Quick Paella

I'm inspired. Although it's been way too long since I've written anything here, I'm ready to start again. Maybe it's because I all of the sudden have more alone time or perhaps it's because I'm starting a new job at a company whose goal is to provide healthy and sustainable food for kids. Whatever the reason, I realize now that I just need to bite off a smaller goal, like maybe posting once a week, whatever it takes. I'm back.

There are a few new shows on the Food Network that I am really digging right now. Nigella Lawson has a new one, and I always love her simple and sometimes indulgent food. So, when I saw her making a quick 'pantry paella' using frozen, yes actually still frozen shrimp, I was sold. I modified slightly, including using Trader Joe's frozen mixed seafood as well as their chicken andouille sausage as my base. The kids absolutely loved every bite and Jacob's introduction to scallops had him saying, "Wow, scallops are gooood!'

Quick Paella (adapted from Nigella Lawson)

Ingredients

Pinch saffron threads

1/4 cup sherry

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 spicy fully cooked spicy sausages, sliced in to 1-inch thick slices (I used TJ's chicken andouille)

1 small onion, diced

1 clove garlic, peeled and finely sliced

1 1/4 cups rice, such as Bomba, Paella or Arborio

3/4 lb frozen mixed seafood (I used shrimp, scallops and calamari)

1 1/4 cups frozen peas

2 cups chicken stock

Salt

1 lemon, cut into wedges, for serving

Chopped cilantro leaves, for serving

How To Make

Put sherry and saffron in microwave safe bowl and microwave for about 45 seconds to blend flavors and color the liquid. Let stand while you make the paella.

Heat the oil over medium heat in a wide heavy pan (I used my Le Creuset). Brown the sausage for a few minutes, just to get some color. Add the onions and cook for a few minutes to let them start to soften, but not brown. Add the garlic and cook for a minute more.

Stir in the rice, coating the grains in the oil. Add the frozen seafood and peas and mix to combine.

Pour in the stock and sherry and saffron mixture and bring it to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer, uncovered, for another twenty minutes or so until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed. If the liquid is evaporating before the rice is tender, add a little more stock.

Season with salt and pepper and garnish with lemon and cilantro.

Serves 4

Smoky Black Bean and Rice Stoup (Rachel Ray)

I've learned a lot from Rachel Ray. When I was on bedrest with Lucas, I think I watched her every day. She is pretty annoying on tv, but her recipes are great for kids, healthy, and usually made with stuff you have around. I got a new cookbook of hers for Christmas and have been slowly cooking my way through it. There have been some real winners with the kids, but since I haven't had time to blog, they will have to be added later. Tonight, I made this smoky black bean and rice 'stoup' (thicker than a soup, thinner than a stew) and the kids ate it up with nice bread for dipping. What was great about it is that it was really just a little chopping and then opening a few cans, yet it still felt relatively healthy and it packed a lot of flavor. Her recipes say they serve 4, but I can feed all of us plus have 2-3 lunch leftovers covered with the portion sizes.

Smoky Black Bean and Rice Stoup (Rachel Ray)

Timing - 30 minutes

Ingredients
2 T extra virgin olive oil
3 bacon slices, chopped
1 bay leaf
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 cup frozen corn kernels
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans
1 T ground coriander
1 T chili powder
1.5 t ground cumin
1 T Worcestershire sauce
2 t hot sauce
salt and pepper
1 (15 ounce) can diced fire roasted tomatoes
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 quart chicken stock
1 cup white rice

How to Make
Heat a medium soup pot over medium high heat. Add the olive oil, and when hot, cook the bacon until the fat is rendered, about 3-4 minutes. Add the bay leaf, celery, onion and garlic and cook another 3-4 minutes until the vegetables start to soften. Add the corn and one can of beans with their liquid. Drain the other can and then have half of the can of beans to the soup and mash the other half to a paste before adding to the soup.

Season the vegetables and beans with the seasonings, Worcestershire, and hot sauce. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce and stock. Cover the pot and bring the soup to a boil.

When the soup boils, add the rice and cook, uncovered, over a rolling simmer, for about 20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked, stirring often to present it from sticking.

Serve with cheese and green onions and more hot sauce, if you like.

Serves 4 (with plenty of lunch leftovers)

Mini Meatball Sandies (Giada De Laurentiis)

I was inspired this week by Giada De Laurentiis baby's first birthday party show that I had DVR'd. I tried the pasta recipe she made, which wasn't a total hit at my house, but I also tried these mini meatball 'sandies' which everyone loved. The only substitution I made was bread crumbs instead of corn flakes because that is what I had. The sandies were quick and easy and of course 'mini' which was pretty fun for the kids. I served them with some baby carrots to round it out and dinner was on in twenty minutes. These would also be great for adults at a cocktail party.

Mini Meatball Sandies (Giada De Laurentiis)

Timing - 20 minutes

Ingredients
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 T chopped fresh parsley
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 T olive oil
1 T ketchup, plus more for serving
2 T grated Romano cheese
salt and pepper
1/2 lb lean ground beef
12 mini Hawaiin rolls

How to Make
Put and oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a bowl, stir together everything but the meat. When it's combined, add the meat and mix gently with your hands. Roll into 12 mini meatballs. Arrange the meatballs on the baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes, serve on the buns with extra ketchup.

Makes 12 sandies