The Secret to Preparing the Perfect Paella

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According to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, paella is a saffron-flavored dish made with varying combinations of rice, vegetables, meat, chicken and seafood. The Dictionary also explains that in the Old French and Catalan languages, paella means frying pan or pot. The traditional paella pan is flat and of large diameter, it can also have handles on each side.

In fact, paella is one of the most versatile dishes to make. Paella also has the advantage of being great to clean out the fridge and use up leftover meats and vegetables. Any combination will eventually be great the secret is in the chemistry. Paella is a dish that is generally made to feed several people. Moreover, paella is quite flavorful the next day as the tastes have had time to mix together and become stronger.

This article is not a recipe but rather an outline that describes the three basic steps to follow to make a wonderful paella while leaving the reader (the chef!) the latitude to be creative and to make the dish their own by customizing it to their taste.

First the rice.

Select a type of rice that you are comfortable using. Feel free to experiment but know that paella contains a lot of ingredients and if you are unhappy with the end result with a particular type of rice, you might end up with a lot of waste. Basmati, brown or a mix with wild rice can add great taste and texture. Follow the instructions on the package with regards to washing and cooking the rice. Finely chop some onion, garlic and tomato. Heat a saucepan and add olive oil once the saucepan is hot (make sure that the oil does not start smoking. Burnt olive oil is carcinogenic and quite unhealthy). Once the oil is hot, throw in the uncooked rice. Frying uncooked rice gives it a nutty taste. Let the rice fry in the saucepan for a minute or so. Add the chopped onion, garlic and tomato until they soften, mixing constantly. Spice with saffron, salt and pepper. Feel free to experiment. Cumin, Cayenne various fine herbs or even a bit cinnamon or cloves can easily be added for a flavoring of your own. This mixture should not be on the stove for more that three to five minutes. At high heat with constant mixing, none of the ingredients should stick but they should mix well together and soften. Once all the ingredients are combined, remove the saucepan from the burner and mix in some frozen peas. Add enough peas to make a well balanced mixture.

Second the meat.

In a frying pan at high heat, brown some pieces of chicken. Upper thighs, drumsticks, breasts...it's all good. Do not cook the meat completely but brown the outside. Once browned, set the meat aside. Lamb can also add great flavor to your paella.

Third combining it all.

Cover the bottom of the paella pan with the uncooked rice mixture. Add the browned chicken pieces on top. Add uncooked Merguez (spicy lamb sausages) and small fish filets rolled up and fastened with a toothpick or string. Use any type of fish but make sure that its flesh will hold well together. Pour some chicken broth on top (if the broth is warm the cooking time will reduce). Note that you can also add wine for more flavor. Cover the paella dish and cook for about 45 minutes at 350F or until the rice is cooked. At this point you can add raw shrimp or muscles and cook uncovered for another five minutes.

In short, the secret to preparing the perfect paella is to make it your own!

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One of my favorite no-bake cake recipes is the rich, delicious, Butterfinger Cake. If you’re looking for a quick and easy, yet delectable, dessert to prepare for any occasion, a Butterfinger Cake always proves to be a real crowd-pleaser.The ingredients needed for this scrumptious dessert include:

• 1 Angel Food Cake
• 4 Egg Whites
• 2 cups Powdered Sugar
• 1 Stick of Butter
• 1 (16 oz.) of Cool Whip
• 6 Butterfinger Candy Bars

To begin, separate 4 egg whites and beat them until they become fluffy;

add the stick of melted butter, powered sugar, and cool whip into a bowl; stir until well-blended. Use a 9 x 13” pan to pinch up half of the Angel Food cake into small pieces, filling the bottom of the pan. Next, pour half of the Cool Whip mix over the cake pieces. Then take 3 of the Butterfinger candy bars and smash them into small bits (pounding them while still in the wrapper with a coffee cup works well for me). Sprinkle the pieces over the top of the cake and Cool Whip mix already prepared in your pan. Repeat the steps, using the remaining Angel Food cake, Cool Whip mix and candy bars to make layers.

I also like this recipe because you can personally tailor the recipe by substituting some of the main ingredients. If Butterfingers aren’t your favorite candy bar, or if you are watching your calories, don’t dismiss the recipe yet. You can substitute and add any brand of candy bar (although the easier to smash into smaller pieces, the better). You may also look for packages of candy bars that come pre-prepared in “bite” sizes.

If you are preparing a Butterfinger cake for yourself or friends, and want to cut out some of the calories, there are a couple of substitutes that you can use. Try using health or nutrient bars in lieu of candy bars. Also, use low calorie Cool Whip to trim down on some of the calories.

Regardless of the ingredients you decide to add or substitute, Butterfinger cake is simple and easy to prepare, even for us novices.

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