SANDRA'S MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD

A delightful and refreshing salad that will
quickly become a family favorite...

I found that my photograph and recipe were featured at
Frugal Cafe Blog Zone on 5-25-13 with a nice write-up
@http://www.frugal-cafe.com/public_html/frugal-blog/
frugal-cafe-blogzone/
2011/01/07/fab-food-friday/

Servings: (6 to 8)
Prep: 5 Mins. |
Cook 8 to 10 Mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

1/2 pound orzo
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 fresh lemon, zested, and juiced
½ teaspoon sweet basil
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ cup chopped zucchini
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper (red, orange, or yellow)
2 green onions, sliced
1/2 cup chopped, pitted black or calamata olives
1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, cut in half (or quarters if large)
½ cup cucumber, peeled, deseeded, and chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated
Kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste

METHOD

Cook the pasta until al dente in a large pot of boiling and lightly salted water for about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, and transfer to a large non-reactive mixing bowl (glass or ceramic), and add the olive oil, vinegar, and lemon juice, basil, and oregano, and then stir to combine. Add the zucchini, bell pepper, green onions, olives, tomatoes, and parsley, and parmesan cheese; folding to combine.  Season with kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste. Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold. – Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~

Tip: I tend to change out the veggies as to what I have on hand when making this recipe, i.e., adding marinated artichokes, freshly chopped spinach, using red onions versus green onions, using couscous versus orzo, etc.

SANDRA'S NUTTY VEGGIE ORZO PILAF

 A very nice addition to most
many main dishes, and you can
change up the ingredients in many ways...

Servings: (2)
Prep: 5 Mins. |
Cook: 15 Mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS:

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup orzo pasta
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 green onions, chopped
4 crimini mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

METHOD:

Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in medium saucepan. Add orzo and stir until pasta is toasted, about 3-5 minutes. Add broth, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer pasta until done, about 7 to 10 minutes. (Don’t overcook the orzo ;-)

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil sauté pan, and add green onions and mushrooms and cook until tender. Add toasted pine nuts, and the salt and pepper, to taste.

Once orzo is al dente, add the veggie and nut mixture, stirring to combine, and then add the freshly chopped parsley. Serve, and enjoy!