I know a lot of you have been waiting patiently for the details of our paella party. Here you go!
The party started the day before when Vickie arrived and Jeff, Crystal and Teague joined us for some brainstorming about the fire and flow of the party. Pizza and beer followed. A pre-party is always fun.
Sunday we all woke early and Eric got the fire started. Early, y’all. It was blazing by 10 a.m. and was ready for the paella pan by 3 p.m. And then Eric cooked. And cooked. And cooked some more. We have realized that the paella still takes about 3 hours to prepare. But we were ready this time.
I hope you will allow me a hooky today to play with besties Vickie and Holly. We had our paella party last night and I will be back this week with all the details.
Remember on Wednesday, when I nabbed that cozy chair at Victor’s house and said it would be the perfect place to curl up with a good book? I found the book.
Actually, I found a boodle of them at Book Swim, a new service that’s like Netflix, but instead of movies, you receive books. Isn’t that cool? Here’s the press release from lovely Marita Burke:
The happiest time of the year is also the busiest and most expensive time of the year! Make your holiday hosting plans a little easier (and affordable!) this year with the help from BookSwim. Rent books to teach you everything from how to create spectacular decorations to making the best Eggnog. It’s the perfect way to come up ideas for those picky in-laws. Plus, when the holidays are through, you can send each book back, cutting down on clutter (a New Year’s resolution?) and allowing you, also, to rent all new and updated books the following year!
You and your guests can even gather on the couch and enjoy a Christmas classic like The Night Before Christmas!
Limited Plans
1 book per month: $9.95/month, $3.99 outgoing shipping
I love the unlimited plan. This way I can read three cookbooks at one time and enjoy them at my leisure. They go back in a pre-paid envelope when I am finished.
Loving all the holiday titles right now. I can’t help myself! And lookie, here’s a book from Ree, The Pioneer Woman – one of the web’s first food bloggers.
I bet you are getting ready for Labor Day. Me, too. Eric and I are hosting around 70 of our nearest and dearest for paella in the backyard. Someone asked me the other day how I do it. My response was that it is just as easy to cook for 70 as 10 friends. You just add extra chicken. lol
Remember last year’s paella soiree? We learned a lot from last year’s bash.
First, we will build a big wood fire this year. No wimpy propane for us. And we will start the fire early. Eric plans on having the fire up and roaring by 9 a.m. so we can eat at a decent hour. Last year it took 3 hours for that paella to cook and everyone was half in the bag by dinner. Now everyone will only be 1/4 in the bag by dinner, so that’s an improvement.
Secondly, we are asking our darlings to bring wine, beer and booze. That stuff skyrockets a party budget. Everyone is in a bit of an economic crunch these days, so our buddies are happy to contribute.
Thirdly, this year we will buy cleaned and deveined shrimp. Holly and I spent a billion hours peeling and deveining the four pounds of shrimp last year. Not this time.
Dessert will be paletas, or in english, popsicles. As I write this, the strawberries are bubbling on the stovetop with sugar and strawberry nectar. They will go into our popsicle molds and I will start all over again tomorrow with a new flavor. Maybe Mexican chocolate would be good. And easy. Pretty much just chocolate milk with cinnamon. That would be good. When you are making 70 popsicles, easy is key.
Here’s a link to the recipe we’re using. It says it will feed 25-30, but don’t you believe it. It will easily feed 60. With leftovers. Seriously. Maybe 25-30 linebackers.
Some of my favorite shots from last year.
Rick, Teague and Eric discuss the browning of the chicken
I love the look on Eric's face as he stirs this monster...
Have you ever met folks and just knew you all would be great friends? My new friend Victor is one of those folks. Victor is an image consultant and just the loveliest person. Our mutual friend Elizabeth introduced us and on Sunday we all met at Victor’s house for brunch. His house is one of those wonderful places you immediately feel at ease and could stay for hours.
