Spanish Food - How To Make The Perfect Paella

by: Linda Plummer
Looking for a traditional Spanish recipe? Without doubt, the
best-known is going to be the prodigious paella ... that tasty,
adaptable, gregarious dish famed throughout Spain and the World.

And, what an impressive choice of recipes exist for a pleasurable
paella: seafood, chicken, rabbit ... or a mixture of all three!
Perhaps you are non-meat eating ... well, just opt for one of the
several vegetarian paella recipes. Bit of a health fanatic?
Then substitute white rice for whole-grain rice or wild rice.

Got a large family and not much money to feed them on? Use
plenty of rice and imagination along with a tasty stock, plus
whatever you can find in the cupboard! I have certainly enjoyed
many paellas where there have been more bones/shells than meat/
seafood! And, very tasty they have been too, the richness of
the company more than compensating for any paucity in the
ingrediants.

So ... how do you go about making the perfect paella? First of
all, you need to choose your rice. The short-grained rice from
Valencia - where most Spanish rice originates - is fine for
making paellas. However, the "bomba" rice grown in the
neighboring region of Murcia, is the "king" of paella rice: again,
short-grained, it has the ability to absorb the stock whilst
remaining firm.

Another "must" is to use saffron ("azafrán") to create the gentle,
yellow color for which this delectable dish is renowned. Yes, it
is possible to buy cheaper, artificial colorings but ... go for
the traditional - it will bestow a wonderful aroma and unique
flavor.

Many Spaniards swear a perfect paella can only be achieved when
using a tasty, home-made stock. Whatever you decide, allow at
least double the amount of liquid to rice. If, during cooking,
the dish becomes a little dry, just add a dash more water or
stock.

Another tip I have been told, on more than one occasion, is to
gently fry the rice for a few minutes before adding the stock,
ensuring that it is well-coated in oil. I think all Spaniards
would agree that, once cooked, it is best to leave your paella to
stand for a good five minutes before serving.

Perhaps the most important ingrediant for making that perfect
paella, is to use lashings and lashings of love whilst preparing
it - for surely, that is something we can all afford - and to
enjoy to the full the marvellous company of those who will share
it with you.

I shall now have to choose a paella recipe to offer you as an
example! I think I will opt for a seafood paella, typical of the
region of Valencia, where I live. The ingrediants are for a
hearty four servings. If you are not a hefty eater, or on a diet,
then reduce the amount of rice/stock slightly.

Paella Valenciana - Paella From Valencia

Ingrediants:

- 4 cups rice.
- 8 cups fish stock.
- 8 king-sized prawns/langoustines.
- 8 mussels.
- 200 gr shrimps.
- 200 gr peas (fresh or frozen).
- 2 tomatoes, skinned and chopped.
- 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced.
- 3 strands saffron, crumbled.
- Olive oil for frying.

Method:

1. Sauté garlic in a paella-type pan.

2. Add tomatoes, peas, shrimps and saffron.

3. Cook for a few minutes.

4. Add rice and stock.

5. Simmer for approximately 20 minutes.

6. Decorate with prawns and mussels.

7. Cover paella with a lid.

8. Poach the seafood for a few minutes.

9. Decorate paella with lemon quarters.

10. Enjoy!


About the author:
After living in Spain for 20 years, Linda Plummer
decided to compile her information-rich site:
http://www.top-tour-of-spain.com
with its FREE monthly newsletter, "The Magic of Spain".




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Smooth Refreshing Smoothies

by: Donna Monday
More people today are discovering the healthy benefits of drinking a delicious, refreshing smoothie for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Instead of soda pop at your next meal or diet cola, consider whipping up a smoothie made with fresh fruit, yogurt, skim milk or juice.

Smoothies will give you a real energy boost and are healthier for you than cola or soda.

Online you will find recipes for popular smoothies like: banana smoothie, blueberry smoothie, chocolate smoothie, jello smoothie, mango smoothie, peanut butter smoothie, strawberry smoothie, tofu smoothie, and tropical smoothie.

Here is a sample of the kinds of smoothie recipes you will see:

Banana Creamsicle Smoothie – with bananas and orange juice

Blueberry Pineapple Smoothie – with blueberries and pineapple orange juice

Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie – with raspberries and chocolate syrup

Virgin Margarita Smoothie – with lime jello and pineapple

Mango Smoothie – with fresh peaches and mango chunks

Classic Peanut Butter Smoothie – with bananas and creamy peanut butter

Strawberry Pear and Peach Smoothie – with fresh strawberries, peaches and pears

Honey Tofu Smoothie – with bananas, tofu and honey

Hawaiian Holiday Smoothie – with peach mango tofu and pineapple

You can find these refreshing smoothie recipes and more with just the click of your mouse. Soon you’ll be enjoying the wonderful health benefits of drinking these delicious nutritious smoothies.



About the author:
Copyright 2004

******************************************
Donna Monday is a contribution author at: http://www.1st-milkshake-n-smoothie-recipes.com



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The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Experience

by: Donna Monday

Just about everyone loves freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Many of us have fond memories from our childhoods of the aroma of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies filling up the house. Our eager little eyes anxiously awaiting their arrival from oven to countertop.

Chocolate chip cookies are the ultimate comfort food. There’s just something about them that makes us feel warm and fuzzy. The chocolate chip cookie has evolved over the years into a mouth-watering variety of textures and flavors.

If you’re a fruit lover you’ll enjoy banana chocolate chip cookies or cherry chocolate chip cookies. Chocolate lovers will delight over chocolate chocolate chip cookies, double chocolate chip cookies and white chocolate chip cookies.

Another popular variation is the oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. Who knew that oatmeal would taste so good with chocolate?

If you want to spice up your favorite chocolate chip cookies even more, you can add tasty morsels like mint chips, craisins, candy bars, espresso beans, m&ms, candy cane, walnuts, peanuts, macadamia nuts, dark chocolate or big chunks of milk chocolate.

Some folks love eating gourmet chocolate chip cookie bars and even chocolate chip cookie pie!

If you have special dietary needs, you can still enjoy home baked chocolate chip cookies. There are special recipes online for low fat chocolate chip cookies, vegan chocolate chip cookies, wheat free and egg free chocolate chip cookies, and whole wheat chocolate chip cookies.

Now that you know about the many ways you can enjoy the world’s most famous cookie, I hope you will try many of the delicious recipes so you too can enjoy the ultimate chocolate chip cookie experience.



About the author:
Copyright 2004

*************************************
Donna Monday is a contributing author at: http://www.best-cookie-jar-recipes.com



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