Cheesy Broccoli Orzo

This is a delicious side dish.  Goes great with chicken!  When I made this I didn't have plain cheddar cheese.  I had the huge Costco mix of cheddar and monterey jack.  It still turned out great, but I think it would have been better with sharp cheddar cheese.  I will definitely be using it next time.  Also, I followed the directions on the box of orzo.  The three minutes was not long enough for the kind of pasta I bought. Anyway, ENJOY!  PS- sorry it's been a while :)

Cheesy Broccoli Orzo

Iowagirleats

Serves 3-4

Ingredients:

1 cup orzo

1-1/2 cups chopped broccoli florets

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

1 Tablespoon butter

1/4-1/2 cup 2% milk

salt

Directions:

Add orzo to a large pot of salted boiling water. Cook for 3 minutes then add chopped broccoli and cook for 2 more minutes, or until orzo is tender. Drain well (broccoli florets are notorious for holding onto water) then return to the pot. Add cheeses, butter, and 1/4 cup milk then stir well and add more milk if needed. Season with salt to taste.

Supreme Buffalo Nachos

If you guys really know my husband you'll know that if he hears the word chicken and hot buffalo sauce then he will be there in the blink of an eye. He LOVES his spicy buffalo wings. I figured this would be a good superbowl food as well. Don't you agree?? :) I also made my Oreo Pie and Nutella fruit dip. Both of which are already posted here on my website :)

Supreme Buffalo Nachos

Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

Recipe from Jaime Cooks it up

4-5 C tortilla chips (several big handfuls)

2 C shredded Rotisserie chicken

2-3 T Franks Red Hot Wing Buffalo Sauce

2 C cheddar cheese, shredded

1 C celery, chopped

Blue Cheese Salad Dressing (Lighthouse brand works best)

1. Spread several large handfuls of tortilla chips out over a large cookie sheet, and preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

2. Unwrap your rotisserie chicken extraordinaire. Shred about 2 cups of the chicken up with a couple of forks.

3. Give thanks for this spicy wing sauce found at grocery stores everywhere. Drizzle 2-3 tablespoons of sauce over the top of your chicken. Be careful if you are super sensitive to spicy food. Just use a little if you don't like a lot of heat.

4. Toss it all together, making sure all of the chicken is covered.

5. Sprinkle about 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the tortilla chips. Toss that pretty little pan into the oven and let the cheese get all melted and just a bit bubbly. Watch it close. You don't want it to get overly cooked. Then you'll have dry chips, and crusty cheese. Not a good combination, true?

6. While the chips are busy in the oven, cover the plate of chicken with plastic wrap and microwave it for 2-3 minutes, or until the chicken and sauce are steaming hot.

6. Remove the pan of cheesy chips from the oven and carefully spoon the chicken out evenly over the chips.

7. Add the chopped celery.

8. Drizzle a bit of Blue Cheese dressing here and there over the chips and serve while the chicken and cheese are still warm.

Chicken and Cheese Lasagna Roll-Ups

Chicken and Cheese Lasagna Roll-Ups

Ingredients:

3 cups chopped cooked chicken (or shredded)

1 cup Ricotta cheese

1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 cup milk

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

8 lasagna noodles cooked and drained

2 cups favorite spaghetti sauce

Directions:

1. In medium bowl, combine chicken, cheeses, milk and pepper

2. Spread 1/2 cup mixture on each lasagna noodle; roll jelly-roll fashion

3. In a 9x13 inch baking dish, spread 1 cup spaghetti sauce

4. Arrange lasagna rolls seam-side down in sauce in baking dish

5. Top with remaining spaghetti sauce

6. Cover

7. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until hot

8. Serve, if desired, with additional Parmesan cheese

Hard Rock Cafe Twisted Mac & Cheese

I recently bought this cookbook that has all the top secret restaurant recipes and this is one that has made our weekly menu. It has a small little kick with the cayenne in it, but we love it. It's quick, easy and delicious! This recipe serves about 4 people.

Hard Rock Cafe Twisted Mac & Cheese

1 box of rotini noodles

2/3 cup whole milk (I use 1% to cut back on calories)

8 ounces Velveeta cheese, diced (finally found this at target)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (I have only found this at target. Other stores have it, but it's mixed with other cheese's)

1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1. Use a large saucepan to cook pasta following directions on the package, then drain.

2. Combine milk, Velveeta, cheddar cheese, Jack cheese, cayenne pepper, and black pepper in the same sauce pan and stir over low heat for about 10 minutes until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth.

3. Add pasta to the pan and then toss to coat.