"no More Fears" Paella

Certainly not the authentic paella, but my version is easy to fix and really worth the efforts! And don't leave out saffron, I found a very inexpensive ($ 5) small saffron container in the international ingredients section at Marshalls. You need only a pinch of saffron for this recipe. Visit my blogspace too for more of these (FEC) fast, easy, and cheap recipes at www.celebreaty4recipes.wordpress.com.

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1  lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1  green bell pepper, seeded and sliced into large strips
• 3  chicken breasts, sliced into thick strips
• 3  smoked sausage, sliced
• 1  large onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
• 1 (14 1/2ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 2  cups sweet rice (or arborio rice)
• 3  cups chicken broth
• 1⁄3 cup dry red wine (you can use dry white wine too)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon saffron thread
• 1  piece bay leaf
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 cup  frozen peas, thawed
• 1⁄2 cup  seafood (store-bought Seafood mix)
• 2  tablespoons  oil, for sauteeing

Directions

1. 1. Season shrimps (with 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black peper, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning and 1 tablespoon oil), cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate while sauteeing other ingredients.
2. 2. In a wok, sautee green bell pepper strips in little oil, transfer to a small bowl and set aside. Add more oil in the wok and cook chicken breasts strips, 3 minutes on each side. Move cooked chicken strips around sides of the wok, and add sliced chorizos or smoked sausages to hot oil. Brown chorizos for about 4 minutes. Transfer cooked chicken strips and chorizos in another bowl and set aside.
3. 3. Add about 2 tablespoons oil in wok and sautee onions until translucent. Add diced tomatoes with the juice and 2 cups of sweet rice. Stir until sweet rice is coated with the tomato mixture.
4. 4. Add chicken broth, wine, saffron threads, bay leaf, salt and cooked chicken and chorizos. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally.
5. 5. Transfer to a large aluminum tray or casserole dish and cover and bake in 350 F oven for about 15 to 20 minutes or until mixture is almost dry and rice is done. Uncover and arrange toppings (bell peppers, shrimps, peas and seafood mix. Cover and return to oven and bake for another 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let paella stand for another 5 minutes for rice to firm up and absorb more juices.