PARMESAN ORZO RISOTTO WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH RECIPE

I tried a new Weight Watcher friendly recipe today and thought it was very good. I thought I would share it with you in case you would like to try it too. It was pretty easy to make, quick to cook and full of flavor.

It's called Parmesan Orzo Risotto with Butternut Squash.


Here are all the ingredients you will need.

Cooking spray such as PAM
2 cups butternut squash cut into small cubes
1/2 tsp olive oil
1/8 tsp salt or to taste
1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 cup uncooked orzo
1 12/ cups of water
1 cup chicken broth/ can you vegetable broth if you like
8 whole springs of fresh thyme
2 Tbsp Fat Free half and half
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/8 tsp of fresh black pepper



Oops, I forgot to get my fat free half and half out.

I always find it a bit hard to cook and take photos at the same time so please forgive me. I forgot to photograph a few steps.

First you preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

In medium bowl, toss cut up squash with oil and salt and spread in a single layer on the baking sheet. Roast about 20-25 minutes or until squash is tender and lightly browned. Stir half way through cooking.

In the mean time, melt butter in a medium pan over medium heat and add orzo. Stir constantly until orzo begins to toast and brown. Do not burn!

Add water, broth and thyme springs (I pulled the thyme off the sprigs and just used the leaves). Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered until liquid is nearly absorbed. About 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.

This is what it should look like before you move on. Still a bit of liquid but not a lot.

Turn off heat, remove thyme sprigs if you used the whole thing. Stir in half and half.

Add cheese and stir.

Add pepper and salt to taste.

Combine the roasted butternut squash.

Then dish it up and enjoy.

For those of you on Weight Watchers, this makes enough for four servings and the point value is 5.

However, you do not have to be on Weight Watchers to try this. Trust me, no one will ever think this tastes like a "diet" food.

I hope you try this and let me know what you think.

Also, don't forget, for every message you leave me, on any post, between now and the 22nd, will count as an entry to my giveaway.