Easy cooking for effortless entertaining Part 2 - Paella on a budget!

If you have a swimming pool, you will always have friends and children in your home who do not normally live there. Please do not think that I am complaining...I love it, in fact I would much rather have other children playing here than my children going somewhere else...you know the mother-hen syndrome! This does however mean that unexpected quests will always arrive and I have this urge to always want to feed people which is a good thing right??? Well, to be honest it can put strain on any budget and therefor I am trying to think of clever ways to stretch my food budget without having to cut down on entertaining.
So why not invite friends over for a swim, a game of cards or watch a ball came and make this easy budget friendly paella. If you want to add more ingredients like chicken, fish or shellfish go ahead there is nothing stopping you! I kept it simple and used just what I had available!

Paella on a budget
Ingredients

500gr good quality sausage - cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces.
500ml raw rice
1 cup white wine
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 yellow pepper - sliced
1 red pepper - sliced
1 onion - sliced
2 cloves garlic -crushed
250gr cocktail tomatoes
125ml frozen peas
125ml frozen corn
salt/pepper
squeeze of a lemon
1.25liters vegetable stock - use about 4 cups at first and add the rest as needed.
fresh parsley - chopped
1 chopped chili - optional

Heat a little oil in a deep skillet or wok and cook the sausage until nicely browned. Keep aside. Use the oil that has rendered from the sausage and brown the onion and garlic. Add the peppers and fry for about 2 minutes. Add the rice and stir until all the rice grains are covered in oil. Now add the wine and stock, cover the wok or skillet with foil or a lid and cook until rice is soft. If the water evaporates before the rice is ready, add more stock. When the rice is ready add the peas, corn, tomatoes and sausage pieces and cover for just another 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper if needed.
Sprinkle with chopped parsley and a squirt of lemon juice and serve a little hand bowls around the pool.



Please do not forget to go and have a look at our blogger friend, Cynthia Nelson's new book. You can read a short review and order your own copy by clicking here!