Originally Posted by
JBord
Paella and lasagna are standing out to me. Thanks for all the great ideas. I love cassoulet but not sure my wife will go for that one, same with the duck. Prime rib is in the freezer and probably on the menu next weekend. Risotto is another one we haven't had in a while. I'm leaning toward paella since I've never made it before. That would require some good seafood, and I'm not making that trip this afternoon. So I'm now thinking about doing paella tomorrow night. It may be takeout tonight, but Saturday night paella would be a huge success. Way to come through on the ideas!
I don't have a paella pan, but I have a good, large stainless steel pan with maybe 2.5" sides. Will that do the trick? Otherwise a smaller cast iron.
The key to paella is a large flat-bottom pan. We do it in a 24" pan and an 18" pan (and for some dinner parties, do two versions and use both pans). I love paella!
We went down to our "local" for a drink and got one of their new menu items -- kimchi fries -- so now I'm not sure if I'm going to have dinner. If I do, I'm reheating purloo, which is the NC/SC version of paella. Ours has king salmon (from Sitka Salmonshares...such a beautiful piece I should have made sushi with it), smoked trout and bacon.
It's chilly enough out that we came home and I made a fire. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the last one of the season, and it's the first in at least 6 weeks. I'm finally getting feeling back in my fingers.
Anyone planning a special Passover seder? Three years ago we did a blow-out for about a dozen friends (Mr. CE was the token Jew). Two years ago we did a restaurant seder at Aba in Chicago, which is the best of the LEYE seders I've tried. (Mon Ami Gabi's is lousy.) We just realized Passover begins tomorrow night and we'll be at Topolobampo for Mr. CE's non-seder birthday dinner. Galit's seder looks awesome but is only tomorrow and is sold out. Any good Chicago (or suburb) recommendations for a Sunday take-out seder?