THE SPANISH CATALAN CRISIS
King Filipe VI of Spain speaking against the "Catalonian independence drive" said that all Spaniards should respect each other and the law. He also referred to the declaration of the Spanish Constitution Court, that the Catalonians recent referendum of succession was illegal.
By using article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, the Spanish government has renounced the Catalan government's endeavours to separate from Spain. The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Junker, said to an audience while visiting Spain, that he saw Spanish flags everywhere, which "was a beautiful sight". Needless to say, that he was loudly applauded.
According to a breaking news flashing crawl, "Spain plans to depose the leaders of Catalan and to dissolve the Catalan Parliament, Prime Minister Rajoy said".
ISIS BARBARIANS KILL EGYPTIAN SOLDIERS
At least 23 Egyptian soldiers were killed and 26 injured, after Isis militants attacked an army outpost outside Rafar and Bir al-abd in the Sinai Peninsular.
EU SUMMIT CONCERNING BREXIT
During a press conference, on the second day of the 2017 EU Summit concerning Brexit, the President of the European Council, Jean-Claude Junker, feared that it wouldn't be "Brexit Miracle" and that Britons did not quite realize what Brexit means.
The President of the European Commission, Donald Tusk, said that the UK might still stay in the European Union. "You may say I am a dreamer ... and I'm not the only one,"
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, stated that he agreed with Prime Minister May when she had said, at a previous EU Meeting that "we have to make sure that no-one will have to pay more or receive less." President Macron continued that the UK should also "comply with all its commitments" and obligations "made as a member of the European Union".
After long discussions about the issue, Prime Minister May acknowledged that insufficient progress has been made on issues "including the Brexit divorce bill and trade." She is, apparently, under pressure to leave the talks with the European leaders, "if they deny discussing trade issues".
On the other hand, Chancellor Merkel told reporters that there has been "progress on negotiations and the trade talks could begin in December." Quite confusing...
I do so hope that, as most Britons have changed their mind, since last year's referendum, that the UK will remain in Europe. (If you wish, have a look at my post PLEASE BREMAIN of the 22nd June 2017)
SHIFTING SANDS
According to Kenneth Pollack in Brookings, "shifting sands" in Syria and Iraq refers to the regional balance of power. Meanwhile, civil war is still raging in Syria. The province of Deir/Ezzor is, lately, in focus and, fortunately, a few days ago, Raqqa has been liberated from ISIS.
It has been presumed, that a Russian-American agreement exists. on dividing the area along the Euphrates river, into two zones of influence. However, recent events show that the strategies between these two global powers have changed.
The Euphrates valley connects Turkey, Syria and Iraq. "Mounting local rivalry has been noticed over the oil-rich resources" during the last few years.
SNAP ELECTIONS IN JAPAN
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| Add caption |
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wins 2/3 majority in Parliament.
MURDER IN MALTA
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| Daphne Caruana Galizia |
The famous Maltese journalist. Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered, by a bomb that was attached to her car and triggered remotely.
The 53-year-old journalist in her blog "Running Commentary" revealed and exposed government corruption. She specifically specified Prime Minister Muscat, his wife and a few of his closest consultants for money laundering, in offshore accounts. She also attacked the head of police and the judicial authorities. "There are so many crooks everywhere you look. The situation is desperate." she wrote on her blog just before being killed.
Our sincere condolences to her three sons and our deepest admiration for this wonderful, brave woman who lifted journalism to such unique heights.
(The information for this post was acquired by Kathimerini, Estia, Brookings, the Guardian, ERT, SKAI TV, ALPHA TV, FRANCE 24, BBC and CNN, all of whom I sincerely thank)
Here are recipes from the countries mentioned above.
CHANGURRO
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| Crab-Meat Cooked with Sherry and Brandy |
A delicious and interesting Spanish and Catalonian first dish.
120 g (4 oz) butter
2 tbsp olive oil
1 large garlic clove, peeled and halved lengthwise
120 g (4 oz) onions, peeled and chopped
90 g (3 oz) leeks, trimmed and finely chopped
1 small tomato, peeled, seeded and chopped
2 tbsp pale dry sherry
2 tbsp brandy
500 g (1 lb) crab-meat, any pieces of shells and cartilage removed
2 1/2 tasty chicken stock
2 heaped tbsp chopped parsley, leaves only
1 pinch of Cayenne pepper
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
45 g (1 1/2 oz) soft bread crumbs, prepared in a blender
1 tbsp chopped parsley
Melt half the butter and olive oil, and saute the garlic for a minute or two until golden, then remove the garlic with a perforated spoon and discard.
In the garlic-scented butter saute the chopped onions and leeks and simmer, stirring frequently, until soft and transparent. Then stir in the tomato, sherry and brandy, raise the heat and bring to the boil. Cook briskly for about 5 minutes until thick and dry.
