Food & Entertaining
Orzo Salad Recipe with Feta & Fresh Mint
My Orzo Salad Recipe has a delicious Mediterraneanl flair with colorful peppers, toasted pine nuts, salty feta cheese, fresh mint and lemon dressing.
We had our neighbors over for Easter dinner this past weekend and my friend Monica had asked if I would be making my delicious orzo salad recipe which is her favorite. It was hard to turn that request down so I had it on my menu to serve alongside my racks of lamb and baked ham.
This orzo recipe is so refreshing from the combination of fresh vegetables, lemon juice and the key ingredient which is fresh mint. Fortunately, fresh mint is available year round in most grocery stores. (See my tip below on how to store it in your fridge). I love salty Feta combined with tart lemon juice and the toasted pine nuts add another delicious layer. Chic peas add protein to the salad.
This pasta salad is easy to make and can be partially assembled in advance which is great for any host! It makes a great leftover for a couple of days. Last night I added some chopped leftover ham to it for our dinner.
Like most pasta salads, this orzo recipe is great as a side dish for both a brunch or dinner. The recipe makes 12 side servings; however, you can easily cut the recipe in half.
Orzo Salad Recipe
Serves 12
1 package orzo (a tiny thin pasta)
2 cans chic peas, rinsed and drained
1 each, yellow and orange pepper, seeded and chopped (can also use red peppers)
1 1/2 bunches green onions, sliced on the diagonal
1/2 cup chopped parsley
Fresh mint (about 20 leaves)
1 cup crumbled Feta cheese
1/2 to 2/3 cups toasted pine nuts
Salt & Pepper
Crushed red pepper
Orzo Salad Dressing
1 large garlic clove
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt & Pepper
Instructions: Prepare orzo according to package directions.
While orzo is cooking, toast pine nuts. I toast mine in my toaster oven by just placing the pine nuts on the tray and toasting at the light-medium temperature. You have to watch them as they can quickly burn and will continue to cook in the tray once removed from the oven. You can also toast them in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Stir constantly. Remove from hot pan immediately and let cool.
Chop peppers and parsley and slice green onions. You can wash and dry the mint but do not cut until ready to serve or it may turn dark.
Mash garlic with mortar and pestle with some salt added. Add lemon juice and olive oil and whisk together.
Drain and rinse orzo. I normally don’t rinse pasta but in this instance you want to rinse some of the starch out so it doesn’t get clumpy.
If you are making the salad in advance, add some olive oil to the orzo to prevent it from clumping together. Add the peppers, chic peas, parsley and green onions. Cover and store in the fridge until 30 minutes prior to serving. I like serving it at room temperature.
Right before serving, slice fresh mint and add to salad along with the lemon dressing. Toss well to mix. Add feta cheese and pine nuts and toss again. Season to taste with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper. Add additional lemon juice or olive oil as needed. Garnish with fresh mint.
How to Store Fresh Mint
If you buy your mint in advance, here’s how to keep it fresh for several days: Store in the refrigerator in a loose (not airtight) plastic bag wrapped in a damp paper towel.
Lemon Juice Tip
Visit my post For Lovers of Lemon Juice on how to always have lemon juice on hand. I just pull a jar of juice out of the freezer an hour before I need it or pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds.
This orzo salad recipe will become a family favorite and you will love how easy it is to pull together. Enjoy!
Food & Entertaining
Beautiful and Creative Number Cakes
OMG, I’m in love with these gorgeous number cakes. They are a wonderful alternative to the traditional birthday cake. Today I am sharing both beautifully decorated number cakes as well as tips on how to make them.
OMG, I’m in love with these gorgeous number cakes. They are a wonderful alternative to the traditional birthday cake. Today I am sharing both beautifully decorated number cakes as well as tips on how to make them.
Gorgeous Number Cakes
These two cakes are just a couple of Adi Klinghofe’s creations. They are a work of art and so creative! Be sure to follow her Instagram account for more inspiration.
Use Cupcakes to Form Your Number Cake
Another creative account to follow on Instagram is Sophia Mya Cupcakes. I love her inspiration for using cupcakes to form the number.
Number Cake Using a Mold
Lekue silicone cake molds are available in numbers 0-9. You can create your own number combination for a special birthday party celebration. An easy yet elegant way to decorate a cake is with a variety of berries. I love the look of leaving the leaves on the strawberries.
Other Ways to Make a Number Cake
This infographic from Today’s Parent shows how you can make any number using an 8-inch round and 8-inch square cake pan.
