#22 Part I of II

Finally paella has been accomplished!  This is 1/2 of goal #22.  We used the recipe from my last post and it was delicious.  Here is the photographic evidence:

Rick and Libby stirring the paella

Adding the garlic

Showing off the finished product

I ate the paella.  It was yummy.  Nom.

Paella recipe

It looks like we will not be making paella until tomorrow.  In the meantime, I thought I would go ahead and post the recipe we are going to use.  I am a vegetarian (although I do eat shrimp), so we are creating a variation on the "normal" recipe.

From Vegetarian Times:

Ingredient list

(Serves 6)

2 Tbs. olive oil

2 7-oz. pkgs. spicy marinated tofu, finely diced  (we are substituting shrimp)

8 oz. cremini mushrooms, sliced

2 large carrots, diced (1 cup)

1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels

1 14-oz. can chopped tomatoes, drained

4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.)

1 cup short-grain brown rice

¹⁄8 tsp. saffron, crumbled

1 cup fresh or frozen peas, thawed

¼ cup lemon juice

3 green onions, thinly sliced, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oil in wok over medium-high heat. Add tofu (or shrimp) when ripples appear

in oil, and season with salt. Sauté 10 minutes, or until tofu (or shrimp) is browned, stirring occasionally. Add mushrooms, and sauté 4 to 5 minutes, or until mushrooms release liquid and begin to brown.

2. Stir in carrots, corn, tomatoes, and garlic, and sauté 2 minutes more. Stir in rice, 2 1/4 cups water, and saffron. Bring paella to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover with wok lid, and simmer 40 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed. Add peas on surface (do not stir yet), cover, and allow peas to steam 1 to 2 minutes. Remove wok from heat, and stir in lemon juice and green onions. Season with salt and pepper. 

Doesn't that sound yummy?

Mid-month update

It is a new year and progress is being made on my 30 before 30 list!

Sometime in the next week, expect an update with pictures on goal #22 - I am cooking paella this weekend (with the help of my friend Libby because I suck at cooking).  So that will be part I of II for goal #22.

Also, I am making progress on #27 -- I am on day 6 of 120 Days of Sodom.  I already want to scrub my brain with steel wool, but I will press on!

I'm a little worried about #29.  I'm afraid the Harry Potter theme park will not be open in time for me to finish that one.  But progress is being made!  Click here for the latest pictures (or don't, if you would consider that "spoilers.")