Saturday, 8 October 2016

Spain, Canary Islands- Seafood Paella

Spain, Canary Islands- Seafood Paella


Flag of Spain 


Flag of Canary Islands



This recipe came to me from a friend who lives on a lovely island just off the coast of southern Morocco called Canary Islands. It is group of seven Spanish speaking islands and its topography is similar to that of a few islands in the Caribbean with its volcanic mountain ranges and white and black sand beaches. It is the ideal location for astronomical observations due to it  with two Observation sites located on the islands. This dish is one you can find in any Spanish speaking country around the world.

Seafood Paella


Recipe


6            Chicken thighs
              Flour for dusting chicken as needed
1 tsp       Salt
1 tbsp     Black Pepper
4 tbsp     Olive oil
1 large    Onion
4 cloves  Garlic
1/2          Bunch of Parsley
2 L          Chicken Stock
1/2 tbsp   Saffron
1 tsp       Smoked Paprika
2 Cups    Rice
2 small    Squid 
1 can      Green Peas
10 large  Shrimp or Prawns (shell-on, whichever is easily obtainable)
2 cups    Mussels (cleaned) 
1            Lemon

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375F.
2. Quarter each piece of Chicken and season with salt and black pepper. Then dust with flour.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a deep frying pan and fry chicken until golden brown. Transfer to a baking tray and place in the oven for 20 minutes or until fully cooked.
4. Peel and chop onion, garlic and parsley.
5. Re-heat frying pan and add onion, garlic and parsley and cook until soft.
6. Add chicken stock to a separate pot and add half the saffron.
7. Add the smoked paprika, rice and half the stock to the pan with the onions, garlic and parsley and cook on a medium heat for 20 minutes while occasionally stirring it.
8. Halve the squid and score lightly with a knife.
9. After 20 minutes add the remaining stock, prawn or shrimp, mussels and squid to the pan and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
10. Add the cooked chicken and garnish with chopped parsley and serve with wedges of lemon.

- The Food Fool

Sunday, 2 October 2016

France- Tartiflette

FRANCE- Tartiflette



France dubbed The Country of Love, is home to what is considered the most romantic place on earth, Paris. However, in mountainous Pyreness in southern France, Tartiflette is a dish best enjoyed on a cold day after coming in from the snow while still bundled in your winter coats. It combines favourites such as potatoes, bacon and cheese into a warm wonderfully savory dish. 

Reblochon is characterized by its nutty taste that remains in your mouth. It is considered an essential ingredient in Tartiflette.

Pyreness


Tartiflette




Recipe 

5-6 small Irish potatoes
1/2 cup dry white wine- (Sauvigon Blanc preferably but any other is fine)
4 strips bacon
1 medium Onion- cubed
1 tbsp butter
1 wheel Reblochon cheese

Instructions

1. Heat frying pan over medium heat and bacon and fry. Remove from heat and cube.
2. Add cubed onions to the pan and fry until just being caramelized.
3. Cube potatoes into 1 inch cubes and place in baking dish.
4. sprinkle onions and bacon over potatoes.
5. add wine.
6. Slice Reblochon wheel horizontally and place crust side up.
7. Bake at 165C or until fork tender

I hope everyone can enjoy this savory dish. You will notice that no salt was added. the wine, butter, bacon and cheese contained enough salt for this dish.

- The Food Fool

Saturday, 1 October 2016

Foods Of the World

The world, it's big, its round, it's spherical and holds many mysteries; from undiscovered places, to untold stories of the past. it has seen it all. It has also experienced the cuisines of these many places. For us, the untraveled food lovers, accessing foods from these locations may seem like dream but fear no more, for I, The Food Fool, am here to bring these native dishes to your door.

- The Food Fool