Reduce the temperature, stir in the crab-meat and sprinkle with chopped parsley, Salt and freshly ground black pepper, the Cayenne pepper and simmer for 3-4 minutes, uncovered. Taste and season accordingly.
Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F). Heat the remaining butter in a frying pan, over medium fire. When the foam subsides, stir in the bread crumbs and chopped parsley and cook, stirring constantly, until the butter has been absorbed and the crumbs separate and brown slightly.
To assemble, spoon the crab-meat equally into 6 crab or scallop shells. Sprinkle evenly with the bread crumb mixture and bake in the middle of the oven until the crumbs are crisp and golden brown, serve immediately.
FELAFEL
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| Chickpea Patties |
500g (1 lb) skinned chickpeas, soaked in water for 24 hours
2 onions, peeled, grated and mixed with:
6-8 spring onions trimmed and finely chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
2 cups, chopped parsley or fresh coriander
2 tbsp self-raising flour mixed with
1 tsp baking powder
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper or less
Vegetable oil for frying
Strain and process the chickpeas. Add all the other ingredients and blend to a soft paste. If the mixture it does not hold together add a little more flour. Cover the chickpea mixture with cling film and allow to rest for 30 minutes at least.
Take walnut-sized pieces of the mixture and form small balls or patties and allow to rest for 20 minutes more. Deep fry in vegetable oil until golden brown.
SPEECH HOUSE PUDDING
Speech House was a kind of parliament for the Verderers (officials) and Free Miners, people who had the mining licences for the County of Gloucestershire, who managed the forest, game and mineral sources in the area. There, Speech House Pudding was often served.
150 g (5 oz) butter, softened
60 g (2 oz) sugar
4 eggs, separated egg whites whipped stiff with a pinch of salt
120 g (4 oz) plain flour
270 g (7 oz) raspberry jam, separated
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda dissolved in
2 tbsp milk
Grease bottom and sides of a pudding basin with some of the butter and set aside.
Whip 120 g (4 oz) butter with the sugar until pale and fluffy, beat in the egg yolks, one at a time then add the flour in two portions, beating well after each addition. Stir in 90 g (3 oz) of the raspberry jam. Quickly stir the bicarbonate of soda and milk solution into the batter, and lightly but thoroughly fold in the whipped egg whites.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pudding basin. Cover tightly with a double thickness of baking parchment and then with a sheet of foil. Brush the top with the remaining butter.
Place the pudding bowl on a folded piece of cloth, in a large deep pan and add boiling water to come up half the side of the basin. Again bring water to the boil over high heat, cover the pan tightly and reduce the temperature to low. Simmer for two hours adding more water to the pan when necessary.
Meanwhile, bring the rest of the raspberry jam to the boil and reserve. Remove the pudding from the water, and wait for five minutes before reversing onto a pretty platter. Pour the hot raspberry jam over and serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
MIYABI SOUP
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| Onion and Mushroom Soup |
A delectable Japanese soup, painfully easy to prepare.
1250 ml (5 cups) beef broth
1250 ml (5 cups) chicken broth
1 large carrot,scraped and cut into small cubes
1 onion, peeled and cut into small cubes
2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced lengthwise
(All three vegetables tided together in cheese-cloth)
Garnish:
1 spring onion, trimmed and very thinly sliced
2 mushroom cut into paper thin slices
3-4 chive stalks, snipped
Pour the thd two broths into a large saucepan, add the cheese cloth pouch with the vegetables and simmer for half an hour, Discard the pouch.
Place a small amount of garnish into each individual soup bowl and sladle the hot soop over. Serve immediately.
TURKEY ROLL WITH HERBS AND MUSHROOMS
I usually prepare this superb Maltese dish for Christmas Lunch,
1 kg turkey breast, butterflied
250 g (1/2 lb) panchetta, thinly sliced
Herb mixture:
1 tbsp fresh sage leaves, chopped
1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
1 large clove garlic, chopped
(All mixed together with a little salt and pepper)
Salt and pepper to taste
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
30 g (1 oz) dried porcini mushrooms soaked in water for about half an hour, dried and finely chopped
500 g (1 lb) mushrooms, trimmed and cut into quarters
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely sliced
250 ml (1 cup) dry white wine
Preheat the oven to 180 C(350 F).
Place the turkey breast on a working surface, and pound it to 1 cm (0.39 of an inch) thickness. Cover it with half of the pancetta slices, sprinkle evenly with the herb mixture and roll up the turkey breast into a cylindrical shape. Wrap it up with the remaining pancetta and tie tightly with kitchen string.
Place the olive oil in a roasting tin and, over medium heat, brown the turkey roll all over. Place the tin in the oven and cook for 45 minutes.
Remove all but 2 tbsp of olive oil from the pan, add the garlic, porcini, mushrooms and saute, stirring until soft, pour in the wine and cook for a few minutes until alcohol evaporates.
Snip the string off the turkey roll, slice it and arrange on a platter and pour the mushroom sauce over. Serve with roast potatoes and a green salad.
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