Category Archives: Life in Andorra

Grilled Shallots and Onions with Shrimp; the Glorious Twelfth

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We have an on-going discussion during the summer, regarding 'throwing a few shrimp on the barbie'. Mon mari likes the flavor the shrimp get from grilling. Since the only shrimp we can get are already cooked, putting them over hot charcoal tends to dry them out… Which I don't like. We agreed that this was the perfect compromise.  Grilled Onions, Shallots and Tomatoes Preparation and cooking time:  30 minutes    Ingredients: … Continue reading →

Ham, Egg and Spinach Salad

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The spring garden is being slowly replaced by the summer garden. We ate the first of the summer squashes and I pulled up some of the lettuce and all of the spinach before we left for Spain. Most of the spinach was turned into soup. I saved enough of the tender leaves to have one last spinach salad. Bacon, Egg and Spinach Salad Preparation and cooking time:  20 minutes      … Continue reading →

Chestnut Soup; The Cleaner; the Weekly Menu

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Last week I confessed to the fact that I loath cleaning. This week I confess to the fact that I love chestnuts. You’re wondering how I’m going to tie those two statements together, now, aren’t you? Ha! Oh ye of little faith….. When we lived in Andorra I had an excellent cleaner. For the equivalent of about 25 US dollars per week she kept our house spotless. Ours and half … Continue reading →

Tomatoes Stuffed with Pesto; Crime and Punishment in Andorra

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We lived in Andorra for 7 years before moving to France.  Here's a little inside knowledge: We didn't lock our house in Andorra.  It was common (when we first moved there, before there was permanent traffic gridlock) for people to leave there cars double-parked (there was very little legal parking), unlocked and running while they went into the shops to 'pick up a few things'.  Andorra's small, after all and, … Continue reading →

Vitello Tonnato; The Glorious Twelfth

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Yesterday was The Glorious Twelfth. I first heard people talking excitedly about The Glorious Twelfth shortly after we moved to Andorra. I was very touched, honored, slightly embarrassed…. but also a wee bit confused. It was wonderful to be so quickly embraced into a new group of friends but how did they know it was my birthday?  Was this the norm for everyone's birthday?  Wasn't it just a bit over … Continue reading →

Turkey with Horseradish Sauce; the Weekly Menu; be careful how you shop

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I found horseradish. You probably didn't realize it was missing. You have probably heard the 'horror' stories of people moving to foreign countries and not being able to find such American staples as sour cream and peanut butter, both of which, in some form, (usually better) are readily available in most of Europe. But horseradish?    No one ever complains about missing horseradish.  I did…. for years.  No longer.  I … Continue reading →

Broccoli Rice Gratin; Escalator Etiquette; The Weekly Menu

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Bemoaning the lack of escalator etiquette…. Or how to loose the skin on the back of your heels. The store that I shop at when we go to Andorra is huge, the size of at least a few football fields.  There are moving walkways, rather than escalators going between the 3 floors so that you can easily take your trolley with you; the front wheels on the trolley lock into … Continue reading →