Arroz con Pollo, or Chicken & Rice...

....no matter what you call it, it's pretty tasty.  Another new recipe from my Joy of Cooking cookbook.  I swear, this book has never steered me wrong!  Easily the best money I've ever spent on a cookbook.  It really seems like no matter what I try from its pages, it is guaranteed to be delicious.


The chicken was not as tender as I would have liked it, and I'm not sure if it was just a tough piece of chicken to begin with or if I overcooked it.  Chances are, it's because I overcooked it.  I tend to do that... probably because, quite frankly, chicken scares the crap out of me!  All the reports I read about salmonella - not just regular-make-you-sick-for-a-couple-of-days salmonella, but antibiotic-resistant salmonella that will absolutely tear you inside out and wring out your guts for you... Too graphic?  Maybe. But that's what I think about when I consider eating undercooked chicken.  So I guess I can gladly deal with tough meat now and again...

I've never cooked much with paprika, but I'm really developing a fondness for the smoky spice.  It really goes well with rice, infusing it with a lot of flavor and a really gorgeous orange-red color.  The frozen peas, thrown in right at the end, add a great splash of color and a nice fresh taste to it as well.


The garlic bread, toasted on a griddle, probably added more starch than what is good for me...but I couldn't help myself. I have a severe weakness for breads and pastas, and I just couldn't let my loaf of bread get stale, could I?  Nope, definitely not. :)