Paella

Paella is a favorite dish of ours.  It is a Spanish meal made of rice, vegetables, and typically seafood.  While on my study abroad is Spain, my Spanish family made it almost every Sunday.  My Spanish mom, Helen, taught me and my good friend, Natalie, how to make it.  I remember a few Sunday mornings helping her cut up the peppers and talking to her about Spain.  Since being back I have made it a few times, and it always brings back good memories. The name Paella actually comes from the two words "para ella" or "for her." This is a dish that the Spanish men would traditionally cook on Sundays for their wives and named the meal accordingly.  

After grilling the onions and peppers, you add rice to the mix and sauté it all together.

Then you add meat (chicken and Spanish chorizo), broth, and the secret ingredient....

....Saffron, a special spice that turns the rice yellow and gives it a delicious flavor.

The Paella is decorated with grilled peppers and peas just like the picture above. It often also has clams and shrimp, sometimes crab, but today we just made it with chicken.