Mmmmm tonight I def. ate probably a little too much food. It all was so good though! Like I said earlier, Ryan and I went out for a wonderful dinner with my parents at this Spanish restaurant/tapas bar. I have been to the restaurant many times in the past and always enjoyed delicious food and really yummy sangria 🙂 I had a glass to start when I sat down tonight, and probably only drank one full glass throughout the night. I can’t be sure because the server kept refilling my almost full glass with the pitcher we had at the table but I really don’t think I drank too much.
We were all hungry and I immediately ordered some babaganoush to start (eggplant dip made with tahini, olive oil and garlic). It was delicious! I also picked at the hot sourdough bread they served at the table. Can’t resist that!
While my parents ordered tapas, Ryan and I ordered paella! I ordered the vegetable paella and asked for it not to be made with butter and chicken stock. It was absolutely without a doubt the best paella I have ever tasted! Full of roasted veggies and even better when I dumped on some hot sauce they brought to the table! Seriously though, my portion was probably large enough to serve an entire family and although I feel like I ate a TON, I don’t even think I ate half of it. That’s just fine with me though because I am totally bringing this home with me tomorrow and eating it for the next few days. I was so completely stuffed after dinner but we got home kind of early (around 8:30) and Ryan and I just watched TV for the next few hours. Even though I totally wasn’t hungry, I found myself craving something sweet so I snacked on half of a Nana’s peanut butter cookie (the big one). It hit the spot and now I’m ready to get in my pjs and call it a night!
Here’s a picture from tonight. As you can see I def. got a little too much sun out on the boat today!!
Nat
April 6, 2008 at 2:48 amOh, to be tanned!
ChocolateCoveredVegan
April 6, 2008 at 2:50 amEven with too much sun, you still look beautiful! That paella looks beautiful as well.
Meghan
April 6, 2008 at 3:19 amMMM I love paella. My boyfriend learned to make great seafood paella from some of the people who work for his grandfather. It’s so great, I absolutely love dishes where everything is mixed together.
Your ban (burn-tan) looks like it will mellow into a true tan quite nicely and quickly! You look refreshed and ready for another round of classes!
I asked this question before but I think it got lost in some other discussion. Do you think I could add pineapple tidbits to the carrot cake recipe, and if so, how much would you say? Thanks so much!
Romina
April 6, 2008 at 3:20 amWow you look nice and tanned! Send some sunshine my way, it snowed here today.
Your paella and sangria look fantastic! =)
Julz
April 6, 2008 at 3:21 amYou look so beautiful Jenna! Love the pink 😉
And that Paella looks so good! I’ve never had Paella and can’t handle anything really spicy, bc I get such bad indigestion from spicy foods (sadly)! Is Paella something that is traditionally spicy, or is it more smokey flavor? You and Ryan really are so cute together, btw!
Rebecca
April 6, 2008 at 3:36 amBoth of you look so tan 🙂
What is paella? would you mind sharing the name of the restaurant, I love looking at menus to learn about different types of foods.
Rebecca
April 6, 2008 at 3:51 amSorry, one other question. Could you post your guacamole recipe?
erica
April 6, 2008 at 4:35 amAww, Jenna you look absolutely beautiful. 🙂
That paella is making my mouth water! I’d love to recreate that, it looks so delicious!
kay
April 6, 2008 at 4:38 amYou really got a tan!! It looks nice and healthy 🙂
You and Ryan are really a cute couple!! Love is in the air!!!! You must be excited about going back to Tampa (with no more crazy commutes). The best thing that I like about being with my husband is that after we go on dates, we get to go home together and stay together.
The food looks so good too 🙂
babycakes
April 6, 2008 at 4:48 amJenna, you have such natural beauty. I am always so struck by your pictures 🙂 Glad you and Ryan shared such a wonderful meal together. I too am jealous of your gorgeous warm weather. I have lived in Boston my whole life and can’t wait to move somewhere warm and sunny once I’m done with grad school!
