+=-My Guitar Obsession-=+

[-Thursday, March 29, 2012-]

Post No: #950

I made super yummy Paella for dinner!!! =)

I saw the Curtis Stone brochure (Less than $10 meals for your family) in Coles while out buying groceries and that particular photo of his Chicken and Chorizo Paella made me crave Paella.

Bought the ingredients needed, went home and broke out the new saute pan (30cm, it was huge and quite heavy!) from the cookware set I bought on KitchenwareDirect.com.au.

Because I don't like fresh tomatoes (go ahead, call me weird) and capsicums, I decided to chuck in sundried tomatoes and roasted capsicums (which come in a jar, and was also on sale) instead. And chicken wings cut into 2 instead of drumsticks cause they cook much faster. Added some herbs (oregano, basil and thyme) and chilli powder as well, probably not Spanish but it turned out delicious~

Considering I have never made Paella before, I would call this a success.

Putting up the recipe in case I forget what I put in it~

Chicken and Chorizo Paella (Serves 4)

*Note: Ensure that the pan you are using to cook the paella is oven-safe to at least 180°C, and a flat bottom for best results.

*Note: I used the measuring cup specific for measuring rice for the water and rice, if you are using a standard measuring cup, then it would be 720ml of water and 1.5 cups of rice.

*Note: I seasoned the chicken with 1/2 tsp of paprika, salt and pepper before browning. This is optional, I just think it gives a better flavor and color.

Ingredients:
- 1 Chorizo, sliced
- 4 Chicken Wings, separate the drumlets from the wings
- 4 Garlic cloves, chopped
- 1/2 brown onion, chopped
- 4 to 5 sun-dried tomatoes, cut into strips
- 1 Roasted Bell Pepper/Capsicum cut into strips (I used about 10 strips from a bottle)
- Small pinch of Saffron
- 4 Cups of water
- 1/2 tsp each of paprika, chilli powder, oregano, thyme and basil
- 2 Cups Rice, , washed and drained.
- 1 stalk scallion/spring onion
- Olive oil for stir-frying
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Some reduced salt chicken stock in case the rice dries out too much in the oven.

Steps:
1) Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced)
2) Bring 4 cups of water to boil in a saucepan, remove from heat and add in the saffron strands
3) In the paella pan (or whatever pan you are using to cook the dish), heat some olive oil
4) Brown the chicken pieces in pan, for about 5 minutes, remove from pan and set aside
5) Turn heat down to medium, add the chorizo into the pan, fry till brown
6) Add onions, garlic, capsicum, tomatoes and paprika, fry till onions are soft
7) Add in the rice and rest of the herbs, fry until dry and coated with oil
8) Add in the saffron water, bring to a simmer
9) Once at a full simmer, put the chicken pieces back in, evenly spaced
10) Season with salt and pepper
11) Placed the whole pan into the oven, and cook uncovered for 30minutes or until chicken and rice are cooked through. If the rice seems to be too dry, add some chicken stock to help it cook.
12) When done, remove from oven, garnish with chopped spring onion and let it stand for a few minutes before serving.

-According to Curtis Stone, a good paella should have crispy sides! I was really happy with mine, the top of the paella was crispy while the inside stayed nice and moist.

*Note: The original recipe said Medium grain rice, but I had long grain rice and it turned out fine

Enjoy!

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Labels: Recipes

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['-Ah_Ying-'] ;12:40 AM;

[-Tuesday, March 27, 2012-]

Post No:#949

You know what pisses me off?
When people decide to put up photos of you in the middle of an action (eating and talking are the most annoying ones), which you have no idea they took, on Facebook!

You really think that's funny? To have photos of people in the midst of eating (food hanging out of their mouths) and talking (open mouths, animated actions, tongues out, pursed mouths, weird faces/eyes) etc?!

Oh and then go on and tag me to see my reaction...And in order not to appear unfriendly I have to go like "omg? LOL~" etc, when I don't think it's funny at all. Har-de-ha-ha, what about I put up a photo of you in the middle of constipation, or while you are drooling in your sleep, or singing in the shower?! Just imagine yourself in my shoes, you still think it's funny?

I already know how ugly I am, thanks for reminding me every opportunity you have that I am the ugliest in the group. I bet hanging out with me makes you feel so much better about yourself.

