Kasha Orzo With Portabellas Food

CHICKEN AND ORZO STUFFED PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a skillet over medium high heat and cook bell pepper until tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic during the last 30 seconds and sauté until fragrant. Stir in orzo and add 1 cup chicken broth, demi glace, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and chicken. Cook and stir for about 5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup chicken broth. Cook and stir until liquid is absorbed and add the next 1/2 cup chicken broth, about 5 minutes. Repeat until orzo pasta is tender - you may not need all the chicken broth. Add spinach during the last minute of cooking.
• Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Place mushroom caps on a rimmed baking sheet. Add equal amounts of orzo filling to the mushroom caps. Top with smoked mozzarella cheese and broil until golden brown and cheese is melted, 3 to 5 minutes.

KASHA AND ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• Cook the orzo in a large pan of boiling water until just al dente (see package directions for cooking time); drain, rinse with cold water, and drain again.
• In the meantime, bring the vegetable broth to a simmer in a small saucepan.
• While the orzo is cooking, mix the kasha and egg together in a mixing bowl; stir well to coat each grain.
• In a large nonstick skillet over high heat, cook the egg-coated kasha, stirring constantly and scraping it up from the bottom, until the kernels are dry and separated and give off a nutty toasted aroma.
• Slowly add the hot broth, stir well, and cover.
• Cook for about 15 minutes or until the kasha is tender.
• Stir in the orzo, carrots, margarine, and thyme.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper; cover and let stand off the heat for 3 minutes.
• Toss with the parsley and scallions; serve.

ORZO & PORTABELLA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Combine the tomatoes and boiling water in a small bowl; cover and let stand 10 minutes or until tomatoes soften, drain.
• Heat olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
• Add the tomatoes, leek, mushrooms, and garlic; saute 2 minutes.
• Combine the mushroom mixture, orzo, and next 6 ingredients (orzo through pepper) in a large bowl; stir well.
• Spoon mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
• Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.
• Sprinkle provolone and parmesan cheeses over casserole, and bake an additional 5 minutes; garnish with basil sprigs, if desired.

KASHA & ORZO WITH PORTABELLAS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan or skillet on medium-high heat, cook the onions and mushrooms in the oil with the garlic, thyme, and salt until the onions are translucent, about 8 minutes.
• In a bowl, lightly beat the egg. Add the kasha, stir to coat well, and add to the skillet and cook, stirring constantly, until the egg is dry, making sure to separate any clumps of kasha. Add the orzo and the boiling water, cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for about 15 minutes.
• When the kasha and orzo are tender, stir in the butter. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with sour cream and toasted walnuts.
• Add a chopped red bell pepper to the onions and mushrooms after they've been cooking for about 5 minutes.
• Almost any sautéed chopped vegetable can be incorporated into this dish-try whatever appeals to you or what you find in your refrigerator waiting to be used up. Maybe carrots or zucchini, green peas, a leafy green, or even asparagus.
• For a richer flavor, use half water and half vegetable broth. Omit the salt if the broth is salted.
• This warm, comforting dish cries out for a light, tangy accompaniment. We like it with Corn & Pepper Salad (page 207) or Beet Salad (page 209). For dessert, consider Apples Two Ways (page 191), Cherry Shortbread Crumble (page 265), or Riesling Roasted Pears (page 264).