broccoli, yellow pepper, & lemon orzo

I love, love, love orzo pasta because it is quick to make and like all pastas, it goes with everything.  This is definitely a go to pasta to cook after a run and then a quick turn around to speed off to work.  Vegetables go lovely with this oblong shaped little pasta, and they are quick to throw in!  Perfect for when I have a limited amount of time to get ready for work and then rush off like a mad woman.  Peppers and broccoli are among my favorite veggies to add (I would add zucchini, but Nate is not a fan).

I like to buy the three pack of peppers with the tri-colored peppers so that I can have a variety of flavors to use for the week.  Now, a lot of recipes I look to call for either a red pepper or a green pepper, but that poor, poor yellow pepper never gets much attention.  Fortunately, when I looked in my fridge to see what veggie delights I could add, I saw that beautiful golden pepper.  I also found some lemons and taaa-daaaaa, a recipe was created!

Broccoli, Yellow Pepper, & Lemon Orzo

Ingredients
1½ cup orzo
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
1 sweet yellow pepper, chopped
12 oz. steamed broccoli florets
2 cloves garlic
1 cup shredded/grated parmesan
½ part skim, shredded mozzarella 
½ cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon garlic salt
¼ cup +1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, separated
Pepper, to taste

Directions
Heat olive oil in a large skillet pan on medium-high heat.  Add garlic cloves and chopped onion.  Cook onion until translucent.  Add red pepper flakes, garlic salt, and chopped yellow pepper.  Stir in with onions.  Cook for about 2 minutes and reduce heat to low.


Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Add orzo to boiling water and cook throughly.  Drain and add steamed broccoli.


In a measuring cup, combine lemon juice, olive oil, and pepper.  Whisk together and pour over orzo.  Quickly add mozzarella & parmesan while the pasta is still hot.  Stir together until cheese has melted a bit.  Add onion and yellow pepper mixture.  Mix thoroughly and serve!