Yesterday I decided I would make Amy's orzo pasta recipe that she posted on her blog earlier this week. It looked delicious, easy (my type of recipe) and had all those things in it that my family likes (pasta, parmesan, basil and tomato). With it we were going to have mainated turkey breast, roasted, and a tossed salad. Easy meals are good in new babyland.
After helping Sarah with some early morning things like laundry and dishes, I went off to the Safeway, where by this time I think they are getting used to my daily visits. Into the cart goes the basil and the tomatoes, salad greens, fresh bread, cheese. Turning to the pasta aisle, I look for the orzo and guess what, no orzo. There's a tag on the shelf, there's a long empty space, but there's no orzo. And now I'm committed to this dish, but I don't want to drive around Sacramento looking for orzo. I decided I can make a substitution, but I know that I need a small pasta since in this dish the pasta is cooked in broth and water. Orzo is tiny, most pastas are not this small. I reject the teeny soup pasta, as it's too small and continue to look around.
I finally settle on this little wheel pasta, and it's one of the healthy whole wheat ones. After I get home with the groceries I realize it's part of a new Safeway line aimed at little kids, because on the box is my old friend Daffy Duck.
Daffy's pasta ended up making a pretty good dish after all; I added an extra half cup since the pasta is bigger than orzo and perhaps an extra splash or two of liquid. Next week when I'm home, I'm going to make this dish with the orzo, but Amy, thank you, it was pretty damn good.
Today we're not going to think about cooking; the baby is a month old and we are going to the Sacramento zoo. The sun is shining and the rain gods are being good to us for the end of our week here. David's sister and her husband are here from Reno for the weekend; tonight we are going to watch our son Matt play in a rugby game. We're thinking about bringing some wine to the game; it's great that we don't have to be youth role models at the moment :).
Comments (8)
The first thing I thought of when seeing the box was SpaghettiOs! Glad it turned out ok.
Posted by girasoli | March 7, 2009 1:40 PM
Posted on March 7, 2009 13:40
Marcia, I do hope the baby enjoys the zoo! Now I need to go to Amy's blog and find the recipe. Easy is my kind, too.
Posted by Jane | March 7, 2009 4:20 PM
Posted on March 7, 2009 16:20
That looks delicious. And it seems like I always have hard time finding Orzo, I wonder who buys all?
Posted by candi | March 7, 2009 6:25 PM
Posted on March 7, 2009 18:25
Hee! Daffy pasta! And at least its whole wheat pasta being aimed at kids, instead of the usual sugar/chemicals/cornsyrup-laden garbage.
Posted by Amy | March 8, 2009 6:15 AM
Posted on March 8, 2009 06:15
Pasta rings are very popular in Sicily, usually prepared with a tomato based sugo with ham and peas. It is very good. I saw Amy's recipe and will give it a try. I think it will also work with Israeli couscous.
Posted by María I. | March 8, 2009 2:11 PM
Posted on March 8, 2009 14:11
Candi, I buy it all! Many people do not even know what is it, and they never seem to stock enough!
Kiddie pasta looks great, Marcia!
Posted by Palma | March 8, 2009 5:59 PM
Posted on March 8, 2009 17:59
I wouldn't have associated Daffy Duck with pasta, but whatever works to get kids eating healthy must be good.
And it looks like your substitution worked out very well!
Posted by sandrac | March 8, 2009 6:44 PM
Posted on March 8, 2009 18:44
It looks delicious! Funny to see Daffy on that box. Hope you had a wonderful time at the zoo!
Posted by Annie | March 9, 2009 7:42 AM
Posted on March 9, 2009 07:42