The Diamond Shopaholic & all else I love…

The Diamonds, Bridal, Fashion and travel blog
The Diamond Shopaholic & all else I love…
  • Home
  • Contact Me
  • About Me
  • Shop
  • Cart
  • Checkout
  • My account
  • Tag: #travel

    • Pisto Manchego

      Posted at 12:11 am by EmmyAngela, on March 5, 2019

      Pisto Manchego, a hidden culinary gem!

      My family is originally from Spain, so I feel a strong bond with the country’s culture, especially at the table. If you think about it, gastronomy is a treasure, and home-cooked meals are true gems, hard to find these days. 

      Today I want to share with you a personal interest I have with a specific dish: Pisto Manchego. This is peasant food, uncomplicated but richly flavored. Pisto has been around for centuries, but with today’s food trends, the dish could easily be the new thing. 

      Here’s all you need to know about this healthy, vegetable-based dish, and all its possibilities. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 

      So, Pisto Manchego is a vegetable dish. Zucchini, bell peppers, onion, and garlic are finely diced and sautéed in olive oil. They’re then incorporated with tomatoes to create a hard-to-beat, hearty stew, later enhanced with a pinch of cumin. Ideal as a side dish or as a light, vegan-friendly main course.

      Everyone makes Pisto Manchego differently. Every family in Spain follows their grandma’s recipe so, no pisto is alike. The main idea is to use any vegetable, ripe and ready to pick, from the back-yard orchard. 

      People in southern Spain, in Andalucía, often add potatoes and eggplant to their pisto. In the east, in the Province of Murcia, adding an egg to the mixture is common, which changes its texture. You’ll find people throwing tuna in there too, making it a whole meal!

      And there’s controversy too. Traditionalists will cook each vegetable separately to ensure every ingredient is au point; others will toss everything together in a hot pan; some will add finely diced tomatoes while others might just pour over ready-made tomato puree; purists will only use tomatoes and bell peppers while unconventional enthusiasts will even add bits of bacon. Decisions, decisions. 

      The dish is so simple that every step counts. You can taste the care put into it. It’s also a blank canvas that allows lots of creativity. The aim is always the same: Serve something delicious to the ones you love.  

      Now, how do you eat it? Well, it’s up to you. You can enjoy this dish both warm or cold with a pair of fried eggs on the side or a nice piece of sausage. Always have fresh slices of artisan bread at hand.

      The tangy tomatoes make this dish red wine friendly. Add pisto to your tapas repertoire and serve it in a traditional terracotta dish beside olives, cheese, cured hams, spicy potatoes and just enjoy the company. Talking about being a perfect host.

      Fun Fact! Both tomatoes and bell peppers, the main ingredients for this Spanish dish, come from the Americas and only arrived in Spain in the 16th century.

      My easy recipe:

      Ingredients:

      1 zucchini

      1 green pepper

      1 large eggplant (optional)

      1 red pepper

      2 to 3 cloves of garlic

      1/2 onion

      4 to 5 ripe tomatoes

      1 1/2 tsp. paprika ( I use sweet smoked paprika from Spain)

      1/2 tsp. cumin (optional)

      olive oil

      Salt and pepper to taste

      fresh parsley

      Finely chop the eggplant without removing the skin, chop the cloves of garlic, green pepper, red pepper, onion, and tomatoes.

      In a pan put a drizzle of virgin olive oil (I use extra virgin for more flavor). Slowly simmer (approx. 8 minutes) the pepper, onion, and garlic, add a little salt and pepper, remove them and drain well.

      In the same skillet, sauté the eggplant and zucchini, until soft, add the sauteed onions, peppers, garlic and the tomatoes with Paprika (I use pimenton de la vera dulce,) cook in low heat for approximately 10 minutes, leaving it to taste.

      When ready to serve, I usually add a fried egg in the center of the pan and let it set. (optional)

      Now you know, veggies can be exciting! Make your own Pisto Manchego and share your recipe with me. And don’t forget to browse around Diamonshopaholic.com for my views on jewelry, travel, food and more. Happy cooking!

      | 0 Comments Tagged #cuisine, #diamondshopaholic, #eggplant, #Food, #foodblog, #foodporn, #pepper, #pimenton, #pimentondelavera, #pisto, #pistomanchego, #spain, #spaincuisine, #spanishfood, #travel, #vegan, #vegetarian, cooking, diamonds, history
    • Everything about the Loving Month of February…

      Posted at 10:23 pm by EmmyAngela, on February 3, 2019

      The History of the Month of February:

      The second month of the year, February was added to the Roman calendar in 713 BC. The length of this month changed over time, and at one time this had as few as 23 days. When Julius Caesar redesigned the Roman calendar, this month was allocated 28 days during normal years and 29 days during leap years that happened every four years. A special month/ February is the shortest month of the year, which contains romanticism and spiritual realms. This year’s length is only 28 days. Amazingly, Valentine’s Day falls on this month, 14th of February.

