show at Alameda Gardens.

http://www.yourgibraltartv.com/ygtv-news/video-news/4716-ygtv-news-update-miss-teen-model-2013

And me...just before the show:

My outfit: 

 Dress: Mohito

Clutch Bag: Paulina Schaedel

Jewellery: Swarovski

And the last photo:

with other judges at Miss Teen Model 2013

 

 

Hollywood Glamour Style Part 1. 

Everything started in 1930 when during the Golden Age of Hollywood the new style in interior design has been created –the Hollywood Regency Style. The interior style where everything is about glamour, luxe, glitz and over-the-top was matching to the lifestyle of elite. The most important were details like: decorated mirrors, oversized chandeliers with crystals, shiny fabrics and fringed lampshades. Dark and heavy curtains, lacquered furniture, silk and velvet drapes gave very attractive, eclectic and glamorous look. But the philosophy that came along was not only about furniture and accessories, the true purpose was to create cosy and comfortable space where people can socialize and entertain each other, it was the part of their lives. Almost every room had to look like from magazine cover. Very often movie stars were actually being photographed in their apartments. This style in modern version is back in interior design, so if you value glam, vintage and you host many parties this will be a perfect choice. If you just want to redecorate your apartment add some beautiful and luxurious details, because details make the difference.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`~~~~~

 One of my favourite actresses from the Golden Era is Marlene Dietrich, the true icon of that century. Although she never owned house in Hollywood her apartment at 993 Park Avenue in Manhattan was a perfect example of Regency style.

Marlene Dietrich in her dressing room, 1932.

One of the most important rooms back then was the dressing room with a glam vanity set, large mirror and soft carpet. Many Hollywood actresses were photographed in this place, so did Marlene.

Modern version of the style with mirrored elements and zebra rug. By David Hicks, Melbourne.

Dita Von Teese’s Vanity set at her house, 2011.

Marlene Dietrich portrait from Manpower by Bert Longworth, 1941.

Churros- Spanish breakfast treats

Since I moved to Gibraltar I have eaten them many times. Although they are traditional Spanish breakfast snack, they are also very popular in Gibraltar. Taste is very similar like traditional Polish doughnuts but the way of serving it is completely different.

 The other name of this snack is Spanish Doughnut, but they are also very popular in France, Philippines, Portugal, Latin America and USA. 

There are two types of Churros, first one is thin and short, the the other one is thick and very long, this type is more popular in region where I live.

Churros are typical breakfast snacks. They can be found in special places called Churreria, where apart from churros people can also have coffee, but they are also made to be taken-away and this is what people do very often. In Gibraltar people eat them at work places with colleagues or friends. 

The best way to eat them is to dip them in melted chocolate or just simply sprinkle with a sugar.

Traditional Spanish Fair, called Feria is also a place where we can spot many Churrerias, because this is also very festive snack, they even welcome new year with this delicious doughnuts.

Recently they are also becoming more sophisticated snacks and being served in more and more exclusive restaurants. They serve them with fruits, cream and the most essential ingredient - melted chocolate. But the taste is still the same as a Churros that is wrapped in a paper and chocolate is served in a plastic cup, because this is how they usually sell them... and people love it like this,in a very simple way.

I love Polish doughnuts and I miss them a lot but I must admit that Churros are equally delicious, especially with good strong coffee and lots of melted chocolate.