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Paella

Paella is a typical Spanish dish which is cooked in a a round flat pan. It is ideal for a get together with friends and family.
There are hundreds of ways to cook a paella and every cook has their own favorite recipe.
A paella is very flexible and you don't have to use the exact ingredients. Make do with what you fancy or have in your larder.
This is one of the more popular versions.
To serve 8

1-2 dozen fresh mussels
a handful of cooked prawns 
1 cooked lobster (optional )
6-8 small chicken pieces
225 g ( 8 oz ) chorizo sausage, cut into portions
450 g ( 16 oz ) onions, chopped
4-5 cloves of garlic, crushed
4-5 red or green ( bell ) peppers, cut
225 g  ( 8 oz) cooked green peas
1-2 tablespoons of olive oil
450 g ( 1 lb ) short grain rice
450 lb ( 1 lb ) fresh tomatoes, deseeded and chopped
a pinch of saffron 
15 black Olives
salt and freshly ground pepper

1. wash the mussels a few times in fresh water, remove the beards 
   
2. put in a pan cover with enough water to reach 3 cm (1 inch) above the mussels.
   
3. cover lid tightly and cook until they are all open
   
4. discard any that refuse to open 
5. soak the saffron in a little water
6. strain, put aside, keeping the liquid as well 
   
7. in the Paella pan fry the chicken pieces until golden, remove and put aside
   
8. fry the onions until slightly brown
   
9. add the the peppers, tomatoes and garlic
   
10. stir in the rice and fry gently until all the oil is absorbed
    
11. reheat the mussel liquid, add water and the saffron, make it up to 1.2 litres ( 2 pints )
    
12. pour this stock into the pan, add the chicken, chorizo  
    
13. bring to the boil then lower the heat and leave to cook in the open pan gently until all the rice has been absorbed  
    
14. add the peas
    
15. garnish with the mussels, prawns, and olives
    
16. serve, absolutely delicious

Bon Appétit