Wednesday, 22 May 2013

Recipe for Spanish Chicken and Seafood Paella






INGREDIENTS 

2 garlic cloves, minced 8 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped 1g saffron strands or 1/2 teaspoon powdered saffron Coarse salt 1/4 l (1 cup, 8 ounces) olive oil50g (3/4 cup, 6 ounces) cured ham, chopped 100g (4 ounces) chorizo sausage, sliced 1 kg (2 1/2 pounds) chicken, cut into small pieces (about 14) 1/4 kg (1/2 pound) squid, cut into small pieces 1/4 kg (1/2 pound) halibut, cut into small pieces 1/4 kg (1/2 pound) swordfish, cut into small pieces 1/2 kg (1 pound) small or medium shrimp, shelled 1 medium onion, chopped 2 tomatoes, peeled and chopped 1 green pepper, chopped 1 red pepper, chopped 1/4 kg (1/2 pound) cooked small clams, in their shells 1/2 kg (1 pound) cooked mussels, reserve few shells for decoration 675g (3 cups, 1 1/2 pounds) short-grain rice 1 lemon 1 litre (4 cups, 1 3/4 pints) hot chicken broth 3/4 l (3 cups, 24 ounces) hot fish broth 1/2 kg (1 pound) large crayfish 
PREPARATION

PREPARATION
Heat olive oil in paella pan with a 15-inch (40 cm) base. You can also use any large flat round pan. Add chopped ham and chorizo. Fry, stirring for a few minutes. Remove and place on a warm platter. Add chicken pieces, sprinkled with salt, and fry over high heat until golden on all sides. Remove to warm platter. Add squid, halibut and swordfish. Sprinkle with a dash of salt and fry. Remove to warm platter.
Add shrimp and sauté about 3 minutes, or until barely pink. Remove to warm platter.

Add chopped onion, tomato and peppers. Sauté until soft. Return the cooked ham, chorizo, chicken, fish and shrimp to the paella pan. Add the parsley-garlic mixture. Add cooked clams and mussels. discard any that have not opened. Stir in rice, and juice of 1 lemon. Fry for 2 or 3 minutes. Pour over the hot chicken and fish broth, while stirring. Bring to a fast boil. Decorate with large crayfish around the edge of paella pan.

Simmer for 20 minutes, without stirring. Turn off heat and shake pan lightly to prevent rice from sticking.

Cover with dry towel for 10 minutes. This allows rice to absorb any excess broth.

Garnish with lemon wedges and parsley sprigs before serving. 


Almunecar - Granada




Almunecar has some good sandy beaches and a nice esplanade behind them, with palm-roofed bars (many offering free tapas) and restaurants. Beyond Nerja the road climbs inland, running high above the coast until it surfaces at La Herradura , a fishing village-resort suburb of Almunecar, which is a good place to stop off and swim, and which also has three seafront summer campsites , the best of which is La Herradura, the western most of the three. 

Half a dozen good-value Fondas and hostales ring the central Plaza de la Rosa in the old part of town; the cosy Hostal Altamar Situated in the heart of the historical town of Almunecar in one of those typical quiet walking zones. It takes just a 2 minute walk to get to the beach, and the Hotel La Najarra , are two of the best. For a campsite you're much better off at La Herradura as Almunecar's site, El Paraiso is at the eastern end of the seafront which can become overcrowded in the summer. 

The bus station , which has frequent connections to Malaga and Granada, is located at the junction of Avenida Juan Carlos I and Avenida Fenicia, northeast of the centre, while the tourism office can be found in an imposing neo-Moorish mansion on Avenida de Europa, behind the Playa San Cristobal beach at the west end of the town


Tuesday, 9 April 2013

The Benefits of Renting a holiday Home in Spain








When it comes to renting a holiday property or staying in a hotel what are the benefits of holiday rentals Spain.

Well holiday rentals in Spain offer outstanding value for money. With private holiday lettings you can save around 50% compared to the average family holiday stay in a hotel which leaves you more holiday spending money to enjoy yourself.

When searching for a holiday rental Spain there is such a huge variety  to choose from, Villas with Pools. Beachside apartments, rural properties, luxury homes, the choice is overwhelming. So whether your kids prefer a superb sunny villa with a swimming pool and Jacuzzi or you are looking for a nice quiet countryside retreat you will certainly find your ideal holiday rental property that suits your needs.
Spanish Holiday rentals offer you total privacy, so no need to worry about other guests, cleaners and other hotel staff as your space is totally yours to enjoy. And the great thing is you are not restricted to one or two rooms, your holiday home can be as big or s small as you wish from single roomed studio to a 10 bedroom villa.
Unlike hotel package holidays with a holiday rental you can freely make your own schedule as you go along, your not set to meal timetables, dining times etc, you can tailor your itinerary to  suit you and your family.
Renting a family home is a great way to spend quality time together in a relaxed holiday mode. You can invite your friends or family to enjoy a nice BBQ for fun  summer nights on the terrace or spend long days around the pool.
Private holiday rentals in Spain can be the perfect solution for pet lovers. There are plenty of pet friendly rentals to choose from around the world, you’ll not only be able to enjoy a great holiday for the whole family but save money on expensive kennel fees. What ever your Spanish holiday requirements are there are plenty of benefits to renting a property to enjoy a fantastic family holiday getaway.