Our Spanish Dinner

18 years ago

If you're a CF regular, you know that for the last couple of months there's been little or no time in my life for any creative cooking. This weekend I decided to break out and do something fun and invited another foodie and her boyfriend for a Spanish meal on Saturday night. I've been dying to make a real paella after our visits to the Spanish Market, La Tienda. In fact nearly 9 months ago I bought a paella pan, some Valencia rice and paella spice mix and had never used it. Seemingly, we end up entertaining someone who can't or won't eat shellfish, meat or is a really picky eater. I decided that enough is enough and planned my meal. Of course I didn't return home from the 3 markets until 4:30, but I went full speed ahead and had everything prepped or finished by 7:15 when they arrived.

Our guests brought the wine and I had the sherry and the {{gwi:1521796}} waiting.

We had two Spanish cheeses from Whole Foods--one was a Manchega, I don't recall the other's name--and something called a Mitica which was a dense fig cake with almonds. Note the earthenware plate that Cathy sent me in a swap holding TJ's olive tapenade (didn't like it), almonds and small sweet peppers. The "tortas" were a large cracker from Spain and were delicious-sweet and savory at once with anise seed and olive oil. We topped them with a piece of proscuitto which was a perfect pairing of salty, sweet and crunchy. These crackers were a neat find at Gelson's (our local upscale market). We also had membrillo (quince paste) to pair with the cheese and thin slices of a crusty baguette.Mmmm!

The {{gwi:1521797}} was inspired from something that I had just seen Jain/bluemoon make recently. Butter lettuce with red onion, avocado and fresh orange slices. The dressing ( did you note in the appetizer photo the little pottery jug that Jimtex sent?) was concocted using blood orange vinegar, a drop of sherry vinegar, orange olive oil (*bought with Jessy, Diana and Weed last winter at the Epicurian Imports open house)and a drop of sugar to offset the bite of the vinegar. The citrusy flavor was the perfect compliment to the paella.

I had prepped the paella up to the point of adding the liquid and the seafood. When we were close to eating my friend who was raised in Boston helped me to cook the clams and mussels --something that usually overcook. She also taught me to rinse the prawns before cooking with white vinegar who rid it of the fishy smell from being frozen and defrosted. It worked like a charm! The liquid in the paella recipe was a bit too much for my pan, so it {{gwi:1521798}} and made a bit of a mess.

Finally the paella was {{gwi:1521800}}!

Dessert was assorted fruit sorbets, cookies and coffee.

It was loads of fun cooking and entertaining foodies and it's only whet my appetite even more for a trip to Spain and the Canary Islands!

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Comments (16)

julie7549
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
That all looks very good!!
jimster
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Very nice! It's a refreshing change from what I would normally serve and you've got me thinking about emulating what you did.

What a great assortment of flavors. Manchega is a favorite of mine. I've never met a sheep's milk cheese I didn't like.

Jim
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wizardnm
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Ellen, very interesting, I'd love it. Sounds like a really fun evening.

Nancy
Marigene
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Sounds like a fun evening. The paella looks delish!
canarybird01
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Good for you Ellen! You did a nice job and I'm sure you and your guests had a fun time preparing and dining on that lovely dinner!

Manchego is one of our favourite cheeses and we always seem to have a large wedge of it in the fridge for nibbles and snacks together with olives and those little green peppers, pimientos de padron. And those tortas are sold here in our supermarkets as well.

Yes you would enjoy a foodie's trip to Spain (try the island of Mallorca) and the Canary Islands!

Today I stumbled upon a website about Mallorca which has little videos including one about a rustic restaurant in Palma called Sa Premsa which was a favourite of mine and my daughters. I see they have taken away the plastic grapes that used to hang over our heads while we dined, but it seems they have kept the traditional feel about the place. It was pure Mallorcan style food, it was cheap and we loved dining there with friends.

Here's another little video of a typical place in Palma near the seafront. Here again you can see what simple Spanish food looks like in its home setting.

SharonCb
homesforsale
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Senorita~

It all looks good..and FUN.
User
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Ellen what a great spread. That Paella looks to pretty to eat but I bet it was delicious. You have me thinking it's time to do something different too.
Gina_W
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Wow, that looks so good! You'll have to come down here and get a larger paella pan before the next party.

;-)
compumom
Original Author
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Thanks everyone! Gina, you're right,I need to come down and get some more of their wonderful olives, more fried tomato and other goodies! The paella was delish and fun!
kathleen_li
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
That looks delicious, Ellen! I am sure your guests were delighted!
mustangs81
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Hey great job Ellen!

I cooked a Spanish dinner for Peppi and Sherry when they were here a few weeks ago but I wasn't as ambitious as you. And now that I see your paella pan, I have three (sm, med, and lg) and should have taken the opportunity to use them--shucks!
beanthere_dunthat
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
What fun!

And I really like that pitcher you're using as a vase. Very pretty!
jessyf
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Ah I can smell the saffron from here. I'm hungry again, and I just finished dinner!
lakeguy35
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Ellen, I know you've been buried at work for a long time now and it's great to see you had a chance to have some down time with food and friends. Thanks for sharing your evening with us! Love the pics pal!

David
Solsthumper
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Ellen, your dinner estchÃ©vere! Spanish for: "kicks butt."

You're lucky to've found Membrillo; I can no longer get that locally, so I've been thinking of making it myself.

In Cuba, we often snacked on Membrillo and Queso Blanco. I love Manchego, but it was nonexistent on the island, so Membrillo was typically served with Queso Blanco. Match made in Heaven.

Sol
compumom
Original Author
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Sol, send me your address and the next time that I get down to La Tienda, I'll send you some. I think I might have seen it at Whole Foods and definitely at Gelson's, but the one from La Tienda has been great and has stayed fresh for a long time!

Our Spanish Dinner

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Our Spanish Dinner

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