Creamy Orzo With Chicken Food

CREAMY LEMON-PEPPER ORZO WITH GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil; prepare a grill or grill pan for medium heat.
• Whisk together the yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons of the oil and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a medium bowl until well combined.
• Rub the chicken thighs with the remaining 1 teaspoon oil and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Grill until nicely marked and cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and let stand for at least 5 minutes.
• Add the orzo to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions for al dente, stirring in the peas during the last minute of cooking. Drain the orzo and peas, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Stir the orzo and peas into the yogurt mixture, along with the goat cheese, 3 tablespoons of the herbs and at least 3/4 cup of the cooking liquid, until well combined. Transfer to a platter.
• Thinly slice the chicken and arrange on top of the orzo. Sprinkle with the lemon zest and the remaining 1 tablespoon herbs.

CREAMY ORZO WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
• While pasta is cooking, melt margarine in 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Cook chicken, mushrooms, onions and garlic in margarine about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink in center.
• Stir in flour, thyme and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat. Gradually stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in cheese until melted.
• Pour chicken mixture over pasta; toss if desired.

CREAMY LEMON-PEPPER ORZO WITH CHICKEN AND FIG SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk together the yogurt, 2 teaspoons of the oil, the garlic, lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a medium bowl until well combined.
• Bring a pot of water to a boil and preheat an outdoor or indoor grill to medium heat.
• Rub the chicken thighs with the remaining 1 teaspoon oil and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Grill until nicely marked and cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board at let stand for at least 5 minutes.
• Add the orzo to the boiling water and cook according to package directions for al dente, stirring in the peas the last minute of cooking. Drain the orzo and peas, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Stir the orzo and peas into the yogurt mixture, along with half of the goat cheese, 3 tablespoons of the herbs and at least three-quarters of the reserved cooking liquid, until well combined. Evenly divide among four plates.
• Thinly slice the chicken and arrange on top of the orzo. Sprinkle with the lemon zest and the remaining 1 tablespoon fresh herbs. Toss the salad greens, figs and vinaigrette together, divide evenly among four small salad plates. Sprinkle each with some of the remaining goat cheese. Serve.

CREAMY ORZO

Steps:

• Bring a heavy large saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the orzo and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a heavy large frying pan over medium heat. Add the shallot and garlic, and saute until tender, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook until they are tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in the cream and peas. Add the orzo and toss to coat. Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the Parmesan to the pasta mixture and toss to coat. Stir the pasta mixture until the sauce coats the pasta thickly, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to maintain a creamy consistency. Season the orzo with salt and pepper, and serve.

CREAMY LEMON ORZO

Steps:

• Bring the chicken broth, 1 cup water and the bay leaves to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Meanwhile, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a medium dutch oven over medium heat. Add the leeks and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, about 4 minutes. Stir in the orzo and thyme; season with salt and pepper. Add the warm broth mixture and adjust the heat to maintain a simmer. Add the heavy cream and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove the bay leaves. Stir the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, the parsley and the lemon zest and juice into the orzo; season with salt and pepper.

CREAMY CHICKEN SOUP WITH ORZO

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat oil. Add carrots, celery and onion. Cook over medium high heat until they are "al dente" (crispy tender) ~ about 5-7 minutes.
• Stir in orzo, chicken broth, spices and salt and pepper.
• Continue cooking and bring to a full boil for about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
• In a small bowl, combine milk and flour until smooth. Add to soup stirring constantly until mixture comes back to a boil and gets slightly thickened.(2-3 minutes).
• Add chicken and cook until heated through.
• *I prefer a thick soup, but you can add more milk to thin it out if that is your preference.

CHICKEN WITH CREAMY BUTTERNUT SQUASH ORZO

Steps:

• Peel and seed squash, then cut into 1/2 inch pieces. Mince garlic.
• Using meat pounder, pound thick part of chicken breast to 3/4 to 1 inch thickness. Season chicken with salt and pepper.
• Place chicken, skin side down, in cold 12 inch skillet, Cover and place over medium heat. Cook, without moving , unitl skin is golden brown, about 15 minutes. Continue to cook, covered, until skin is deep golden brown, rotating skillet halfway through cooking. Transfer to platter, tent with foil.
• While chicken cooks, melt butter in large sauce pan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about thirty seconds. Stir in orzo and cook for one minute. Add squash and broth, bring to boil, and cook, stirring often, until orzo and squash are both tender, about 15 minutes.
• While orzo is cooking grate parmesan (1 cup) mince three tablespoons chives and squeeze 1 teaspoon lemon juice.
• Off heat stir in babay spinach, nutmeg, parmesan, 2 tablespponsschives and lemon juice. Let sit unccovered for 5 minutes to thicken. Sprinkle renaining chives over chicken.