What do you do with an empty (ORANGE!) caldero? (A recipe and giveaway)

Let me tell you about the big plans I had for this past week when I got back from Texas:

1. I was going to cook a big, fat pot of arroz con pollo.
2. I was going to cook it in my new big, fat ORANGE (!) caldero from IMUSA USA (which totally matches my Fiesta dishes, but that's not important right now).
3. I was going to do a video and teach you how I make it.
4. I was going to give away an ORANGE (!) caldero (it looks fabulous on my stove) to one lucky MBFCF reader.

What I didn't count on...

1. I didn't count on being exhausted both physically and emotionally when I got back.
2. I didn't count on getting that scratchy-throat-fevery-oh-no-it-might-be-strep thing which has me super run down.

So I'm staring at this empty ORANGE (!) caldero (and totally loving it, by the way) and feeling guilty. In that intense, Cuban, swim-around-in-it-until-your-fingers-get-pruney-from-the-guiltiness way.

What to do?

1. Share my friend, Ana's recipe for Jambalaya, which she geniusly makes in this same beautiful ORANGE (!) (orange is the new black, you know) caldero.
2. Host the giveaway anyway.

So here's Ana's recipe for Jambalaya. (The photos are also from her beautiful site, AnaQuincoces.com - go there. Surf around. Find the quote from me about her. You're curious now, aren't you?)

JAMBALAYA

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
• 8 ounces Andouille sausage, sliced
• 1 large sweet yellow onion, diced
• 1 small red bell pepper, diced
• ½ cup diced celery
• 2 tbsp chopped garlic
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper or to taste
• ½ cup tomato sauce
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 (12oz) can fire roasted tomatoes
• 2 cups uncooked converted white rice (Like Uncle Ben’s)
• 4 and ½ cups chicken stock (double it for brown rice)
• 3 bay leafs
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp hot pepper sauce
• salt & ground black pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Heat oil in your large IMUSA CALDERO to medium high heat.
2. In your IMUSA SAUTÉ PAN, Sauté chicken and andouille sausage until lightly browned for about 5 minutes.
3. In your IMUSA CALDERO, stir in onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic.
4. Season with cayenne, onion powder, salt and pepper.
5. Cook for 5 minutes, or until onion and bell pepper are soft and onion is translucent.
6. Add the tomato sauce and cook for 5 more minutes.
7. Add the rice, the chicken stock and bay leaves to your caldero, bringing to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, or until rice is tender.
8. Add the chicken and the Worcestershire sauce and stir it with hot pepper sauce.
9. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

SERVES 6

Isn't that just crazy-beautiful?

But this still leaves me with an empty ORANGE (!) caldero (I'm thinking carne con papas would be awesome in this) to give away....

So, to enter this drawing, answer one or both of the following questions:

• What would YOU make in this beautiful ORANGE (!) caldero?
• Do you forgive me? ;-)

Remember that if you want to enter the drawing for this beautiful ORANGE (!) caldero, you must leave a comment on this post and I'll choose a winner on Tuesday, July 26th, 2011 at 5 pm Pacific.

Buen Provecho! And thanks, IMUSA USA!

This fabulous ORANGE (!) caldero is also available at all Macy's stores. And if you're on Facebook, please give IMUSA USA some "like" love.  ;-)

{Disclaimer: Imusa USA very generously sent me that beautiful ORANGE (!) caldero and offered one as a gift for one lucky MBFCF reader.}

Comments

[Kiki Bacaro]

Hmmm...what to do, what to do...first,I would make arroz con leche and refrigerate:) Then, I would make a fricasé de pollo!!! Dinner at my house would be awesome!

[Ody Fabregas]

Marta,

First, it would look awesome in my kitchen aswell! :-) I love orange!!!! And I too have Fiesta dishes that go well with it. :-) However, I would use this pot to make Arroz con Pollo, or Carne con Papas, or even Fricase de Pollo. And for those "cold" days in Miami (all two of them)LOL! I will make Harina! Yummy. Oh lots of things I can certainly do with this beautiful Orange Caldero!!!
I am going to pray that I win. LOL!!!

Besote! Ody

[Ivis Suarez]

I own an orange kitchen aid mixer so this would be perfect in my kitchen. I would make Vietnamese Pho soup. And of course I forgive u!

[Linda S.]

Most definitely, Arroz con Pollo. It would be so much fun to experiment!

[[email protected]]

Iwould make a pot of camarones enchilados

[Mary Lynn C.]

I have two second cousins who live in the area with their families. As I am their substitute mother (their real mom is in Cuba), I would make one of the many dishes they are used to having at my table - whatever it was, it will be cooked with the love that I always put as the main ingredient in my kitchen.

And as for you, after the enormous sacrifice you made with all your family to help support our troops, no forgiveness, just thanks for doing what many of us would love to do.

[priscilla]

Omg! What to do? Arroz con pollo but Peruvian style! I love bright colors in my kitchen thanks to my mommy! My kids and husband love it, and he's Cuban=) hope I can add this beautiful caldero in my new townhouse=)

[Ileana]

I would make cioppino, that delicious seafood concoction from San Francisco. The red broth of soup against the orange caldero would make it look like a delicious sunset in my kitchen.

And forgive you? Now why would I have to forgive you? For giving us all these delicious Cuban recipes that have expanded my waistline? :-D

[Ava Guidoni]

Well, there is no doubt in my mind, the first thing I would make is arroz con pollo a lo Perez-Puelles ;-)yum yum....

[Yvonne mercado]

I would make some awesome puertorrican chili in that orange caldero! And yes, you are forgiven.

[Janice]

Arroz con pollo is a must, but a boliche would do nicely too. I would love add this piece to my fiestaware collection. Nice choice!