Oh actually it's not just those photos, it's also photos where I already told you not to put them up or to delete them but for some reason you decided that it would be funny to put it up~ Awesome job guys, you are now on my hate list.

And then you get so dramatic when I put up un-glam photos of you...Revenge is sweet baby.

Freaking nutjobs

Obviously a rage post not directed at you.

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Labels: Everyday's Post, Rants

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['-Ah_Ying-'] ;5:35 PM;

[-Friday, March 23, 2012-]

Post No:#948

Blog Design Overhaul!!!!

=) Am loving the new blogskin so far. Haven't make blogskins in ages and this took 6 hours (0.o") to complete including the HTML/CSS coding which I had totally forgotten and needed major help from W3schools.com. It's an awesome website if you are looking to learn HTML or CSS!

The banner was custom made by Yan Hao a few years ago, and I have used it as my desktop background, I thought that it would be great for a blog cause it's a really simple design, not much frills at all with a neutral colored background. can you see the face of a lion on the banner? Well at least I think it's a lion~ XD

How do you like it? I think it's a great change from the black skins that I have always had previously~ Something nice and bright for a change. Popped the blog right in the center instead of on the left hand side, increased the size of the skin and font too (now people will stop telling me my blog's turning them blind~).

And it's about time for a new song don't you think?

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Oh and you know how I just blogged about Pinterest yesterday?! I received the invitation to join today!!! Took a couple of days but I am now officially on Pinterest. It's great for saving the things I see on the web without actually bookmarking it and for things that always capture my attention like interior designs and wedding styles~ Not that those are happening anytime soon of course.

Anyway, I am tired and hungry....

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Labels: Blogskins, Everyday's Post

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['-Ah_Ying-'] ;6:02 PM;

Post No: #947

Been surfing Pinterest ever since I discovered it...(about 2 days ago, yes I know I am slow and outdated). If you don't know what Pinterest is, check it out!

Pinterest is full of ideas, it is basically pinning things that interest you onto the boards hosted on the site. I haven't been able to join it yet cause it's "Invitation Only" so either you get someone who's already in it to invite you or you enter your email into the "Request Invitation" box and cross your fingers that an invitation arrives soon!

I found out a lot of websites through it where I learnt a couple of tips and tricks for the homemaker, which I will be posting up today, with a couple of pictures and links!

1) Flexible vacuum: To vacuum in those tight spaces such as under your fridge without moving the fridge, fit an empty paper towel roll on the hose end of your vacuum, the other end of the cardboard can be bent and flattened for those awkward spaces!

2) The power of baking soda: Multiple uses for baking soda, everything from whitening clothes, getting rid of tough stains on cookware, getting rid of soap scum deodorizing to whitening teeth and soothing insect bites!

3) Tired of taking apart your blender to clean it after every use? Add a little dish soap, fill it with water and turn it on for a few seconds. Empty out your soapy water and rinse. Voila, all clean!

4) How to properly fold fitted sheets on Marthastewart.com (Click here for link to step-by-step):

5) Keeping marshmallows in a container with brown sugar (Original post: HERE ), helps to prevent the brown sugar from hardening!

6) Clean your mattress! (Original post: HERE) with baking soda too!

7) Coffee Filters are good for cleaning too! They are lint-free and soaks up oil well making them great for cleaning glass items (gonna use it for my car windscreen and windows~). Filtering other liquids like oil for reusing or if you happen to drop pieces of cork into wine.

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On another note...My bed frame almost fell apart!!!!! The solid wood bed frame started squeaking last year (yes, due to the increasing weight on top of it =P), and today I noticed that the end board made from 3 pieces of wood (2 vertical ones on the ends and a large, horizontal on between them) was separating at the joints!

Took the bed apart and found that one of the side rails had a crack down 1/3 of it's length and that the dowels in the joints were loose....Well, luckily I had some "Liquid Nails" super strength adhesive that claims to hold just about anything together and for filling cracks.

So I went through the process of gluing in the dowels into their holes and fixing up the end board and turning it on its end to help the glue set right. Put some into the crack so hopefully that doesn't fall apart. Gonna put it back after the weekend since I am staying at Phoenix's anyway, if it still doesn't work then it's off to Ikea for the MALM or NYVOLL bed frames!

Alright, it's getting late! Toodles~

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Labels: Ramblings, Randoms, Rants, Websites

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['-Ah_Ying-'] ;1:00 AM;