Viva La Tapa: Cooking Spanish Small Plates
Shaping Cultural Experiences
Travel has been an integral part of my life since I was a young child. I grew up in a multicultural, bilingual home in the Netherlands with a Polish mother and a Dutch father. My
Update & BBC News Link
A brief update: One interview video will be uploaded tomorrow evening. I believe the BBC News One-Minute World News provides well-balanced reporting of news, hence why I wanted to share it. Top stories on May
From Nigeria to Boston
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VNkCazT_T4&feature=youtu.be
When you first meet Oluwagbeminiyi Osidipe, you encounter a very vibrant, friendly, and unique personality. Oluwagbeminiyi or Niyi – as she shortened her name for simplicity – was named by her mother, who had a “very personal experience” when she had her, Niyi explained. Niyi is a Yoruba Nigerian transplant who arrived in the U.S. in 2006. As one of the most densely populated (West) African countries, Nigeria derives its name from the river that spans its land. To the South, it borders the Gulf of Guinea to the Atlantic Ocean. Originally colonized by the British, Nigeria gained independence in 1960. Its main ethnic groups are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, who speak English and their own respective languages, while major religions include Islam, Christianity and indigenous beliefs. Niyi shares her story, her views on politics, cultural differences she’s embraced with humor, and what we can learn from each other by expressing curiosity. Her message is simple: travel enriches us through its exposure to new cultures, and enables us to grow.
Mark Twain on Travel
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” (American author Mark Twain, Innocents Abroad).
Have you had the opportunity to travel (extensively, within your country, or even once abroad)? Can you relate to Twain’s sentiments? How does travel enrich us?
Pleasing The Taste Palate
Food has the wonderful quality of uniting us no matter where we are. There is nothing partisan or narrow-minded about food. It simply invites us to indulge, create recipes, and share with others. Two of my favorite Polish dishes (included in collage) are pierogies and barszcz czerwony – a beetroot soup – served on Christmas Eve in Poland. How does food bring us together? What are some of your favorite dishes and why? Can food trigger memories?
Stereotypes: Truth or Fiction?
DEFINING STEREOTYPES: “An idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation.” (Merriam-Webster). Stereotypes enable bias and preconceived notions to perpetuate, but can also reveal valid
Annual Human Rights Report
“The world changed immeasurably over the course of 2011. Across the Middle East, North Africa, and far beyond, citizens stood up to demand respect for human dignity, more promising economic opportunities, greater political liberties, and
Euro Crisis & Emerging Stereotypes
Brief Crisis Breakdown Since the onset of the global financial crisis, or Great Recession, in 2007, the Eurozone has feared impending growing global debt levels, as well as sovereign debt within European countries themselves. In
Remembering Tiananmen
Today marks the 23rd anniversary of Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in Beijing, China. Inflation, a lack of career prospects, the fall of Eastern European communism, and political corruption, are all said to have fueled anger
Coffee's Uniting Power
A cup of coffee can bridge cultural gaps. At least, that’s what Gizem Salgicil White, founder of Turkayfe.org, believes. Her organization aims to create awareness of Turkish culture, particularly within America. Gizem is a Turkish native,
Today’s guest post is by Adrienne Erin
How to Cook and Serve Spanish Small Plates
Tapas, an authentic Spanish cuisine, originates in Spain and have persevered centuries of evolving diets, lifestyles, and customs. Tapas are often confused for appetizers, but they are, in fact, a different dish altogether. The origin of the word tapas is the subject of many discussions, seemingly depending on the region within Spain.
Source: Fix.com Blog
Because of the warm climate year-round in Spain, bartenders often covered cups with slices of ham or bread to keep the fruit flies at bay. The word tapa means pot cover, which brought historians to believe that one potential root of tapas dishes is derived from keep flies from the prize! This is just one of many hypotheses; but we may never come to a common conclusion, so we’ll save the myth busting for another time.
Although the history of tapas’ origin is uncertain, what we can be certain about is that they’re delicious! Fortunately for everyone, tapas have made it past the Mediterranean shores of Spain, into North America, South America, and beyond.
Tapas goes beyond simply priming the taste buds for the main course. Tapas are traditionally served with your preferred alcoholic beverage, around a table full friends. Tapas are shared around the table so everyone gets a taste, without having too much. Historically, tapas were only served by an establishment such as a bar or restaurant. Now you forego a trip to your local Spanish restaurant and travel to Barcelona through your kitchen, and indulge in the Spanish culture from the comfort of your home.
There are countless tapas to enjoy; Here’s three favorite tapas from Fix’s lifestyle blog that you can make for your amigos and familia: Fried Almonds, Tortilla Española, and Croquettes.
Source: Fix.com Blog
Source: Fix.com Blog
Original article written by Adrienne Erin
Adrienne Erin’s bio:
Adrienne is a healthy-living writer and web design writer based in central Pennsylvania. Though her work and passions often put her in front of the screen, she relishes the opportunity to unplug and tend to her garden, get inventive in the kitchen, or plan her next road trip.
You can see more of Adrienne’s work at her blog, Foodie Fitness, where she writes about two of her favorite things: delicious, good-for-you food and staying healthy.
Hi! I'm the founder of Culture With Travel and #CultureTrav. Please chat with us on social media and contribute in the comments! Follow @Nicolette_O
