Shrimp, Feta and Orzo Salad

This is a nice spring recipe after all the heaviness of winter. I absolutely LOVE orzo, so any recipe that has it I love to try out. Dressing recipe to follow salad recipe.

Shrimp, feta, and orzo salad.
Yields 2 to 3 servings
You will need:

• 1 garlic clove (minced)
• 3/4 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp minced fresh oregano
• salt and pepper
  
• 1/2 pound medium shrimp (about 16 to 18) shelled and deveined
• 3/4 cup uncooked orzo
• 1/3 cup crumbled feta
• 1 medium tomato
• 3 scallions (sliced)
• 1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
• 1 cup baby arugula

In a bowl, whisk together garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, salt and pepper to taste. Add shrimp to marinade, stirring to coat well. Cover and marinate at least one hour in the refrigerator.

After marinating shrimp prepare grill pan by heating to medium high. Meanwhile cook the orzo according to the package directions. Drain and let cool completely.

When orzo is cool, stir in feta, tomato, scallions, and parsley leaves. Add dressing to taste and toss well. Season with salt and pepper.

By now your grill pan should be heated. Remove shrimp from marinade and (discard marinade) grill shrimp until just cooked through. This will be about two minutes on each side (they will change color to an orangish pink when cooked).

Remove shrimp and toss with the orzo mixture. Line salad bowls with the arugula and fill with the orzo salad.

*note* I used whole wheat orzo because that is what I had on hand. I also used green onions instead of scallions because that is what I had, you just have to use more onion.

Lemon dressing

• 1/2 garlic clove, chopped
• 2 Tbl. fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 tsp. minced fresh oregano leaves
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• freshly ground pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a blender (I use the magic bullet) until emulsified. I thought that this dressing was actually quite lacking in flavor. I think that it needed more acid so when I make it again I will probably add more lemon juice and/or balsamic vinegar.

Rocky Road Bars

I will start with a new treat I tried out. I will warn you that a lot of my recipes will be sweets, some would say it is my forte. I can't help it I love sweets, and if anyone loves them more it is my hubby. Please do try them out, just spaced out a little so you don't gain all that weight from a stick of butter.

I happened along this little dandy in a murder mystery I was reading, Carrot Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke. They sounded sounded so good I had to try them out.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Yields 2.5 to 3 dozen bars

You will need:

• 24 graham crackers (12 double ones)
• 2 cups mini marshmallows
• 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips (I used mini chips)
• 1 cup lightly salted cashews
• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar (packed firmly)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Spray a 9 x 13-inch cake pan with cooking spray. Line the bottom of the pan with the graham crackers. There will be some overlapping. Sprinkle the graham crackers with the marshmallows, then sprinkle with chocolate chips, then cashews.

In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the butter and the brown sugar. Stir constantly until the butter is all melted and the brown sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat. Stir in the vanilla.

Drizzle the contents of the saucepan evenly over the contents of the cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 to 15 minutes or until the marshmallows are golden brown. Cool the baking pan on a wire rack.

When the bars are cool, cut them and serve.

If there are leftovers, cover and refrigerate.

Introducing...

My new food blog!

I hope to add some of my most recent forays into the cooking world. I hope you find these recipies delicious. Please let me know if you try any of them out.