Spanish Tortilla – Amy Jo Cousins

Magda and Javi, the main characters of The Rain in Spain, spend a magical evening wandering Sevilla. My own trip to Sevilla left me with a love of Spanish tapas, and tortilla in particular.

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Spanish Tortilla Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 3/4lb medium potatoes

2 medium onions, thinly sliced

scant 1/2c. extra virgin olive oil

6 eggs

1) Thinly slice the potatoes. Heat 5 TBS of the oil in a frying pan and cook the potatoes, turning frequently, for 10 minutes. Add the onions and seasoning (salt & pepper, I just wing it), and continue to cook gently for a further 10 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.

2) Meanwhile, beat the eggs in a large bowl with a little more salt & pepper. Tip the potatoes and onions into the eggs and mix gently. Leave to stand for 10 minutes.

3) Wipe out the pan and heat the remaining oil in it. Pour the egg mixture into the pan and spread it out in an even layer. Cover and cook over very gentle heat for 20 minutes, until the eggs are just set. Serve cut into wedges.

Tortilla are often made with a bunch of extra ingredients thrown in: chopped bell peppers (red or yellow), peas, corn, grated cheese. The recipe I use (which comes from a cookbook called Cooking With Just Four Ingredients) suggests Cheddar or Gruyère, but I use Manchego because it's my favorite Spanish cheese and tastes delicious. I don't have amounts for extra ingredients, but I think I use about a cup of grated Manchego. If anything, I probably throw in a little extra, because cheese!

You can eat tortilla as soon as it's done cooking, but it's also served cold, straight from the fridge. Serve with a leafy salad and crusty bread for an easy meal.

"The Rain in Spain" is a short story in the SUMMER RAIN charity anthology for RAINN.

Travel write Magda and scientist Javi are cranky with the heat--and each other--on the streets of Sevilla. They've been married for a year, after a whirlwind courtship, and Magda is questioning whether or not she made a mistake. She's not sure if her need to explore the world can ever mesh with Javi's more regimented life.

As they stroll the cobblestone streets of one of Spain's most romantic cities, Magda tries to show her husband just what it is she loves so much about her job that keeps her far from home for son long. By the time the sun rise, they'll know if there is a way forward for them together . . . or not.

All proceeds from the volume will be donated to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (www.rainn.org), the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the United States.

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http://amyjocousins.com/