Sunday, May 4, 2008

Chicken & Shrimp Paella

This weekend was moderately successful, as measured by the goals I set for myself on Friday. I did accomplish 1) watching the Office, and 5) doing some major spring cleaning (it is insane how many opened ketchup bottles were sitting in our fridge). Goals 2-4 were unfortunately not attained. Still no couch for the porch, Steve dominated me at Mario Kart Wii, and I didn't really think at all about my hair this weekend. I blame laziness.

I also blame it on the fact that Steve and I went to see a television taping on Friday night. You can read more about that on my husband's blog here. Suffice it to say, it's a show that involves an 80's superstar with massive biceps, and an event called the Eliminator. Yeah, we go on crazy dates sometimes.

I also did some cooking this weekend, and made paella for the first time. Paella is a Spanish rice dish that gets it's name from the Valencian term for frying pan. Typically, saffron is a key ingredient in paella, but since I didn't have any saffron around, I sort of improvised the spices. It was delicious, and made about a week's worth of meals for us. Try it, and let me know what you think!

Paella
4 cups chicken broth

2 1/2 cups uncooked long grain rice
1 cup chopped onion

4 garlic cloves, minced and divided
1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 bay leaf

1 large green pepper, julienned
3 green onions, sliced

1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

2 cups frozen peas

1/2 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced


In a saucepan, combine broth, rice, onion, half of the garlic, salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, oregano, pepper and bay leaf; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute the green pepper, onions, parsley, thyme, hot pepper sauce and remaining garlic in oil for 2 minutes. Add mushrooms. Cook until green pepper is crisp-tender. Add tomatoes and peas; heat through. Discard bay leaf. Add rice mixture to vegetable mixture and kep warm. In a nonstick skillet, cook and stir shrimp in lemon juice for 2 minutes. Add chicken; cook until chicken is no longer pink and shrimp has turned pink, about 3-5 minutes. Add to rice mixture; toss. Serves 10-12.

22 comments:

  1. That's a seriously long list of ingredients! haha At least you accomplished some of your goals for the weekend! I recently spring cleaned my finances, my closet, and my desk drawers. :)

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  2. Congrats for accomplishing some of your goals! I didn't really get through all of mine either.

    Btw...that paella looks delicious!

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  3. God, I could just die of jealousy! I love that show!

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  4. Paella looks sooo ono, but I'm with twentysomethingandcluless...too many ingredients.

    My girlfriend tells me that T Joes has a good price on saffron.

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  5. I love paella!!

    That's awesome you saw American Gladiators...my sister met Titan one time (his parents used to be my sister's neighbors)!

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  6. That looks delicious!!! I'm not sure we have all of those ingredients in the house right now, but I am seriously craving that for dinner now!

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  7. oooh that meal sounds delicious! and congrats on le goals, you're so productive. :)

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  8. I like the shrimp and chicken paella. There are many ingredients, but that's what a paella is. I've only made paella one time - it's a pretty expensive dish to make.

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  9. i have never had paella, but thats sounds awesome!

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  10. Mmm, this sounds and looks delicious! And so healthy! I'll have to try it.

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  11. I am so on this! It looks SO yummy!

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  12. That's so great you got some things done that was important!! The meal looks delish!!

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  13. Why are men SO much better at Mario Cart than us girls? I don't understand it.

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  15. Sounds delish-- though I need more spices!

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  16. At least you accomplished some of the goals, right? (:

    The paella looks beautiful, delicious and a little complicated. But I've never made one before, and it makes me want to give it a try. I may be asking for paella tips in the near future...

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  17. yeah thats one nice looking paella.i usually stick to the saffron version with all the seafood. This is a plesant change, and easier to get the ingredients too.

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  18. Oh that sounds delicious, and for once I have all the ingredients to hand.

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  19. that's a whole lotta ingredients, but they're not obscure and the instructions are pretty straightforward - all things that i like in a recipe. it's on the list!

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  20. I love the idea of just chicken & shrimp in a paella...it looks delicious!

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  21. Wow! That is a ton of ingredients. I might have to restock my pantry to make this concoction.

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