Seafood Paella

I'm starting this post in my living room after making this dinner - and I thought it was Yummy.  Jakobe refused to eat it - He waited until after I cooked dinner to tell me: "I don't like mussels or calamari."  Needless to say - I'm a bit irritated.  He was with me when I bought the seafood, said yes when I asked him if he would eat it, and when I brought up the paella, he said it sounded good - even when I was double-checking with him.  

I guess it means more for me, but at the same time... I'm really irritated.  He want's me to stop modifying what I'm cooking by taking out all of the things I like and he doesn't, so he's stopped telling me he doesn't like something until after I've made dinner.  Then he's "Not Hungry."

I told him once long ago that it actually hurts my feelings when he won't even try something (He humored me by taking a bite of mine tonight), but I don't think it's really sunk in.  I like to cook - I love to cook.  But, I'm not going to spend 2 hours after work making paella for just me most of the time.  (okay, most of the time wasn't active cooking time - but you get the point)

***This is the moment while I was writing this that Jakobe asked what I was doing - I said that I was writing out the recipe for the paella - maybe someone would appreciate it - a major fight ensued.

The fight was good for us - at least when we're fighting we're talking to each other - or yelling.  In any case, it almost always means that we understand each other better when the fight is over - and it's over now.***

This is not a fix it fast recipe - but it's very very good.  A bit on the sweet side, and very rich.


Seafood Paella
Serves 4-6 depending on hunger level.

Ingredients:
3 slices thick cut bacon (I like the expensive dry-cured stuff)
2 chicken sausages (I used Aidell's Chicken and Apple)
1 lb Seafood Mix (Mussels, Shrimp, Bay Scallops, and Calamari rings)
2 sliced carrots
1 diced medium yellow onion
4 garlic cloves
2 diced tomatoes
1 T olive oil
3 cups hot chicken broth
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4-1/2 t saffron threads
1 T dried tarragon
Fresh Ground Black Pepper
1 can White Kidney Beans (drained)
1 1/4 cups long grain brown rice
1/4 -1/2 t crushed red pepper

Directions:  In a large measuring cup combine hot broth, Lemon Juice, Tarragon, saffron, crushed red pepper, and black pepper to taste.  Let it sit.  Chop up the bacon and add to a large frying pan - Cook over medium heat until mostly crispy.  Slice the sausages and add them to the bacon. Let them brown, stirring occasionally. While the bacon and sausage are cooking, cut up the carrots, onions and tomatoes.  Mince the garlic cloves.  Set all the vegetables aside.  Remove the sausage and bacon to a plate or bowl, leaving the drippings in the pan.  Sauté the vegetables in the bacon grease over medium high heat.   When they're soft (about 5-7 minutes) remove them to a bowl as well.  Pour the olive oil into the pan when it's warm, add the rice and then let it cook and stir for about 2 minutes.  Stir back in the vegetables and meats.  Add the beans.  Pout in the liquid and herb mixture, stir once and bring to a low boil.  Cover and cook on medium low heat for half an hour.  Put the seafood mix on top of the cooking rice mixture, re-cover and cook for an additional 20 minutes.  Remove the lid, and let the rest of the liquid cook off.  You're done!  Enjoy.