Saffron, Please!

Well, a couple days ago I got my first copy of Cooking Light. After giving the subscription as a gift for several years, I decided to get it for myself. I always say I'll try new recipes, but actually doing it takes time. I figured a magazine with descriptions and pictures would probably help motivate me to try something new.

Tonight, I did. With my husband in mind, I decided to steer clear of the chicken (since we ALWAYS have that because I don't eat red meat... well, not often. If Dusty shoots a deer I will will have some of his venison. And once in awhile I'll have a BLT. Occasionally I make Pea Soup and include ham for Dusty, but that's beside the point) and step into the seafood world.

I found a recipe called "Shrimp with Lemon-Saffron Rice." The description sounded good. It was supposed to have a kick which I know Dusty likes, so I decided to give it a try. I stopped by Piggly Wiggly on my way home to pick up the ingredients. After help from the Produce Department man to find Saffron, we had a nice discussion of whether or not Saffron was worth $11.50 for the smallest portion imaginable, as well as if there was a way to substitute Saffron with other ingredients. I thanked him for his time and ended up saying, "No matter how great Saffron is supposed to be, I refuse to pay that much for it."

Once I got home, I pulled up Google and looked for Saffron substitutes... which by the way, there are none. People suggested this and that, but as my husband said, it's like trying to substitute copper for gold. Feeling defeated, and not wanting to ruin my first new recipe of the year, I text messaged Dusty to see if he'd be willing to pick up some crazy-expensive Saffron for me on his way home. He did.

As I waited for his return this evening, I got all the ingredients ready. I had them measured out and sitting happily just like they do in the cooking shows on Food Network. I was feeling quite proud. Once everything was cooking, I was excited to see what he'd think of a new recipe- one where I didn't cut out or halve all the "bad" ingredients, and included something I don't normally cook with- shrimp.

When it was done, I measured out my serving and thought it was quite good (don't forget I have a very limited sense of taste and smell right now). He ate his plate, set it down, and said nothing. "So, what'd you think?" I bravely asked. "Eh...." I decided to make it easy for him and put some words into his mouth. "Would you eat it again, or should I remove it from my recipe box?" His response: "I'd eat it again, but...." "It's not your favorite?" I filled in. "Yeah." he replied.

First new recipe of the year: FAIL.
Satisfied Husband: Fail (He's in the kitchen searching the cupboards.)
Would it have still failed without the Saffron? Yes.
Was the Saffron worth $11.50? I don't think so.
Do I know more now than I did back then? Yes.
Adding to Stephanie's knowledge: Win.
New recipe next week? One with chicken. =)


I want chickens of my own, btw, but that's for another time... (and not to kill, pluck, and eat, but for other reasons).

Happy Thursday!