Sausage and Peppers with Orzo

I haven't cooked a lot with orzo and this recipe makes me want to use it more in our kitchen.  This dish brings out a creaminess that I didn't expect.  Don't be alarmed by how big the salad looks next to the main dish.  I totally had to go back for seconds on this one.

Ingredients:

1 onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 tablespoon EVOO

3/4 lb Italian sausage

1 tablespoon minced garlic

2 tablespoons butter (divided)

3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs

1 cup mozzarella cheese (divided)

1 1/2 cups orzo pasta

2 tablespoons tomato paste

3 cups chicken stock

Let's Get Crafty!

Preheat the oven to a low broil

Saute until tender:

1 tablespoon EVOO

1 onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

Then Add to the Veggies and cook until fully cooked through:

3/4 lb Italian sausage

While that is cooking - combine and set aside:

1 tablespoon melted butter 

3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs

1 cup mozzarella cheese 

To the veggies and sausage - add and stir together until the butter is melted:

1 tablespoon butter

1 1/2 cups orzo pasta

Then add:

2 tablespoons tomato paste

3 cups chicken stock

Heat to a boil - reduce heat and simmer until pasta is cooked  (about 10-12 minutes.)  You'll want to keep an eye on it and stir occasionally.  You may need to add more chicken stock or water.

Pour into a baking dish and top with the panko and cheese mixture

Low broil for around 5 minutes - keep your eye on it so it doesn't burn

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you have a great day.

Baked Oatmeal

We eat a lot of oatmeal in our house.  I should probably rephrase that - the ladies in our household really like oatmeal and eat it frequently.  The gentlemen do not.  :)  

Although... Mark had some on his recent hunting trip to Alaska out of necessity and I think he might admit now that he doesn't dislike it as much as he thought he did.  

This recipe is delicious and freezes so nicely!  The best way I've heard it described is a warm oatmeal cookie.  Yes! I really like the change in textures with the diced apples and the craisins.  

Ingredients:

3 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup craisins

1 large apple

2 ripe bananas

1/2 cup melted coconut oil or vegetable oil

2 large eggs

1 cup milk

cinnamon sugar (optional... but so delicious!)

Walnuts or pecans (optional... we didn't add any nuts)

Let's Get Crafty!

Preheat the oven to 350

Mix together:

3 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup craisins

1 large apple, diced into small pieces

2 ripe bananas, smashed

Mix together in a separate bowl:

1/2 cup melted coconut oil or vegetable oil

2 large eggs, whisked

1 cup milk

Combine the wet ingredients with the oat mixture

Pour into a greased 8x8 foil pan (if you want to freeze) or into an 8x8 baking dish to cook right away.

Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar if you so desire (you totally should!!)

Cover with foil if you want to freeze or pop it right into the oven to cook right away.

Ours baked for 35 minutes when we had it in the fridge overnight and cooked it the next morning.  From the freezer after thawing it took closer to an hour because it wasn't fully thawed.  I recommend setting your timer for 25-30 minutes and then checking it.

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you have a great day.