Every month, we get a magazine from our local electric co-op. The magazine is Electric Consumer, and it’s online. Charlie often tears recipes out of it and tries them or gives them to me to try. We’ve had some excellent meals out of it.

This month, they had a recipe for Mushroom Orzo Pilaf, and Charlie tore it out. Alas! I only had a little bit of orzo, and no rosemary. So I reduced the quantities of everything, used dill weed instead of rosemary, and added some baby lima beans. Not the same, but still excellent!

Mushroom Orzo Pilaf

• olive oil
• onion, diced
• sliced mushrooms
• carrot, sliced
• salt
• minced garlic
• orzo
• twice as much veg broth as orzo
• lima beans
• chopped parsley
• salt and pepper
• chopped fresh rosemary (or dried dill weed or whatever)

Heat the oil. cook the onion, mushrooms, and carrots. Salt them and stir occasionally, until the veg are tender. Add garlic and cook another few seconds. Add orzo, rosemary (or dill or whatever), lima beans, and veg stock. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer about 10 minutes. Stir in parsley. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with grated cheese, if you want to. (We didn’t, for a change!)

Looks like the dog’s breakfast, but tastes great!

A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: Write about a character named Rosemary, who isn’t there when she’s needed.

MA