Orzo Chicken Lemon Soup

This is one of my favorites and sooo easy to make! We serve it with toasted crusty bread. You add a nice leafy green salad to make it a complete meal.

Ingredients

2 cooked chicken breasts, cut in small pieces
8 cups chicken stock
3/4 cup orzo
3 eggs
2/3 + cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
3 TBSP lemon zest
Mediterranean salt, ground pepper to taste
4 TBSP chopped fresh rosemary

In large saucepan, brink stock to boil over medium heat. Reduce to medium low, add orzo and cook uncovered until tender, about 15-20 minutes. About 5 minutes before pasta is done, add the chicken pieces.

Place eggs in a mixing bowl, whisk will adding in lemon juice. Stir in zest. Keep whisking and slowly add a ladleful of the hot stock to the egg mixture. Slowly add the egg mixture to the stock in saucepan and stir. Stock should thicken slightly.

Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley.

Spot didn't give a paw rating because she thought we were cooking onions. Once she realized we weren't, she sat at our feet with high hopes.

Rosemary Walleye Pike and Au Gratin Potos

Even though I haven't posted lately, I've been cooking! We relocated six months ago and in the process, posting has fallen off the radar. Not any more, I miss this too much, so buckle your seatbelts...

Tonight's menu was morphed from my dear friend and second mom Dorothy who served me Walleye Pike last week while I was in Mpls. It was so yummy I determined to make it in my new town for my hubby and son, but alas this fish is not available in Iowa. So hubby drove it down special.

Here's the menu:

Rosemary Au Gratin Potos (begin 1 hour and 20 minutes prior to desired eating time):

- Thinly slice 3 lbs red potatoes, cover and bring to boil with 5 diced garlic cloves. Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer til tender but not mushy. About 8 more minutes.

- In oblong baking dish and using slotted spoon, layer half the poto slices. Cover with fresh pepper and sea salt to taste. Pour 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream over all.
Sprinkle 3/4 cup each of shredded Gruyere and Fontina cheese over this layer. Repeat. On top layer, add an additonal 1/4 cup of a shredded hard cheese (Parmesan, Manchego) and sprinkle a few pieces of Rosemary over all.

- Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Keep warm til Walleye is ready.


Dorothy's Walleye Pike Prep while potos are baking, takes 10 minutes to fry:

- Dip Walleye fillets in 1 beaten egg, then crushed saltine crackers (we used 1 gallon zip-lock bag for 1 sleeve of saltines to cook 4 fillets)

- Fry fish with EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) in medium high skillet til medium brown on both sides. Sprinkle with more Rosemary.

Serve with a half lemon on the side of your plate for personal flavor. A side salad and some crusty bread would make this complete. We were distracted by watching the new series on the History Channel called THE BIBLE, so the latter items weren't included.

Spot gives this no paws cuz she runs when things sizzle. My "boys" love it!!