Help me play with my new vanilla beans and saffron

Please, please, please use your vanilla beans to make Nigella Lawson’s Stovetop Rice Pudding for Emergencies.

It’s a rice pudding made in the same way as a risotto (with arborio rice even). It is DIVINE. It’s a bit of a palaver, but it is so terribly worth it. I can’t decide ever whether it’s better hot on the day or cold from the fridge the day after.

Adding a touch of saffron might do really well in it too musing

[ETA]: The recipe scales really well. Really, really well. It’s more a set of guidelines than a hard-and-fast recipe, so as long as your amount are approximately right, it still works.

Use the saffron to synthesize some MDMA and then your party will be really great.

I’ll second a tasty paella. It takes practice to get that crusty bottom while not overcooking the rice, but worth it. Just make sure you use short-grained rice, such as arborio.

I’ve got short-grained rice, but what I don’t have is a paella pan. The closest I have is a 12" cast-iron frying pan (or other various frying pans). What’s the best (or second-best) cooking utensil for this purpose?

That frying pan will actually serve you much better than a paella pan, which generally has a thinner metal bottom and can result in burned rice. I always use a heavy skillet for mine, which results in a wonderfull crispy bottom. On the rice, not on me.

I want to live at your house. I will do all the dishes.

P.S. That includes the pots