May 15th is San Isidro or Saint Isidore’s feast day. He is the patron saint of Madrid and his feast is a big celebration in Madrid. The annual fiesta or feria of San Isidro officially lasts from May 8 to May 15, but usually extends for two weeks or more and includes a huge bullfighting festival, fairs, concerts, dances and the romeria, (a kind of pilgrimage) to the ermita de San Isidro.

Like all Spanish feasts or fiestas, there are special dishes to mark the occasion. For this feast, Red Cabbage San Isidro Style - Lombarda de San Isidro is typically served. Cabbage is baked with apples for their sweetness, as well as potatoes, onions and ham. It is a good side dish that has sweet and salty tastes to capture your taste buds.

• Red Cabbage San Isidro Style - Lombarda de San Isidro

Red Cabbage San Isidro Style - Lombarda de San Isidro (c) 2007 Lisa Sierra Licensed to About.com

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Lots of moms would love to spend the day relaxing and gazing out onto the Mediterranean Sea. Since most of us can't fly mom there and back on Sunday, how about a Mediterranean theme meal? Nancy Gaifyllia, Guide to Greek Food and Rebecca Franklin, Guide to French Food have put together their suggestions for Mother's Day meals:

• Greek Recipes for Mother's Day Breakfast or Brunch, geared toward younger cooks
• French Mother's Day Luncheon, with a long list of delicious recipes and French wine suggestions.

Spanish Mother's Day Menu - If you missed our Spanish-Style Mother's Day Brunch menu, we've included a link below. The menu consists of nothing but fresh, seasonal ingredients, making a great menu for a May dinner party as well.

• Spanish-Style Mother's Day Brunch

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Flan de Naranja or Orange flan is a variation of the traditional Spanish flan, a vanilla custard topped with caramel sauce. This dish is made with half-and-half, so it is lighter, but has an intense orange flavor that surprises. It refreshes the palate as well as satisfying that sweet tooth. It is a fairly simple recipe that can be made ahead of time and makes an elegant finish to any meal. Why not try it for Mother’s Day?

• Flan de Naranja - Orange Flan
• Traditional Flan - Custard with Caramel Sauce
• Flan de Fresas - Strawberry Flan

Flan de Naranja - Orange Flan (c) 2008 Lisa Sierra Licensed to About.com

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Spanish cuisine has never enjoyed the same popularity in the US as Italian cuisine, but that might be changing. Inventive Spanish chefs such as Ferran Adria and José Andrés have been spreading the word about Spanish food and now Andrés is getting lots of attention. He stars in a 26-episode television show entitled Made in Spain, which was produced for public television and is currently airing around the country. Episodes focus on topics from Spanish wine to tapas and vegetables in Spanish cuisine. The show's official web site is appropriately named www.josemadeinspain.com and contains information not only about the show, but about travel in Spain and José. It also has a short video clip of the show.

In fact, you may be hearing more about José Andrés in the near future because the nominees for the annual James Beard Foundation awards were announced in March. Andrés, originally from the region of Asturias , is one of the nominees for the Outstanding Chef Award 2008 for his work in Minibar, one of his establishments in Washington DC . Spaniards, and particularly Asturianos must be thrilled with the news. Stay tuned - winners will be announced in early June.

• Spanish Regional Cuisine of Asturias
• www.josemadeinspain.com

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Carne Gobernada is a typical dish from the region of Asturias in Northern Spain. It is a traditional main course, prepared by very slowly cooking the chunks of beef in onions and white wine until they are tender. Like many of the old-fashioned, slow-cooking, traditional dishes, it has practically disappeared from restaurant menus due to the amount of time the meat is allowed to simmer. It is a shame because this dish is worth the wait! Serve with potatoes fried in olive oil to soak up the sauce.

• Carne Gobernada - Asturian-Style Beef in White Wine Sauce
• Spanish Regional Cuisine of Asturias

Carne Gobernada - Asturian-Style Beef in White Wine Sauce (c) 2008 Lisa Sierra Licensed to About.com

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Spanish Style Mother's Day Brunch or a May Dinner Party

Mother's Day in Spain is May 3rd, while in the USA it is May 11th. Either way, it's just around the corner. Invite mom over this year for a seasonal Spanish brunch. Start with a traditional Spanish omelet and continue with asparagus wrapped in Serrano ham. Serve grilled lamb chops and "important" potatoes for the main course and finish up with with strawberry flan. Not hosting Mother's Day? This is a great menu for a May dinner party.

• Spanish-Style Mother's Day Brunch

Flan de Fresas - Strawberry Flan (c) 2008 Lisa Sierra Licensed to About.com

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Brightly-colored sweet oranges, creamy green avocados, red onions and black olives make a “fiesta” on your plate. This is a quick and easy recipe that you can make anytime of year, but is especially delicious in the warmer weather. It is a very light and refreshing salad and can be served at the beginning or end of your meal.

Although you see Navel oranges in the photo, you can use any variety you'd like or a combination - Navel, Blood and Valencian.

• Ensalada de Naranja y Aguacate - Spanish Orange and Avocado Salad

Ensalada de Naranja y Aguacate - Spanish Orange and Avocado Salad (c) 2008 Lisa Sierra Licensed to About.com

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This tasty recipe originates from the sunny island of Mallorca, located off the eastern coast of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea. Hollowed out eggplants are stuffed with ground pork, onions, garlic, tomato sauce and traditionally, sobrasada a fatty pork sausage local to Mallorca. Whether or not sobrasada is available in your area, this is a tasty and satisfying side dish.

• Berenjenas a la Mallorquina - Mallorcan-Style Stuffed Eggplant

Berenjenas a la Mallorquina - Mallorcan-Style Stuffed Eggplant (c) 2008 Lisa Sierra Licensed to About.com

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The region of Valencia is known for its many rice dishes, like paella, but there are so many other mouth-watering rice dishes to enjoy, like arroz al horno. In the Valencian language, it is called arros al forn, and in English it can be called Oven-Baked Rice. The rice dish is traditionally baked in a ceramic dish and includes lean pork morcilla sausage, lots of garlic, tomatoes, potatoes and garbanzo beans.

This traditional dish is so popular that Xàtiva, a coastal city in the province of Alicante, the region of Valencia holds a festival in honor of arroz al horno. In addition, The Tourism and Catering Association of Xàtiva and La Costera will hold the 7th annual national competition in Xàtiva where professional chefs will compete in a “friendly competition” of Xàtiva-style oven-baked rice.

• Arroz al Horno - Oven-Baked Rice
• Spanish Regional Cuisine of Valencia

Arroz al Horno - Oven-Baked Rice from Valencia (c) 2008 Lisa Sierra Licensed to About.com

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Are you looking for a new dish for dinner - one that's quick and easy?
Then we have something for you - Picadillo - Spicy Spanish Pork. Marinate cubes of pork overnight in a spicy mixture of paprika, garlic and white wine. Then quickly stir-fry the pork and serve with bread and/or fried potatoes and a fresh green salad.

• Picadillo - Spicy Spanish Pork

Picadillo - Spicy Spanish Pork (c) 2007 Lisa Sierra Licensed to About.com

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