Tired of the same old pairings like steak and potatoes? These side dishes are guest worthy divine, but you can create them easily in minutes!
Wow your guests or your family with Steaks with Blue Cheese Sauce, and Spinach Parmesan Orzo. The Bleu Cheese Sauce is a lightened up version of traditional Gorgonzola Sauce because it is made with 2% milk instead of heavy cream. It is also thinner so it adds flavor without drenching your meat in a heavy, gloppy sauce.
Orzo is an often forgotten little pasta which is a sized and shaped more like rice. The Spinach Parmesan Orzo couldn’t be easier to make and it is so light and delicious! It is great leftover or as a base for salad.
I made the sauce right before the steak was done, it really only takes 5 minutes. You bring the milk and flour to a boil, let it cook for one minute and then stir in the butter and cheese.. Ignore the sauce running down the sides of the sauce pan, I am really messy enthusiastic when I cook!
Spoon this delectable bleu flavored sauce liberally over your steak and be prepared to go to heaven.
You can prepare the orzo ahead of time. Cook desired amount in water or chicken broth according to package directions. I like tri-colored orzo. Put torn fresh spinach in the bottom of a colander in the sink. When orzo is done pour it over the spinach in the colander and the hot water and the heat from the pasta will wilt the spinach
Stir it around and turn it into a oil sprayed baking dish
Stir in Parmesan to taste and sprinkle some all over the top
At this point you can refrigerate it until ready for baking. Bake at 325 for 30 minutes or until hot and the cheese is melted.
Simple and amazingly good.
These recipes are on my bucket list this month The February Paint Bucket
Here are the recipes:
BLEU CHEESE SAUCE
Ingredients
- 1 c milk or half and half
- 1 T flour
- 1 1/2 T butter
- 2 oz bleu cheese crumbled
Instructions
- In saucepan whisk flour into milk, bring to boil and cook 1 minute or til thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add butter, stir til melted then add gorgonzola. Sauce will be thin, pour it over steak slices or put in individual bowls on the plates for dipping. Makes about 1 1/4 cups
SPINACH PARMESAN ORZO
Ingredients
- tri-colored orzo pasta
- 1 heaping handful fresh spinach per person
- freshly shaved Parmesan
- chicken broth
Instructions
- Cook desired amount of orzo according to package directions either in water or chicken broth for extra flavor. Sprinkle additional Parmesan over top and refrigerate at this point if desired.
- Line a colander with fresh spinach and drain orzo into colander, wilting the spinach. Stir.
- Turn into a sprayed baking dish and toss with Parmesan to taste.
- Turn into a sprayed baking dish and toss with Parmesan to taste.
- When ready to bake, place in a 325 oven for 30 minutes until hot and melty.
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I’m joining some of these great parties this week:
the Tablescaper for SEASONAL SUNDAY
Between Naps on the Porch for METAMORPHIS MONDAY & TABLESCAPE THURSDAY
Stone Gable for ON THE MENU MONDAY and TUTORIALS, TIPS & TIDBITS THURSDAY
The Gunny Sack for WHAT’S IN THE GUNNY SACK?
Memories by the Mile for TUESDAY TRIVIA
Savvy Southern Style for WOW US WEDNESDAY
Cuisine Kathleen for LET’S DISH
Rattlebridge Farms for FOODIE FRIDAY
Alderberry Hill for MAKE THE SCENE MONDAY
The Dedicated House for MAKE IT PRETTY MONDAY
No Minimalist Here for OPEN HOUSE THURSDAY
the Answer is Chocolate for BFF OPEN HOUSE
The Busy Bee’s for THURSDAY BLOG HOP
Crafts ala mode for WHAT TO DO WEEKENDS
check out these amazing blogs!