I found this picture floating around Pinterest, however the link attached to the photo was not a working site. I wanted to share it because I feel it helps to see how they put the actual cake together to form the number.
Use Cupcakes to Form Number Cakes
As you saw above, you can form cupcakes into the shape of your desired number. It makes it easy to serve as no cutting is required. The number 2 cake above is festive with the floral pattern on both the cake and the serving board.
In need of a large serving board? You can use a large piece of cardboard or corrugated poster board and cover with foil.
The patterns below will help you decide how many cupcakes you will need to create the desired number. Depending on the size you want, you can use either regular sized cupcakes or mini cupcakes.
Which cake was your favorite?
Party Decorations
Need decorations for a milestone birthday party? Read my post Festive Party Decorations for a Milestone Birthday for some great tips.
Food & Entertaining
6 Festive Heart-Shaped Cookies for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for lovers. It’s a wonderful time of year to pass out treats to friends and family. Following are seven great heart-shaped cookies to give you some inspiration. I love the idea of putting just a few in a cellophane bag with a pretty ribbon to pass out gifts.
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for lovers. It’s a wonderful time of year to pass out treats to friends and family. Following are seven great heart-shaped cookies to give you some inspiration. I love the idea of putting just a few in a cellophane bag with a pretty ribbon to pass out as gifts.
Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles
Mallory from Chocolate with Grace says these Sour Cream Cut Out Cookies are super soft, decorated with a fluffy buttercream frosting. They look delicious!
No time to bake? If you live near Orange Grove, Texas, you can order these beautiful cookies from Blue Sugar Cookie Co.
Heart Shaped Gingham Cookies
Elizabeth from Sugar Hero came up with this clever way to create Gingham decorated Valentine cookies. She also has some fabulous ombre colored heart-shaped cookies. Head on over to her blog to see them.
Valentine Cookies with a Message
I love these cookies with a message, reminiscent of the Valentine candies we had as children.
Heart-Shaped Peanut Butter Valentine Cookies
If your loved one craves peanut butter cookies, these heart-shaped ones from The Semisweet Sisters are easy to make and no decorating required. Holly and Katie have a step-by-step tutorial on how to make these.
Festive Heart-Shaped Rice Krispie Treats
Rice Krispie treats are delicious regardless of your age! These heart-shaped treats from Click Cut Create look great in cellophane bags that you can find at Michaels.
Visit these other posts for more Valentine inspiration including more cookies, desserts and ideas for a Valentine Party. Have fun creating!
Creative Valentine Sugar Cookies
Sweet Treats for Valentine’s Day Gifts
Valentine’s Day Menu Suggestions
Elegant Valentine’s Day Party Decorations
Host a Valentine Party & Skip the Hectic Restaurant Scene
Food & Entertaining
Hearty Sausage & Lentil Soup
I made the most delicious Sausage and Lentil Soup. There is something about making soup that gives me a creative license to experiment. Since it was cold and snowing, I didn’t want to venture out to the grocery store so it was more of a day to raid my fridge and pantry.
I made the most delicious Sausage and Lentil Soup. There is something about making soup that gives me a creative license to experiment. Since it was cold and snowing, I didn’t want to venture out to the grocery store so it was more of a day to raid my fridge and pantry.
Pantry Staples for Soup
I always have chicken broth or stock on hand; either homemade in the freezer or store bought in my pantry. I’m rarely without the famous trio of onions, celery and carrots. Lentils and rice are also pantry staples.
I just so happened to have some Johnson Andouille Sausage that I picked up last week so I decided to make a spicy sausage and lentil soup. It was time to get creative and I loved the results.
One of my favorite things about broth based soups is that they freeze well. We will enjoy a bowl of soup for dinner tonight and I will freeze the rest in individual portions. It will make a great lunch on a cold winter day.
- light olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 stalks celery, sliced
- 1 large carrot, grated
- 2 large cloves garlic, minced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup lentils
- ½ cup white rice, rinsed
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 lb. Johnsonville Andouille Smoked Sausage, sliced
- Sauté onions and celery in olive oil until soft. Add grated carrots and garlic and sauté for two minutes. Add spices and sauté for one minute.
- Add rice, lentils and broth. Bring to a boil and then reduce to simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes.
- Add sausage and continue to cook until lentils and rice are done, approximately 20 more minutes.
- Taste and adjust salt, pepper and crushed red pepper to taste. You may also need to add some broth or water. Remove bay leaves.
- Serve with warm crusty bread.
Other Soup Recipes Perfect for Winter
Following are some links to my other soup recipes. Enjoy!
Mom’s Healing Chicken Soup Recipe
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