Today, I rescued a lizard from drowning. Not once, but twice. This is unusual as I am normally the lizard pallbearer. Lemmings may have been cleared of suicidal tendencies, but the lizard’s tendency to ring down its own curtain has clearly been overlooked. I find their presence in the garden an unmistakeable sign of hot summer. The heat, today, is as perfect as it can be away from the seashore. Lizards hang lazily on the ochre walls which are painted with cleanly etched shadows created by the still branches of olive trees and oleanders. Muted laughter drifts towards us from our neighbour’s “cave” where, in the cool shade of the interior, he will be passing out tiny glasses of cool, crisp rosé to family and friends. White butterflies dance over lavender heads, seemingly draining all the joy that they can from their short lives, whilst testing the patience of the bees whose work is never done. The barking of a distant dog and the quasi comical quack of a duck are vain attempts to penetrate the eternal hum of the pollen harvesters.
Mme. Guinaudeau’s book on traditional Moroccan cooking was in my hand and is now in my mind. The transition from the hot, dusty hell of a side street market to the cool, pure light of a tiled riad in old Fez and the subsequent description of the feast served put me in the mood for middle eastern food.An aubergine, a sweet pepper, an onion, a tomato and some cloves of garlic were washed, sprinkled with olive oil and roasted until caramelised edges appeared. Cous cous grains were slaked with boiling vegetable stock. The half aubergine that remained was roasted in a separate tin to make an aubergine salad, from The Casa Moro Cookbook. Coriander and cumin seeds were crushed to be added to the creamy roasted aubergine flesh, together with chopped fresh tomatoes, lemon juice and roasted garlic. Some ingredients were missing but not the desire.
The flavours transport me. Food and imagination combine perfectly. Food and company may be the apogee of human intercourse, although procreation is good if you’re not hungry, but occasionally imagination and thoughts, without chatter, make food sing.
I suspect the poor lizards fancy a swim but can’t get out, which reminds me of the slightly unpleasant tasting Chinese liquor containing two pickled lizards. I wonder if this could be adapted to one of the excellent Morro recipes:
http://www.gourmet.com/recipes/1940s/1949/10/fried_lizard 😉
If it can be adapted, I have lizards! I shall have to make a lizard ladder for the pool.
Could we please just imagine the eggplant creation in all its glory without the lizards and the muted noises emanating from next door . . . ?
I’m afraid that’s the scenario…the sequel may differ in detail,,who knows:)
. . . well, am used to lizards of all kinds but dislike noise from sources outside my control . . . 🙂 !
We don’t suffer noise pollution here, I can promise you.
Hmm! Great minds, and all that. I cooked up an ersatz Moroccan meal last night, a posting for which is in progress. Thanks for the lead on on the cookbook, one is missing from my library, I probably would have benefited from it. Great pictures, by the way.
It’s a classic book…enjoy
I so want to visit Morocco but these flavours will have to suffice for now 🙂
Hope you get to Morocco to try the real thing.
Love Moroccan food. I knew a guy once who was from there and his father made him marry a young girl. Poor thing didn’t know any English and she was plunked down in NH wondering what happened. But boy could she cook! Amazing dishes. We would try to communicate over games and share what items were in each language.
I’ve got a wonderful description of a Moroccan lady chef that I’m going to blog soon:)
Looking forward to it. 🙂
This looks great. I just got a Morrocan cookbook! Beautiful photos.
Was it by Andy Harris?
wow, what a vivid intro to your post! ” White butterflies dance over lavender heads, seemingly draining all the joy that they can from their short lives, whilst testing the patience of the bees whose work is never done. ” Nice!
You’re always kind, Marina…thanks:)
We don’t have very many lizards in my area. When I lived in the Carolinas, there were plenty. It never got old to sit and watch them run about my balcony.
People often have a problem with the scent of cumin, but I’ve always enjoyed it. Middle Eastern food is a big favorite of mine.
It’s a rich cuisine, that’s for sure. It needs summer for me to really enjoy it:)
Brilliant writing Roger!! What a coincidence: yesterday I wanted to make some cous cous with eggplants, tomatoes, and fresh herbs. I was not sure if to roast or to stir fry the vegetables. It is so hot in Rome that I want to avoid using the oven..jajaja…Cool pics!
I know the feeling of avoiding using the oven. I jump in the pool and then go back in the kitchen, Roasting the veg works best..no question.
I’m so jealous of your gorgeous ingredients. Few things taste the way they should in England despite the season.
It’s weird that. I really notice the difference here.
When we were in L.A. earlier this year visiting family, my daughter ate everything. Not so much the case here in London. Who can blame her? Tomatoes and avocados just aren’t the same.
Buying good simple ingredients in the Uk , like tomatoes and fruit, entails finding insanely expensive outlets (like Ginger Pig). I don’t understand it.
Stunning photos! I can almost taste the first one… 🙂
Many thanks. I’m an admirer of your pictures too.
Your photos and words are drool-worthy.
We have lizards scurrying across the patio all day long. Occasionally, they stop and appear to be doing pushups.
Ours have a very rigid exercise routine too:)
I’m putting that on a t-shirt, Roger. “Procreation is good if you’re not hungry….”
It should be flown as a flag over many parts of the globe.
The poor lizards. We rescued one (sans tail, which was still wiggling separately…ugh) from the cats a few weeks back. Perhaps we should start a Save The Lizards group.
That’s strange. So many of the lizards in our garden have lost their tails, but we have no cats. Maybe bigger lizards pull off the tails of smaller lizards…a bit like humans:)
Wonderful post, Roger. The images you create, whether by word or camera, are beautiful. Well, maybe not the lizard but he sure did choose the right pool for a baptism.
Full immersion is what he got:)
” Food sings” , that is my language….. and pictures talk to me….love the mood of your image…..Mr.Poetry !
Too kind:)
So, when’s the book coming out!? 🙂
I’ve already written a couple, with links on the website. I must get on with a book this winter.
Hot weather and Moroccan food are a wonderful combination.
🙂
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