January

New month, new year and NO new resolutions. This year is not about making promises I cannot keep, if nothing else the last two years has taught me to not count my chickens before they hatch. This doesn’t mean I won’t be planning but in a more focused way. I’ve always been a list maker and apparently my list making is now called “Journaling” who knew?! I will be exploring journaling in future posts and maybe even put together some of my favourite hints and tips to make life a little smoother, something to watch out for! At the beginning of this new year though I will start each day, a chilly frosty one it was here, with a hot cuppa and an early start. Food also features frequently in my posts from my traditional tea and toast to the more mediterranean tapas. Nothing beats a bowl of creamy porridge laced with local honey and juicy blueberries. Sets me up for the day in these chilly early days.Two of my favourite dishes are crispy deep friend new season artichoke and the all year round fresh delight of bacalla carpaccio with olive and peper dressing alongside Catalan bread. Bacalla carpaccio is raw salt cod thinly sliced desalinated (when frozen is easiest) drizzled with a good olive oil that has drenched finely chopped tomato, sweet red pepper and mild red onion with olives and seasoning. I sometimes add a drizzle of pesto to mine. Catalan bread is lightly toasted, rubbed with garlic and soft fresh tomato, salt and drizzled with yet more golden good quality olive oil. The best dishes are usually the simplest.It’s been a month of dry weather, no rain for weeks and although cold its been sunny and warm enough to sit outside. The resorts are quietly populated with locals although we tend to be wrapped up in jumpers and scarves, here Palamos harbour is still teeming with boats and restaurants and cafes take it in turns to open up with some taking holiday before the season starts up. I do hope this year is a better year for them it’s been tough for hospitality here and there are many places shut down possibly permanently in tourist resorts. It’s easy to be fooled into thinking it’s a hot day and we have been driving around with the roof down on the car because daytimes have been glorious, might need to mention the heating was on including the heated seats! Even squeezed in a walk to the beach, the light at this time of year is incredible. This is Pals and its empty expanse stretched all the way to L’Estartit. Already the blossom is on the trees, soon the hedgerows will be full of spring flowers. New growth is never far away.