Perky ‘Paella’

Perky 'Paella'

Paella is a wonderful rice dish that originated in Valencia Spain. It is a flavorful combination of ingredients cooked in a ‘Paella pan’ which is a round shallow pan with side handles. There are actually many types of Paella including Valencian, vegetarian, seafood and mixed.  Today’s ‘Paella’ is a mixed, free-style version in which I used Spanish chorizo, boneless chicken thighs, large shrimp and a combination of jasmine rice and fine egg white noodles along with saffron and other spices. This is the perfect meal to cook as a couple…grab a bottle of your favorite wine…I recommend a Spanish Rioja…pour a glass and share the stove! Continue reading

Skirt Steak with Caramelized Red Onions & Chimichurri

The first time I ever tried skirt steak was at one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia, Alma de Cuba. What a flavorful piece of meat! They serve a fabulous Vaca Frita; pan seared skirt steak with a side of black beans, white rice and tomato escabeche. Delicious! Since we recently had our nephew-in-law Aquilino visiting for the evening, I decided to recreate this meal for my husband and our guest. My recipe is a mixture of Cuban and Argentinean flavors since I topped it off with caramelized red onions and a delightful chimichurri sauce. Loving the flavors of the chimichurri, I decided to make a rice that combined those ingredients. Alongside the Skirt Steak and Chimichurri Rice, I served red beans and maduros. It was a big hit with the guys!    Continue reading