Seafood Fideuá - Fideuá de marisco

A fishermen’s dish with strong flavors, especially if served with alioli. It can be balanced well with a Mediterranean-style Chardonnay such as those made in the Penedès region.

Ingredients:

200 gr fresh shrimp                            4 crayfish
150 ml olive oil                                  400 gr monkfish
2 cloves garlic                                    2 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 tbsp hot pimentón                           1.5 l fish stock
saffron threads                                   400 gr noodles
8 baby clams                                      salt

Preparation:

Place the paella (that is, the round metal pan in which this dish is cooked) over the heat, add the oil and gently fry the prawns and crayfish. Remove and set aside. Add the monkfish, garlic, tomato and pimentón. Quickly add the stock to prevent the pimentón from burning and, when it begins to boil, add the saffron and noodles. Spread out evenly in the pan. Season with salt and add the shrimp and baby clams. Place the paella in the oven at 180ºC / 356ºF for 5 minutes so that the noodles brown and dry out a little.

Presentation:

Leave to stand for 5 minutes before taking to the table.
(Foods from Spain)

St Patrick's Day

Marinated boquerones

Boquerones are a kind of anchovy and are delicious cold and marinated as tasty tapas, or marinated and then fried as a first course.

Basic ingredients for 4 people:

• 1 kilo of boquerones (anchovies)
• 1 cup vinegar
• 1/4 cup rock salt
• slices of ginger
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 2 tbsp. finely chopped garlic
• 1 tbsp whole black pepper corns
• chopped hot peppers

Steps:

1. Clean fish and marinate overnight in the vinegar, salt and ginger mixture.

2. The following morning discard the liquid. Prepare all the other ingredients and add the fish.

3. Mix well and put in bottles. Leave refrigerated for at least 2 weeks before serving.

(Euroresidentes)

250 million children cannot read or write

A United Nations report says more than 250 million children of primary school age cannot read or write. They could also not do basic maths. The report said 120 million children have spent little or no time in school. The researchers said countries lose money when children do not go to school. Each year, governments lose up to $130 billion. A U.N. spokeswoman said there was a global "learning crisis". This is because in a third of countries, 75 per cent of primary school teachers do not have enough training. The spokeswoman said: "The issue now is to put the focus on quality."

Most children not going to school are girls. Developing countries can get richer if they send girls to school – up to 25 per cent richer in 40 years. Almost two-thirds (66%) of girls in Arab countries and sub-Saharan Africa may never go to school. In Yemen, just 36 per cent of girls are literate. The Reuters news agency said: "If current trends continue, the poorest part of the young female population in developing countries won't achieve literacy until 2072" The good news is that in Laos, Rwanda and Vietnam, the number of children not going to school fell by 85 per cent in the last five years. (Breaking News English)

Madrid, 11th March 2004

International Women's Day

One in three EU women experienced violence

The EU said that laws must change to protect women. They want to make domestic violence a crime. Police in many countries cannot stop domestic violence because it happens in the home. The survey's author said violence against women shows there is a lot of human rights abuses in EU countries. He said no one should ignore this. Violence against women is a huge problem that affects everyone. He added: "Violence against women does not just impact a few women only. It impacts on society every day." He also said there was a strong link between alcohol and violence.

The EU said that laws must change to protect women. They want to make domestic violence a crime. Police in many countries cannot stop domestic violence because it happens in the home. The survey's author said violence against women shows there is a lot of human rights abuses in EU countries. He said no one should ignore this. Violence against women is a huge problem that affects everyone. He added: "Violence against women does not just impact a few women only. It impacts on society every day." He also said there was a strong link between alcohol and violence.  (Breaking News English)