I have never traveled to Spain and know no one that has done so. However, I have become fascinated with the country for several reasons.

A couple I know married in a catered event that copied an entire bullfight. They hired a company to rent a stadium and put on a mock 18th century bullfight with actors portraying the King and Queen of Spain, the royal court, lesser royalty, and commoners in the stands as well - all in full costume. Wedding guests had been assigned parts. Royal trumpets and other musicians announced the agenda of the event, activity by activity, and it was unique and memorable. A royal feast followed for the reception. The photos were incredible.

The 1992 Olympics in Barcelona that featured the Catalan region of Spain grabbed my attention as well, presenting some of the history of Catalan Region and its singular language. The music and traditions worked into the opening and closing ceremonies were unforgettable, especially the "stacks" of humans -- towers made up of men standing on one another's shoulders in circles of decreasing size up to about 100 feet high. The Tree Tenors sang. I was hooked on Spain and began to read and talk to people about it. This interested me in Mexico and a renewal of my readings about that nation as well and I became more aware of Spanish and Mexican actors [Antonio Banderos - Malaga; Ricardo Montalban - Mexico City] and musicians, whom I had always admired.

I have been astounded with the history of Holy Week before Easter in Malaga, Spain and elsewhere in the southern region.

I was startled by the robes that reminded me of Ku Klux Klan uniforms I had seen, worn by Catholics in Malaga. I found that these were called nazareno robes of penance of several colors worn certain people walking in the parades or processions held during the week (photo below).

Each color denotes a particular procession and these robes were most widely worn during Medieval years, by those who might declare their penance openly, but masked to the population as a whole. The robes were purposely copied by the KKK, according to several sources and word of mouth.

The robed penitents carry candles or wooden crosses as they walk the streets, often barefoot. In some spots some carry heavy chains and wear them around their ankles. At the same time, celebrants along the route sometimes dress as Roman warriors of Christ's time. It is all quite startling as penitents also carry a heavy litter containing a figure of the Virgin Mary and another bearing a standing Christ carrying a cross. It is also reminiscent of Eastern religious processions with flowers and figures.

GARBANZAS WITH COD

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 2 Red onions, sliced thin; 2 Yellow bell peppers, sliced
• 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/4 teaspoon saffron
• 1/2 Cup white wine
• 1 Cup grape or cherry tomatoes, 2 Cups drained/rinsed garbanzos
• 1 LB cod, cut to 1-inch squares, 1 Cup Spring water

HOW TO:

• Heat oil over medium heat and saute onions and peppers until onions are translucent (5-6 min.).
• Add paprika and cumin and sauté 1 min.; add wine and saffron and stir.
• Add tomatoes, garbanzos, cod, and water and simmer on medium low heat until cod is lightly cooked - 10 min. or less. Serves 4 - 6.

VEGETARIAN : GARBANZAS WITH SPINACH

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 2 ( 14 - 15 oz) can garbanzos, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 Cup diced onion, 1 Tbsp minced garlic
• 1/4 Cup sofrito Spanish sauce
• A 6 oz. bag baby spinach leaves, washed and patted dry
• 1/2 tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground red pepper, 1/4 tsp pepper

HOW TO:

• Pre-heat a saute pan over medium-high heat for 3 minutes. Pour in oil and swirl around to coat bottom of pan.
• Add beans, onions, and garlic to cook 4 min., stirring 3-4 times. Add sofrito and stir; reduce heat to medium for 4 min. until heated through.
• Add all other ingredients and stir. Cover the pan and cook 3 min. until spinach wilts and serve as a main dish for 4 or side dish for 6.

RICE PUDDING

This pudding does not require any sugar at all.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Cup long grain rice, 1 ½ Cup Spring water, 2 Cinnamon sticks
• 1 10-12 oz. can condensed milk
• 1 10-12 oz. can evaporated milk
• 1 Cup whole milk (others will not thicken up)
• ½ Cup raisins, light or dark
• Cinnamon powder for dusting presentation

HOW TO:

• Bring water to boiling, add rice & cinnamon sticks and reduce to medium heat and cook until majority of water evaporates. Do not burn. Pour in all the milks slowing and stir.
• Stir constantly for 15 - 20 minutes until rice becomes soft.
• Remove cinnamon sticks and add raisins. Stir and remove from heat.
• Serve in dessert/sundae dishes, topped with cinnamon powder. Serves 4-6.
• Can also be used as a dessert filling.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ½ Lb Yellow Sweet Potatoes
• ¾ Cup Honey or Sugar, ¼ Cup Sweet sherry, Spanish if you have it.
• ½ Cup Whole Milk, ½ Cup Light Cream
• 4 Whole Eggs, 1 tsp Cinnamon

HOW TO

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and cooking-spray a 9-inch flan pan/pie tin.
• Wash and then bake sweet potatoes until soft, remove from oven and cool.
• Peel potatoes, chunk and blend in a blender with sweetener, sherry, milk, cream, eggs and cinnamon,
• Pour into the baking dish and bake 45 to 50 minutes until firm. Remove and chill to serve, but try it warm as well.
• Serves 4.