Orzo "Risotto" with Pulled Chicken

Very easy to make and totally delicious! Chicken is optional. You could sub with beans.

Orzo is a kind of Greek pasta. Look at the orzo box and use proportionally appropriate amounts of the ingredients depending on number of eaters.

=Ingredients=

Glug of olive oil (no EVOO here, Rachel)

Salt and pepper to taste

1 small onion, chopped (or 1/2 if you aren't a HUGE onion fan)

Organic orzo (1/2 c)

1 packet Trader Joe's Chicken Broth Concentrate

3-4 c boiling water

(Optional: 1 shot rice wine)

2-3 Tbsp vegetable bouillon

1/4 c feta cheese crumbles

1 tsp dried savory (or basil, or fresh basil)

Handful of pulled rotisserie chicken (remember, use the bones for broth!)

*Note: You can also cook the orzo in a mix of chicken broth and white wine.

=Instructions=

1. Chop the onion and sautee in the oil on medium heat until translucent and slightly browned. You can grind in some salt and pepper if you want. Squeeze in the TJ broth essence.

2. Meanwhile, you can have a kettle going with some water. Pour in the water and BE CAREFUL about the hot steam! Let it settle & mix it. If you want, glug in a shot or two of rice wine for special flavor and acidity.

3. Pour in the orzo and vegetable bouillon. Heat it on a hearty bubble, STIRRING often to prevent sticking. (This takes around ten minutes.)

4. When the liquid is almost all reduced, shake in the feta & give it a mix; it'll melt and get nice and gooey. Sprinkle in the savory and mix.

5. Taste it. If it's too weak, but getting dry, add some more flavoring (like bouillon, 1 tsp) and liquid (like water, 1 c). Let it reduce at a hearty bubble again, about 5 minutes, stirring faithfully.

6. When it looks like risotto (google it), turn off the heat and transfer to a serving bowl. At this point you can put in the chicken or beans and stir to heat through.

Note on stirring: I used wooden chopsticks while making this. You can get a lot of surface-area exposure if you separate the chopsticks (make a ~70-degree angle) and stir in twists and turns. I'm not certain, but I think this helps speed along the evaporation.

I put this into a ceramic storage bowl with a lid & reheated to my delight! Btw, I've sworn off plastics now after hearing about massive increase in chemicals in your body -- some guy did an interview with Diane Rehm about his 48-hour plastic experiment. Mason jars all the way!