It was a rainy morning, as usual, in Galicia. At the weekly mercado de abastos , bustling with shoppers from nearby villages, a huge tent with communal wood tables and an enormous pile of wooden plates waited for customers to arrive, myself included. Outside, in the entrance, a line of cauldrons bubbled while the pulpeiras dipped pieces of octopus in and out—one, two, three times—before releasing them to the boiling depths.

These melt-in-your-mouth lemon cookies are sophisticated and delicate, the perfect tea time snack.

When you arrive at Mas d’en Curto restaurant, it’s hard to tell whether you are in one of those overexploited, almost thematic Mediterranean restaurants you can find along Costa Daurada and Salou areas, or if you are really in one of those genuine typical Catalan country houses where Mediterranean cuisine is not tonnes of poor quality olive oil and badly balanced gazpacho.

The moment we live is a meeting point for social and consumption changes. On one hand, the current economic situation has modified our buying patterns, making us avoid important expenses for smaller, more affordable purchases to make up for the decrease in the family budget. On the other hand, family structure has varied, leaving the four-member families in memories by the appearance of single parent families, while the market and, especially, the food package which still insist in familiar quantities haven’t adapted to these changes. Other factors must be taken into account: people are demanding more sustainable products as the awareness of organic agriculture and the Slow Food movement has become part of our society. Consumption and buying alternatives are being molded by these newer social desires: bulk buying is one of the solutions.

This has a smooth texture and a delicate flavor, a very wintery plate in all aspects which makes it the perfect remedy for these rainy days.

The color of beets makes it really beautiful and appetizing, and it gives an extra point of creaminess. A perfect recipe.

These nearly butter-free cupcakes are light and airy with a subtle fruit flavor, perfect for savoring summer.