Sweet Meat

I have always loved them from afar. Occasionally, succumbing to their pleasures. So tempting. Overpowering. Intimidating. Until. I finally broke down. Searched them out on the Internet. And decided to try it firsthand. With no regrets.

Yes, it's true. I made a batch of lemon squares. I've made them twice so far.
The ones pictured below are actually lemon-lime squares. Tangy.

But be forewarned, this dessert contains dangerous amounts of sugar. It's a giant sugar bomb. Which is why I wanted to share the recipe. Found it at the LA Times website. Everyone should experience the tart excitement of this sugar overload. With a little raspberry sorbet on the side.

Now about the title of this post. Can't figure out where it's from? Think early 90's Brit alternative bands. The Soup Dragons. Off their album, Lovegod. Now, for the life of me, I cannot find a video of this song anywhere. Except for a 12" version (remember those) that doesn't really reflect the post-haze languish of the original. But, all is not lost for your aural and visual pleasure. This song also would have been an apt title for the post:

Parting Shots [Valencia]

Old world traditions. Modern attitude. Valencia has embraced both. I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to come back to this thriving metropolis on the Mediterranean. The distractingly beautiful architecture alone is enough for a return visit. That and the food.

For more fine art images from the Valencia trip, visit my Flickr photostream.

Like some strange future predator rearing its head, the Hemisfèric is a mass of lines and curves.

The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía looks like it is coming in for a nibble on the overpass.

The Hemisfèric and Museu de les Ciències seem to be locked in a game of next-generation Pac-Man.

All signs point due East.

The Future is Spain

When I first saw images on Flickr of the futuristic buildings at the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences), I knew I wanted to go there and photograph them. A destination in sunny Spain is nothing to sneeze at either. And so, TJ and I put Valencia on the list. We ended up booking our trip for Easter weekend. Note: The images below link to my Picasa photo album with all trip photos.

Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is a futurescape set in the old river bed that winds around and through the heart of Valencia. The white tile, glass, and metal of the buildings seems a bit out of place in an old world city like Valencia. But, it signals the future. And TJ and I were happy to get lost in its modern appeal.

I saw this coffee mug at the airport. The graphic was way too cute to resist taking a photo. However, the price tag prevented me from considering a purchase. Maybe if I drank coffee.

This adorable representation of El Toro was in stark contrast to the bull fighting event that was shown live on TV. There were at least 5 bull fighters in the ring. Spain's president was in the stands along with a host of celebrities; this was a big event. The bull looked old. And tired. And, I have to say, I found it difficult to appreciate the pagentry and tradition of the sport. It seemed very violent. And very unfair. A true bloodsport. I turned it off before the swords were used.

I saw a bat on several manhole covers and was a bit perplexed. It turns out that the bat is a symbol for the city.

The bat rests over an emblem (crown and shield) as shown in this gate ironwork at the old city wall. A bat! How cool is that? Between that and the multitude of orange trees (and their fragrant flowers) all around the city, it's hard not to like Valencia.

And it is hard not to like the food of Valencia. Between the paella and the seafood (grilled cuttlefish and calamari), TJ and I indulged in a bit of Spanish gluttony. I also found a new tasty treat in torrejas.


Paella is one of the most well-known Spanish dishes. In Valencia, they make a variation called paella valencia; it is not your typical paella. Ingredients include green beans and great northern beans. Typically, there is no seafood. Instead, the meat is usually chicken. We were offered rabbit in one restaurant. Since, it was so close to Easter, we passed. You can't eat Peter Cottontail on Easter weekend. Still, it could have been worse. Rata de marjal (marsh rat) was one of the main ingredients of early paellas in the 18th century. As living standards rose in the 19th century, this early ingredient was replaced by other meats. Rat. I bet it tastes like chicken.

Speaking of Easter, we were looking for a place to eat on Saturday night and came across an Easter Mass at Valencia Cathedral. It was quite the procession. Thought this photo captured the requisite amount of religious mysticism.

To see more images from our trip to Valencia, click here.

GLAD PÅSK!

Glad Påsk! That's Happy Easter in Swedish. And what better way to celebrate Easter than with a bag of Påsk godis. And, that is exactly what I did. Last night, we made a trip to ICA Maxi and there in the frozen food aisles was a Påsk godis display calling my name. This morning, the godis bag is empty. I know I will pay for this somehow. But, for the moment my stomach feels fine and my head does not feel the sugar rush associated with the overconsumption of very sweet things.

Easter is a big holiday in Sweden. But, religion is not a big part of it. As is typical, there are pagan origins to some of the traditions that carry on today. It's less about the Easter Bunny and more about the Easter Witch. More here.

But, now is not the time to contemplate the religious significance of Easter here in Sweden, or lack thereof. No, now is the time to savor the flavor of Påsk godis gone by.