Alice (in Veganland)
April 6, 2008 at 7:38 amOh, if you ever go to Spain please don’t think you’re going to have so many options! Paella is never made with chicken stock, you can go safe there. But for the rest… In college I couldn’t even eat at the university restaurant because even the salads are not vegetarian or vegan! And I had to ask “does this have meat?” and they’d say “no”. “And ham?”, “oh, yes, it has ham”.
Your meal looks great though, good thing you had such a nice time! But watch out with the sun!
Mel H
April 6, 2008 at 12:16 pmOhh Meghan, I second that question about pineapple- I’m kind of obsessed and eat it pretty much everyday!! haha!
Jenna, you and ryan look so cute and I’m sure you had a great time together! I’ve never heard of Paella, can you explain a little more about what it is? Have a great Sunday Jenna!!
ibex hk
April 6, 2008 at 12:18 pmyum, Paella looks awesome! It’s been so long since I’ve had some, I love all of the spices!! Glad your day on the boat was fun, by the looks of your tan (so jealous), looks like you avoided the rain, too, yay! Have a great last day of Spring Break 🙂
Em
April 6, 2008 at 12:28 pmWow that looks great! I’ve never had paella, but it sounds/looks yummy! It must have been fun to go out on the boat! I used to do that all the time in high school with friends that had boats…sometimes I really miss those days! And the picture of you and Ryan is adorable!
Have a great Sunday! : )
Bev
April 6, 2008 at 12:57 pmJenna, Just a question about the yummy carrots cupcakes. Do you use sea salt ? I found it to be a little to much. Do you grind it ? Other than that and I think I used to much sugar. They were sooooo good. You & Ryan make a cute couple. Very healthy with your tan . Do you use sun screen ?
jenna
April 6, 2008 at 1:13 pmBev,
I do use sea salt. I never measure things like that though–i always just toss in a pinch and have found it to work. For sugar–I used half brown sugar and half white sugar, cause that was what my mom had in her kitchen and I thought it worked well….hahah and yes, i do use sun screen. every day i put 30 on my face…no matter what i am doing—even if it is raining. I use 15 on my body.
jenna
April 6, 2008 at 1:14 pmPaella is a traditional spanish dish of, traditionally saffron rice and seafood, but there are different variations like the one I ate last night. Typically it includes green peas, traditional spices and is baked all together in the oven. it’s my favorite!
Mandy
April 6, 2008 at 2:00 pmYou two look so beautifully tanned! Can’t help but to be a little jealous – I live at high altitude, so we’re still dealing with snow and temps in the 30’s unfortunately! Sangria is such a fun summer drink! I love it! All other ladies out there still in the snow and cold – our turn will come!! 😉
Alice (in Veganland)
April 6, 2008 at 2:12 pmUh, no. Paella is not baked. At all.
First, vegetables are slightly fried (in olive oil but not too much) in the paella pan (my mother does it one sort of vegetable at a time). Then, they’re evenly distributed in the pan, and rice is placed in the pan. It’s the turn of the spices (mainly sweet paprika and saffron, ready to use mixes are used normally). And then, you pour twice the quantity of rice in water evenly over the pan, and you don’t touch it anymore. But it has to be done on the stove or on a fire. Never ever ever in the oven. And it can’t be mixed after the rice and water are added!
And it doesn’t necessarily include green peas, it’s not traditional. My favorite has tomatoes, green beans, and artichokes. Other typical vegetables are red pepper or asparagus, and sometimes chickpeas or white beans!
Sorry for the long answer, but I’m Spanish and HAD TO answer so long!! 🙂
happy herbivore
April 6, 2008 at 2:54 pmlove the pic of you & ryan! so cute & happy 😛
p.s. beautiful sangria!
Tina O.
April 6, 2008 at 4:20 pmOh I cannot wait to be sunburned! I know-horrible. It’s 53 deg. here, so its comng!
jenna
April 6, 2008 at 4:28 pmAlice knows MUCH more about paella than me so def. listen to her…not me! I have never made it before so really don’t know what I am talking about!
Vegan_noodle
April 7, 2008 at 11:49 pmYou and Ryan are so cute….