      The symbols of February:

      Birthstone Amethyst:

      The month of February’s birthstone is the Amethyst which is a variety of Quartz that contains a stunning purple color. It is a blend of deep violet and red to a lighter lilac hue. Ancient Greek people believed that this beautiful stone protected the wearer from drunkenness and allowed them to keep a balanced mindset.

      Flower: Primrose:

      Just like the birthstones, each month has a flower or two also which represent birth. The month of February contains the beautiful flower Primrose. Its botanic name is Primula vulgaris. This pretty flower is found mainly in western and southern Europe and the British Isles. The flower is also known as the common primrose and the English primrose. Primrose is one of the earliest spring flowers to bloom. When it is left alone it can quickly cover the ground in open woods and forests.

      Zodiac signs – Aquarius and Pisces:

      The lucky Aquarius-Pisces people born in the month of February are thought to be extremely original and unique people! They are commonly thought to be eccentric beings full of exciting ideas and new experiences. They are creative thinkers and can possess amazing visions for the future; however, they’re not very good with following through their ideas and dealing with practical life.

      February, a month of love:

      This month is very popular for Valentine’s day time and highlights the importance of love in everyone’s lives. People can’t live without the other and love & sorrow are closely related. People celebrate this day by sending candy, roses, and cards filled with expressions of love and commitment to true loves.

      A Kiss In The Park Bouquet

      February is suitable for traveling to visit the best places:

      This month is a prime time to explore your favorite destinations. Winter season offers to discover the heights of sightseeing, landscapes, beaches, deserts, mountains, rainforests, and historical sides of many popular travel destinations in the world. Some travel places information is given below:

      Yellowstone National Park, U.S:

      In February, Yellowstone is always a great choice as a suitable travel destination; it is a winter wonderland for exploring. A variety of colorful wildlife, (bison, wolves, elk), snowshoe, riding in snowmobiles, cross-country ski, and so many things are available to do in this beautiful travel spot.


      A romantic getaway to the Costa del Sol:

      If you are a festival lover, then don’t forget to visit Malaga, Spain in February. Besides its perfect sunny weather, delicious food and very friendly people it’s also, the perfect place to visit with your partner when giving a surprise on Valentine’s Day.

      Iceland:

      In this beautiful destination, February month is one of the darkest months of the year which is perfect to watch Northern Lights. This is the most suitable time to catch the fabulous light display in your camera. However, in the winter season, these can be unpredictable and some activities possibly are unavailable.

      China:

      In February month, Yunnan is in spring mode with many areas. The city is covered with camellia and colorful flowers in bloom. You will be surprised to see the east and south of Kunming area where the fields look like heaven with yellow rapeseed flowers. If you choose a holiday time from February 5th to 15th, then can earn boundless experience to enjoy Chinese New Year. It will be a colorful moment in China.

      Antarctic sea ice:

      In the month of February, the sea permits longer voyages and prime whale-watching when the humpbacks surface; feed them! That time, the sea ice has melted and shorter autumn days are perfect to a preview of the Aurora Australia’s or Southern Lights. The trip can be a memorable moment for you when you see the icebergs which are amazingly sculpted by summer winds. Also, don’t miss the stunning view of the sun’s reflecting rays!

       Botswana:

      This country looks amazing with its own natural beauty in the month of February. Rainy day, green vegetation, and beautiful rainbows after the storm make for some mesmerizing beauty. Many of the wildlife animals have babies, such as antelope, zebra, and wildebeest. You can do bird watching activity and also view migratory birds in February month. In this country, the traveling cost is forty percent cheaper than during the peak season time for visitors.

      Some fun facts about February:

      This is the shortest month of the year and the third month of winter. The Welsh city call February “y mis bach”, means “little month and in Latin word, it is februum that means purification. The month February has some historical names, such as Roman (Februarius), Saxon (Sol-monath), and Germanic (Hornung).

      All the things make February “the month of love”. For the sports lover, it is a great month to enjoy a variety of sports which are mostly happening in this month. This is the month closer to nature and the shortest month of the year. So, create some magic… enjoy the loving month February!

      | 1 Comment Tagged #antarcticsea, #aquarius, #botswana, #china, #costadelsol, #February14, #funfacts, #iceland, #pisces, #spain, #travel, #ValentinesDay, #yellowstone, amethyst, February, flower, love, primrose
    • Recent Posts

      • Pisto Manchego
      • My Love for Jewelry and How It Comforts Me
      • Everything about the Loving Month of February…
      • Getting Married Soon? Here are 9 Things You Must Discuss With Your Partner Before You Say “I DO”
      • Magical Birthstones and Their History
    • Categories

      • Diamond, diamond jewelry, engagement, bridal, anniversary, diamond brokers, jewelry blog (13)

Powered by WordPress.com.