How does the culture of Spain show in your topic?

My topic for this assignment is basketball in Spain. As I eluded to in my previous post, some things in America are popular and in Spain not so much, and vice versa. In America basketball is extremely popular among the public. The National Basketball Association is one of the most successful organizations among any professional sport. In Spain basketball is popular too, however not as popular as soccer. If you took a survey in Spain of people who play soccer and people who play basketball, the majority would say soccer. Since soccer has been around for s long in Spain, it hasn't really adapted to the basketball life yet. However, soon enough basketball will start to challenge soccer in Spain considering its recent rise in popularity. Although, for now, soccer will continue to remain supreme.

Cal Filson 

The Pionono

Pionono

 

 

 

 

A pionono is just like a jelly roll cake - it's a sponge cake that has
been rolled up around a filling. Piononos can have sweet or savory
fillings. This pionono is filled with dulce de leche that has been
lightened with whipped cream. All this cake really needs for adornment
is a dusting of confectioners sugar, but it's delicious drizzled with a
glaze of caramel icing.
This type of cake is also known as brazo de reina in some Latin
American countries.

 

Ingrediants:

•4 eggs, separated
•3/4 cup sugar
•1 teaspoon vanilla
•1/2 teaspoon almond extract
•1/2 cup flour
•1/4 cup almond flour (optional) or 1/4 cup additional all purpose flour
•1/2 teaspoon salt
•1 teaspoon baking powder
•1 cup heavy whipping cream
•2 tablespoons sugar
•3/4 cup dulce de leche
•Confectioners sugar
•1 recipe caramel frosting (optional)

Preparation:

1.Line a 11" x 17" jelly roll pan with wax paper. Preheat oven to 350
degrees.

2.Sift the flour with the salt, almond meal, and baking powder, and set
aside.

3.Place the egg whites in a (very clean) bowl of a standing mixer and
beat until soft peaks form.

4.Add 1/4 cup of the sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form.
Transfer beaten egg whites to a clean bowl.

5.Add the egg yolks with the remaining 1/2 cup sugar to the mixing
bowl, and beat until pale yellow and tripled in volume, about 5
minutes. Add the vanilla and mix well.

6.Fold the dry ingredients gently into the egg yolk mixture until just
blended, then carefully fold in the egg whites. Spread batter evenly
into the prepared jelly roll pan.

7.Bake cake until it is golden and just starts to spring back to your
touch, about 8-10 minutes. Do not overbake, or it will be difficult to
roll.

8.Loosen the edges of the cake by running a knife around them, then
turn cake out onto a dish cloth that has been dusted with confectioners
sugar. Peel off the wax paper, and dust top of the cake with more
confectioners sugar.

9.Roll cake up carefully in the dish towel and let it cool in the
rolled-up position.

10.Place cold whipping cream in a large bowl and beat until medium-firm
peaks form. Whisk in 2 tablespoons sugar and a touch of vanilla if
desired. Whisk 1/4 cup of the whipped cream into the dulce de leche to
lighten it, then fold dulce de leche mixture back into the rest of the
whipped cream.

11.Unroll cake and spread whipped cream/dulce de leche mixture over the
cake. Reroll cake, wrap with the dish cloth or saran wrap, and chill
for 1-2 hours or overnight.

12. Once the cake is thoroughly chilled, place it on a cutting board,
unwrapped. Prepare caramel glaze according to the recipe, using only 3
cups confectioners sugar. While the icing is still warm, pour it over
the cake, letting it run down the sides until covered. Remove excess
icing from bottom of cake and let set. Slice off ends of cake to neaten
the edges (extra treat for the chef!)
                        Noelle Berry

The Tango

The Tango

A popular style of dance in Argentina is the Tango.
The tango is one of the most "sought after dance styles" in the world.


 

Men's Instructions (Lead)

6. Stand facing your partner. Place your right arm on her lower back. Straighten your upper body.

7. Keep your weight on the balls of your feet.

8. Use your right hand to pull your partner toward you. You might have to shift to the side a bit so the two of you won't bump knees when you dance.

9. Extend your left arm up and to the side. Keep your arm firm, applying gentle pressure to your partner's palm. This gentle pressure against her palm will actually help her feel which way you are going as you lead.

10. Stand with your feet close together. Step forward with your left foot and then forward with your right foot.

11. Bring your left foot next to your right. Keep your weight on the right foot. You are now back at your starting point.

12. Repeat this basic step guiding your partner around the room in a circle.

Women's Instructions (Follow)

13. Stand facing your partner. Place your left hand on his arm above his bicep. Straighten your upper body.

14. Keep your weight on the balls of your feet.

15. Extend your right arm up and to the side. Keep it tense. This tension will allow you to feel your partner's movements better and make it easier to follow his lead.

16. Stand with your feet close together.

17.Step backward with your right foot then with your left foot.

18.Bring your right foot next to your left. Keep your weight on the left foot. You are now back at the starting position.

19. Repeat these steps as your partner guides you around the room. Be attentive to body language and any little pushes or pulls as he guides you.

Variations

20. Vary the basic step by standing in place as you do the two-step. This is called la Cadencia, or Cadence.

21. Step backward on the second step to do la Cunita, or the Rock-Step.

22. Combine the basic two-step with some of these variations and don't be afraid to improvise.

Instructions

1. Face your partner and stand closer together than you would in most other ballroom dances - close enough that your torsos are touching.

