Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Lemon-Garlic Orzo with Baby Spinach

A quick and easy side dish - orzo with bright and zesty lemon, fresh garlic, and baby spinach.


A quick and easy side dish - Lemon Garlic Orzo with Baby Spinach. Bright, zesty lemon with fresh garlic and fresh spinach.


This side dish is light and summery but satisfies that pasta craving. Orzo also reminds me a lot of risotto, but without the time or labor. 

I served this lemon-garlic orzo with baby spinach alongside grilled chicken. I love when I only need to make one dish inside and Jon can be grilling the rest outside. Easy prep and super easy cleanup. 




Lemon-Garlic Orzo with Baby Spinach
Original Recipe by Mary Ellen of Mary Ellen's Cooking Creations

Ingredients
  • 12 oz dry orzo
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • Juice of 1/2 of a lemon
  • Zest of 1/2 of a lemon
  • 1 bag (6oz) baby spinach
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
Directions
  • Cook orzo according to package directions
  • In the meantime, heat the butter and oil in a large saute pan over medium heat.
  • Add the garlic and saute 2 minutes, being careful not to let it burn
  • Add in the lemon juice and rind.
  • Toss in the orzo and stir in the spinach.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste and top with some freshly grated Parmesan cheese. 







Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Grilled Lemon-Garlic Asparagus with Parmesan



Asparagus is hands-down my favorite vegetable to grill, so I am crazy excited that asparagus season is upon us. We have a friend who cuts asparagus at his brother's farm, and I am just counting the days until we get our first bunch. There is nothing like cooking it just a few hours after it was cut - it's so sweet and fresh, and we easily eat the entire bunch in one sitting!


Not only is asparagus delicious, it has so many health benefits. Check out more info on asparagus shared by Quick Easy Cook.

There are so many ways to cook asparagus. I usually toss the asparagus with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast it, but for our first grilling night of the season, I wanted it to scream spring. Adding lemon brightens up the flavors, and garlic is a must because, well, garlic! It makes everything better.



I mixed olive oil with lemon juice, lemon zest and garlic and poured it over the asparagus before adding sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.



These grilled up quickly, so they were still slightly crunchy with a perfect char on the tips. Once they came off the grill I quickly added some freshly grated Parmesan cheese.



Grilled Lemon-Garlic Asparagus with Parmesan
Original Recipe by Mary Ellen of Mary Ellen's Cooking Creations

Ingredients

  • One pound of asparagus, woody ends snapped off
  • 1/2 c olive oil
  • Juice of 1/2 of a lemon
  • Zest of 1/2 of a lemon
  • 2 cloves of garlic, pressed
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 Tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • Additional lemon zest, if desired
Directions
  • Mix the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest and garlic. Pour over the asparagus and toss until coated. 
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Place on a hot grill and cook 2-4 minutes; flip and cook an additional 2-4 minutes until charred but still crisp.
  • Transfer to a plate and top with the grated Parmesan cheese and additional lemon zest.