1 1/2 lbs blanched almonds
6 cups water
2 large or 3 small garlic cloves
1/3 cup sherry vinegar
2 1/2 cups good extra virgin olive oil
3 slices rustic style bread, crusts removed
1 Tbsp chopped chives
pinch of salt

Put blanched almonds into a bowl and cover with water. Let the almonds soak overnight. Don't throw out the soaking water!

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a small pot over high heat. Add the garlic and boil for one minute until garlic gets soft. Drain from water.

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (preferably Spanish), divided
1 pound uncooked large shrimp, peeled, deveined, butterflied
1 pound skinless boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 pound oyster mushrooms, sliced
1 cup chopped onion
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 cups paella rice (short-grain white rice)
1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice
1 dried California chile or New Mexico chile, stemmed, seeded, finely ground in spice mill
3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon saffron threads, crumbled
2 cups low-salt chicken broth, divided
1 cup mushroom broth

Recipe in progress, using these two as guides:
http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/recipes/strawberry-fennel-g...
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/strawberry-tomato-and-fennel-...

Based on this recipe from Bon Appetit, we modified it to use what we had on hand, and it turned out great.

1/2 large onion
1/2 red pepper
2 clove garlic (mince one, reserve one for the bread)
2 tablespoons marinara sauce (or tomato paste)
1 can (15oz) Cannellini beans (rinsed, drained)
1 cup vegetable broth
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
parmesan cheese, grated
extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
parsley, chopped (optional)

I grew up eating americanized gazpacho (from various supermarkets and restaurants) that, though good, has nothing on a true creamy Spanish-style gazpacho. On my first trip to Spain, I had an absolutely delicious gazpacho in a random (and probably tourist trap) restaurant on Las Ramblas in Barcelona. I still remember that dish and seek out true Spanish-style gazpacho wherever I can.

So I was delighted to find, upon reading James Michener's Iberia on my second trip of Spain, a recipe for authentic gazpacho included in this wonderful travelogue of the author's time in Spain in the 1960s. Even though Spain has changed much since this book was written, it is still a very interesting account of the country, and I would highly recommend this book for anyone traveling there. (As a side note, unrelated to gazpacho, while I was in Toledo, I sought out a restaurant that Michener frequented and spoke with the owner, "la jefa," who fondly remembered him.)

(And back to the soup... beginning on p. 340, incidentally where my book is starting to come apart) Michener says "gazpacho is Spain," and he is absolutely correct. He tells the reader, "If you ever travel in Spain and come upon a restaurant that serves gazpacho, take it, because no other dish in the country will you remember with such affection." After describing the recipe, he remarks "No part of this strange recipe sounds very good, but taken together and properly blended, these ingredients produce a soup which is as distinctive as vichyssoise."

Whenever I make gazpacho, I use Michener's recipe because I know it is pure, authentic Spain. No exact measurements, no modern interpretations - just the soup as it has been made for generations. In describing the typical preparation, he notes that Spaniards prefer the soup made with one cup of olive oil and no more than a tablespoon of vinegar. He then says that "Americans, of which I am certainly one, prefer not more than a quarter cup of oil and four tablespoons of vinegar." After a bit of experimentation, we found ourselves somewhere in the middle. This recipe is our version of the dish, americanized to be sure, but all Spanish heart.

Roasted cherry peppers stuffed with Serrano ham, basil, and goat cheese. From Epicurious : http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/STUFFED-CHERRY-PEPPERS-12...

Ingredients
12 hot cherry peppers
5 ounces fresh goat cheese
12 paper-thin slices of Serrano Ham (jámon Serrano) or Prosciutto - anchovies are also tasty, and consider olives as a stufffer as well
12 medium-sized fresh basil leaves
1 clove garlic
1/2 C Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 T Sherry Vinegar
1/2 t salt
6 basil leaves, coarsely chopped

Preparation
Crush the garlic and add it to the olive oil. Set aside.