Elisabeth and I eat breakfast together most days. Although I sometimes drink my coffee in my room we usually eat at the same time. Most days I wake up before she does, my alarm goes off around 7:30am on Mondays and Wednesdays and 8am on Tuesdays and Thursday's (Friday's I sleep in). Because Gina doesn't have class until the afternoon most days I try and be very quiet in the morning. So when I get up I head to the kitchen, make coffee in my french press, and finish my reading for my classes that day or finish up work on an assignment. Usually just as I am about to finish my cup of coffee Senora Elisabeth gets up and joins me in the kitchen. Each morning we go through the same dialogue, Hola, que tal, puedo encender la tele (she always asks if she can turn on the TV since I am usually doing homework, I always tell her por supuesto, of course). We usually chat a bit, but it's early and I don't think she's much of a morning person either. However, it is nice to sit at the table with her. Even though we don't talk much I think it makes us closer just spending time together.
That being said our weekend has been great and somewhat comical. Friday night we ate dinner together, I got to choose between fish with chickpeas and sauteed peppers onion and tomatoes with salad or ravioli, I picked the fish. I love getting to choose!! Then after dinner she asked what I wanted for dinner tonight. I was shocked and excited, but I couldn't think of anything I wanted. But then I did of course. I told her I wanted arroz con verduras a la catalan. She made it once before and I really enjoyed it. Basically it is rice served with sauteed spinach, pine nuts and raisins. She definitely uses some sort of herbs as well I'm just not sure what. In April I have to bring in a dish to share with my Creative Travel Writing Class, we are all going to share food and tell stories, the story is supposed to be related to the food you bring in. I am going to ask Senora to help me make arroz c0n verduras a la catalan because it was the first dish she made that was really good and satisfying when I first got to Barcelona since she was sick for the first few weeks and then she made it for me this weekend, which was a totally enjoyable weekend and had you asked me two months ago if I would enjoy a weekend alone with Elisabeth I would have answered no. So I will find out the exact ingredients then! Anyways, I really appreciated that she asked me what I was in the mood for since it was just the two of us, or so I thought...
Espinacas a la Catalan
I nabbed this off of google, doesn't do it justice. I promise to take a photo when she helps me make it for class.
I came home from the city center this evening to find three place settings at the table so I knew we were having a guest since both Gina and Amy are gone for spring break already. But Elisabeth never mentioned who earlier in the day so I was left wondering until dinner. Around nine the door buzzed and in walks a young man, Louise, Elisabeth's nephew, I think, at least I know there is some relation, I just missed the explanation at dinner. Anyways, it was a set up. Louis is 20, goes to university, travels, and listens to opera. I think we may have a date in April haha. Elisabeth wanted me to go out with him and his friends tonight but I have to get up early to leave for Morocco. He understood why I had to pass on tonights festivities, however he insisted I hang out with him and his friends (one is from California he made a point in telling me) when I get back from spring break. It could be fun, he speaks pretty good english and was patient with my horrible spanish. Dinner was great though. It was nice to have a younger guest and the conversation was lively. Senora was giggly as to be expected and seemed to really be enjoying herself, that sly little match maker.
I can't stop laughing.
