Paella is a elegant dish that looks impressive yet very easy.

Paella

20 inch paella pan or adjust accordingly

1/4 cup olive oil

3 onions, chopped

1 green and 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and cut into slices

3 3/4 cups short grain rice

1 1/2 quarts stock of your choice

large pinch of saffron threads, soaked in boiling water

3 cloves garlic, crushed

salt and pepper, to taste

1 lb. cleaned squid

1 lb. raw smoked ham, cut into strips

1 lb. Spanish chorizo sausage, cut into slices

1 1/2 lbs. tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped

2 cups green peas

1 lb. cod or haddock fillets, cut into strips

1 1/2 lbs. raw, unpeeled shrimp

3 lbs mussels or clams in shells, washed and cleaned

Heat the oil and cook the onions and peppers until soft but not brown. Add the rice and cook stirring, until grains are transparent and oil is absorbed. Add the stock or water, saffron, garlic, salt and pepper. Add the following ingredients in layers: Squid, smoked ham, chorizo, tomatoes, peas and fish. Bring liquid to a boil and boil fairly rapidly until all liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. Stir from time to time , adding more water or stock if liquid evaporates before rice is completely cooked. Ten minutes before the end of cooking, set shrimp and mussels or clams on top and no longer stir. Keep warm over very low heat for 5-10 minutes to allow the flavors to mellow.