[Nancy Pacheco]

If I were to win the Orange Imusa Caldero, I would have to make some arroz con camarones o arroz con pollo... depending on whether or not I can get to the polleria that day! ;-) but either one with some tostones, ensalada y una cervesita bien fria.
(Wow, que hambre me ha dado!!!)

And you haven't done anything wrong, so there is no need to be forgiven. Get your rest and feel better. I look forward to reading more of your posts.
Cariños,
Nancy

[Mercedes Zamora]

I'm here and I absolutely forgive you!!! I hope u feel better:)
I would also make arroz con pollo con bastante pimiento morrones!!! Or maybe una paella bien rica:)

[BFF]

As you know, ORANGE is my favorite color! I'd make your Arroz con Pollo recipe. Or maybe my awesome Jumbalaya recipe or my spaghetti sauce! Whatever I choose it would taste wonderful!!! Did I mention you are beautiful?! I love you MORE!

[Aida Nava]

i'd make mexican arroz con pollo i, with urging and brainstorming from my husband, created.. so it's only mexican rice with frozen veggies and browned chicken in it, hehe. or maybe mole, or sopa de fideo... or guisado, or carne con papas, or albondigas... and to think i just ate a late lunch!

[Annette]

I love it! Orange is my new favorite color - I am wearing an orange shirt, I have orange nail polish, and I have an orange purse.

It might be a little much.

I would use my ORANGE pot to make pear-ginger jam from the pears from my tree.

Annette/CF

[Christine]

What a great size pot. With it, I would make Pasta e fagioli, my family's favorite!

[Lori Bardsley]

oh! oh! oh! I would make the most delicious fricasse de pollo. I have a special recipe from my friend Ana in Florida. This time I would forgo the pressure cooker, and use the orange caldero!

[Grace O]

Wow! the Jambalaya sounds yummy! BTW, I just ordered Ana's book (since I couldn't win it!) and am anxiously waiting for it to come in the mail. I would love the ORANGE(!) caldero to make carne con papas, one of my favorite Cuban dishes. I love that see-thru lid to be able to see the deliciousness as it cooks.
There is nothing to forgive you for - you have to forgive me for being jealous that you got to cook for the troops!

[Cristy Perez]

I would make Bistec en Cazuela. Yummy!!
And yes, of course, you are forgiven!!!

[Normie]

I would make "fricase de pollo" with this gorgeous orange pot.
Hoping you feel better and yes, I forgive you.

[Letty]

First and most importantly, of course I forgive you! Especially when you don't owe us an apology!

Secondly, I would make 4 lbs of your picadillo recipe but only if I had this gorgeous orange casuela because I once tried that in my regular pan and it overfloweth. I would then send an invitation to everyone on my block to come over to sample one of the most delicious meat dishes ever. Of course, I would serve it over white rice. As they are sampling it, I will take in all of their abundant compliments and try to be humble at the same time. I would, of course, explain the recipe came from my Cuban friend and provide them with your website where they can then experiment with other Cuban delicias. As I say goodbye to them, I will be wearing a quiet smile which signifies how proud I am to be a CubanAmericana living in my little town of Bethlehem.

Tu amiga,
Letty

[Susi]

Orange is my color! it brings out the color of my eyes, make me look tan, skinny and intelligent and of course brings my cholesterol down.
That being said - it doesn't really matter what I would cook in it (there are too many possibilities, can't choose just one), because it would just look awesome on the stove, with me stirring some delicious smelling goodness - it would be wonderful!
or at least - that's what I keep telling myself, won't know until I try, right?

[Angela Garcia]

Oh my, so many recipes...only one orange caldero to cook them up in! What comes to mind first is any type of arroz: Arroz con Gandules, Arroz con Pollo, Moros y Cristianos, Paella Valenciana. Need I say more???

[Rox]

I think I'd make fricase de pollo or maybe so coconut curry chicken. Feel better soon Marta!

[sonia guerra]

hmmm... a fricasse de pollo would look fabulous in that orange cazuela- and since you haven't done anything wrong there's nothing to forgive. but I know, cuban mea culpa runs deep, so all is forgiven.

[Yamil Kahl]

I would definitely make my favorite, arroz con pollo "a la Chorrera"! That, along with platanitos maduros and some arroz con leche for dessert. Cuban food at its best!!!!

[Natalie]

Oh my goodness- that orange caldero is beautiful!! I would definitely make camarones enchilados in it. Hope you feel better Marta and thanks for the chance to win!

[Carolyn Gonzalez]

I would make "Olla de Carne." It is a traditional Costa Rican dish. It involves meat (short ribs or oxtail), yuca, papas, platanos, carrots, chayote and anything else you want to put in. You serve the caldo with arroz and it is so delicious.

And yes you are forgiven. :0)

[Maria Fernandez]

Tamal en cazuela por favor, con bastante carne de puerco. I will take a pic when I make and post it, I'll be nice and give you all the recipe. How's that!

[Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly]

A seriously lick yo mama it's that good Paella, promise just one taste will make you want to lick yo mama (because no one is licking ME!) :-)

Yep, Orange and Red are definitely the new black when it comes to kitchen!

[Candice Gonzales]

If I were to win the IMUSA pot I would make some ropa vieja that is always a pleaser! And of course no ropa vieja is complete without arroz y maduros :) YUM!

[Nathan]

LOL. I thought I left a comment guess I didn't YIKES!!! Hope it isn't to late! Ok this is so last minute, YES I do forgive you. ANd with a Caldero like that I'd make a huge pot of Arroz Con Pollo that's the first thing, and it would be great for this big parties making a huge pot of Congri or Moros YUM!!!! Also would be perfect for a hardy pot of Caldo Gallego :)