paella party [a poor attempt at food blogging]

After graduation we headed back to the lake for Paella.  Paella is party food.  Especially when paired with sangria.   We used this recipe from Tyler Florence - The Ultimate Paella.  We alter it a little - we pre-cook the rice and skip the clams.  We don't enjoy clams.  

The setting.

The goods.  My mom pre-measured everything so it was totally ready to go.
My mom is so awesome.

The chefs.  

(What Elise did while we were making dinner.)

She's just the sweetest.

To start, cook the chicken and chorizo in olive oil.

When cooked, remove it from heat and set it aside.  We'll need it later.  

Add the onion and garlic and parsley.  Saute until delicious looking. 

Add the tomatoes.  Since our rice was pre-cooked, we had chicken stock nearby to add for extra juicy-ness.  

Add the rice.  If you don't pre-cook the rice, the fun cooking process becomes an unbelievable long cooking process where everyone is too hungry to have fun.  Add all the rice and chicken stock and smoosh (technical term) it all in and let all the goodness sink in.  

Sit back and relax like Uncle John...

Take pictures of cute people.  

Mom and her littlest.  

Aubrey and Erika (the graduates!) didn't even plan to coordinate their outfits.

After the rice is ready add back the chicken and chorizo. 

Stir it all in and do some more smooshing.  

Add the shrimp.  We're almost done!  

When the shrimp is about half way done add the peas.  Ya know - for color and your daily serving of vegetables.  

Stir and smoosh.  Take in the view.  It's time to eat!

Hug your cousin.  

Play some bag toss.  

Add the lovely garnish (parsley & lemons).

Close-up.  Just call me Pioneer Woman.  

Say a little prayer.  Gotta thank Jesus for this goodness.  

Peek at Elise while praying...

Serve it up!  

Elise approves.  She mostly ate bread. 

It was so good we'll probably do it all again this weekend with Lauren and Carl because they missed out this time.  I just love summertime at the lake.  I think my dad does too - Elise and I didn't leave for over 48 hours...I'm pretty sure everything was covered in sand. 

Such a fun weekend.  We ate way too much paella, drank a little too much sangria, and had such a great time with our family.