2. If you're the leader, place your right hand on the middle of your partner's lower back. Extend your left hand out to your side with your arm bent and grasp your partner's right hand in a loose grip. Your partner should place her left hand on your right shoulder and place her right hand lightly in your palm with her right elbow bent.

3. On the first beat, walk forward slowly with your left foot, placing down your heel first and then your toes. Your partner will mirror each of your movements on every beat throughout the dance - in this case, moving her right foot backward, landing her toes and then her heel.

4. On the second beat, step forward slowly with your right foot so that it moves past your left. You should feel like you are slinking forward.

5. On the third beat, step forward quickly with your left foot, then immediately slide your right foot quickly to the right side and shift your weight to that foot.

6. On the fourth beat, bring your left foot slowly to your right, leaving your left leg slightly bent as your feet come together. Your weight should still be on your right foot.

7. Now, shift your weight to your left foot and do a right forward rock step: While making a half-turn clockwise, step forward quickly on your right foot, and then quickly shift your weight back to your left foot. With your right foot, slowly step forward to complete the half turn.

8. Bring your feet together, bring your left foot up next to your right and repeat steps 3 through 7.

 

 

 

 

History on the Tango

The word tango means "closed space" or "reserved ground".  It required its meaning of the place where African slaves and free blacks gathered to dance by the time Argentina banned slavery im 1853. The compadritos, or young men, took the dance to the Corrales Viejos and introduced it in various low-life establishment where dancing took place. The tango was considered a dance from the poor barrios. The tango dance spread around and eventually everyone knew what it was.



 

Noelle Berry

What is Spain's culture?

There are some similarities between Spain and United States culture like technology, art and literature. However, differences come into play when you talk about things like ancient architecture. Spanish ancient architecture resembles a gothic style like the campuses of Duke and Princeton. When I think about American ancient architecture Native American longhouses and tepees come to mind. Other major cultural differences include cuisine and music. Spanish food consists of mainly seafood, while the American cuisine is burgers and fries. Spanish musicis heavely carried by the acoustic guitar and classical singing with a latino twist. As opposed to American music which stems from Native American chants and original pilgrim songs. 

Cal Filson 

What is unique about Spain compared to the U.S.?

Spain is a very different country in terms of government, and climate. Unlike the United States, Spain's government is led by a king instead of a president. The head of government is a Prime Minister who is second in command. More similar to the U.S., the Spanish cabinet consists of a Council of Ministers. Spain experiences the mediterranean, semiarid, and oceanic climate. The mediterranean climate brings hot and dry summers to the countries on the east of the Atlantic Ocean. The Semiarid climate presents itself in the southestern part of Spain where the weather is dry and hot for a longer period of time. The oceanic climate provides temperatures influenced by the ocean near the coastal regions of this country.

Cal Filson

History of Argentina

 

Map of Argentina

The largest city in Argentina is it's capital, Buenos Aires. It is almost the biggest city in South America, with around 3 million people.

Argentinian Flag

Argentina Food and Culture

Traditional Asado

Modern Asado

In the rural parts of Argentina, people still eat a more traditional South American diet. Argentina's culture and cuisine has been influenced by largely by it's European settlers and immigrants. Argentina is very famous for it's beef, which I will show later on in the recipe of the beef empanadas. A crictial meal when exploring the culture of the Argentinain food is asado. The asado is a fancy meal with grilled meat.

 In the Argentinian culture, meals are a time to socialize, not just eat, like in America. They have long meals that last hours, where huge families come together and talk and play games.



Traditional Empanada



The Empanada is a very popular Argentian food. It is a food eaten in the afternoon and night time. Here is the recipe for beef empanadas.

Ingredients

• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 1/4 cups water, or as needed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1 pinch salt
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 2 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and chopped
• 1 quart oil for frying, or as needed

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Cut in shortening using a pastry blender, or pinching into small pieces using your fingers, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Use a fork to stir in water a few tablespoons at a time, until the mixture forms a ball. Pat into a ball, and flatten slightly. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until tender. Crumble in the beef, and season with salt, paprika, cumin and black pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until beef is browned. Drain excess grease, and stir in the raisins and vinegar. Refrigerate until chilled, then stir in the hard-cooked eggs.
3. Form the dough into 2 inch balls. On a floured surface, roll each ball out into a thin circle. Spoon some of the meat mixture onto the center, then fold into half-moon shapes. Seal edges by pressing with your fingers.
4. Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 365 degrees F. Place one or two pies into the fryer at a time. Cook for about 5 minutes, turning once to brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels, and serve hot. YUM!



Here is a quick video on how to make delicious empanadas!!!




Mate

Mate is a popular drink in Argentina that is a large part of thier culture. It is a tea-like drink that is drunk from a gourd out of a metal straw called a bombilla. Normally drunk at social settings, everyone drinks mate from the same gourd as it is passed around.





Hispanic Heritage Month

15 septiembre - 15 de octubre

Celebration of Diversity in the Hispanic World

 

1. Choose a topic of your liking, interesting to you: music, sports, theater, dance, poetry, travel, movies, food, actors, musicians, sports celebrities, etc.

2. Choose a Hispanic country and research how you interest manifests in that particular country/culture.

3. Answer the following essential questions about your country:

What is unique about it in comparison to the US?

What is culture?

How does the culture of the country show/manifest in your topic?

4. You will create at least 4 entries in this blog about your topic and how you answered the essential question on #3.

5. Your entries will be a learning experience for all, and must include: information about the country in relation to your topic, photos, videos, music.

6. Dish - a culinary dish from your country to be shared with the class at the culmination of this assignment on October 12.