Cheddar Paella: Take That, Spain!

I just realized that it’s been awhile since I posted one of my vintage recipes.  What was I thinking? Oh, and I’ve had a few comments berating me for not including the actual recipe and just making fun of them.  Because I guess you really want to make what I am considering a disgusting abomination of food, right?  Well, I guess I’m one to pander to my few fans  - I will now include the recipe itself.

Well, here is one in honor of the Olympics beginning today:  the Cheddar Paella.  Nothing like taking Spain’s National Dish and ruining it by putting  a couple of cups of Kraft Cheddar all over it!  Using margarine bouillon cubes and not using olive oil are also somewhat of an atrocity.  The saddest part is that the picture actually has the paella in an authentic paella dish, so you can’t chalk this one up to not knowing what they are messing with. Why not just call it “Cheezy Seafood Casserole” and avoid the offense?

America, fuck yeah!

CHEDDAR PAELLA

from the 1973 McCalls Great American Recipe Card Collection

Serves 6 to 8

INGREDIENTS

1 dozen small clams, in shell

2 lb shrimp, deveined and shelled

4 Tbs salad oil

1 Tbs margarine

1 cup long grain white rice

1 tsp salt

1 bay leaf

1 chicken bouillon cube

2 cloves garlic, chopped

2 medium onions, peeled and chopped

2 green peppers, seeded and finely chopped

2 large tomatoes. peeled

½ cup pimiento green olives, sliced

2 tsp paprika

1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 ½ cup grated cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Wash clams and shrimp thoroughly.  Place clams in saucepan with 6 cups water; bring to boiling.  Ad shrimp; cook over high heat 5 minutes.  Remove from heat.
2. Pour off enough shellfish liquid to make 2 ¼ cups.  Set aside clams and shrimp in remaining broth. Keep warm.
3. Heat 2 Tbs salad oil and butter in 3-quart saucepan.  Add rice and stir to coat well.  Add reserved 2 ¼ cups liquid, salt, bay leaf and bouillon cube; bring to boiling; reduce heat and simmer, covered without stirring, 25 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 375F.  Meanwhile, in 2 Tbs hot oil in 6 quart Dutch oven, sauté garlic, onion and green pepper until green pepper is tender, about 10 minutes.
5. Chop tomatoes, Ad to sautéed vegetables with olives, paprika and cayenne pepper; cook 5 minutes longer.  Keep warm.
6. Drain shellfish, add with rice to tomato mixture; stir gently to blend.  Turn into paella pan or shallow 4-quart casserole pan.
7. Sprinkle cheese over top and bake 10-15 minutes in preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbly.

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