My father, Papa Lifestyle Jeanie to you boys and girls, lives in Lanzarote and so we jumped at the chance to see him for a week and get some winter sun before the Christmas madness begins.
The good thing about having a resident to show you around is they know all the best places to eat!
As we were staying in his apartment it was also great to have somewhere to cook and prepare our own food. Helpfully he also lives above a massive supermarket, a fantastic fruit and veg shop and an AMAZING traditional tapas restaurant! (yes there is such a thing as Roquefort Chips and they were as amazing as they sound!).
Paella and fresh sea food is always a good shout here in Spanish countries by the sea. As in Iberian Ham or Serrano Ham. Especially when it is served with fresh melon. So refreshing after a thirsty day in the sun getting some Vitamin D and swimming in the sea.
Canarian Potatoes are a favourite with the locals on the Canary Islands and last night I cooked at home for my husband and father. I got some fresh Salmon which I baked with some lemon, salt and pepper and served it with chopped salad and the Potatoes. Here is the recipe:
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You’ll need:
- 1kg small new potatoes
- 250g salt (Organic Sea Salt or Pink Himalayan Crystal Salt)
- Sprigs of fresh Thyme
You’ll also need:
- A medium-sized saucepan to accommodate the potatoes
The Steps:
- Scrub the potatoes and leave them unpeeled.
- Add about 1.5l water to your saucepan. Add the salt and stir to dissolve. Add the potatoes and set over a medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes can be easily pierced with knife, about 15-20 minutes, depending on size. You’ll see the skins of the potatoes start to wrinkle a bit towards the end of cooking.
- Drain almost all of the water off the potatoes, leaving just barely enough to cover the base of the saucepan. Return the saucepan with the potatoes to the heat for a couple of minutes to dry off, shaking the pan periodically. You should see a white coating form on the potatoes as the salt recrystallizes.
- Sprinkle with the fresh Thyme and serve. They don't need any more seasoning and are perfect with any meal.
As we have both had a hectic year and past couple of weeks our routine has been fairly low key here the last week. Rise early with some morning exercise. Either yoga on the roof for me and a run for Dan down by the marina. Or this morning I jogged to the beach, did some yoga in then sand and went for a swim then jogged back to dry off. There is also an outdoor gym here in Playa Blanca near the beach that is free and open to the public. There are many of these in areas around Cork and Ireland too so keep an eye out and use what you have in your local area. You never have an excuse not to exercise! All you need is your body, desire to work out and a small space. There are lots of online work outs you can do if your unsure where to start. 20 minutes a day is all you need and it will set you up for the day. #TrainDirty
After our various workouts I love having a long and lazy breakfast. That's what holidays are all about right!
This morning we had some Papaya and Mango with some natural, plain yoghurt to start. Then as a treat some chocolate muesli and then a 3 egg omelette each with spinach, peppers and local goat's cheese. Delicious. Sunshine and books help of course! #EatClean
And finally it would be rude not to sample the local Cava. Bubbly is one of my favourite drinks. Prosecco is my favourite or a dry Cava if I have to! Best served by the sea with good company and a better view with nothing on your schedule but to relax. #LiveEasy
