When life gives me lemons, I make Lemony Orzo with Sausage and Veggies

Lemony Orzo with Sausage and Veggies

By Lucy Olschan April 5, 2019

This is a popular recipe in our house. The kids love it because it's pasta (which they could eat every day). I love it because it's easy and I make only one meal for the family and the hubby loves it because it is delicious 🙂

You can use sausage of your liking - Italian or hot. I love Aidell's Chicken sausage in this meal the best.

Prep Time : 10 minutes
Cook Time : 30 minutes
Yield : 4 entree servings

Ingredients

Sausage - 1 lb sliced into rounds
Orzo pasta - 1 box
Green Zucchini - 1, sliced into half moons
Yellow Squash - 1, sliced into half moons
Shallot - 1, diced
Garlic - 2 cloves minced
Red Bell Pepper - 1, sliced
Lemon - 1
Parmesan Cheese - about 1/4 cup
Italian Seasoning - pinch
Salt and Pepper - to taste
Olive oil

Instructions

Cook orzo pasta according to package directions. Most need about 7 minutes. When finished cooking, drain reserving about 1/4 cup of the pasta water. In the meantime, heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add sausage and cook until browned, 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from pan and set aside. Heat another drizzle of olive oil in the same pan over medium heat. Add shallot and sweat for about a minute. Add the squash and zucchini. Cook until softened, 5-6 minutes. Add the bell pepper and garlic to pan with zucchini. Cook for about 2-4 minutes, until the peppers are softened. Season with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Be careful on the salt as the parmesan cheese is very salty. Add the sausage into pan with veggies, some of the parmesan, a good squeeze of the lemon (the more, the better. tastes like summer in a bowl), the pasta and some of the pasta water. Stir to combine. Add more pasta water if needed to create a loose consistency.

I had gone to work like any other Wednesday, but at lunch time I was advised that my telecommuting schedule would no longer be allowed at the firm. I was stunned. After more than four years of this accommodation, two kids born and a husband who took on a job working around the clock. I loved what I did and I loved where I did it. I was told I can work as much or as little as my schedule allowed but had to be from the office 50 miles away from my home. That would mean that I would only work to cover daycare and travel expenses. It meant I was out and suddenly became a stay-at-home-mom. I worried about what the future would hold. When I put the kids to sleep I started to Google jobs around me and some remote jobs. When my husband got up for work, he said: “No. Absolutely not. I want you to be home with the kids and we’ll make it work.” All I could think was “well that sounds really easy but how much do you think you can work?” Also, I was worried about myself. I never dreamed about not working. I was dead set against it. I always worked hard and I liked it. Gave me independence and self-worth. But it being the spring, I agreed to give it a try through the summer. After all, a summer at home with the boys didn’t sound bad. It’s now a month later and I can honestly report that I am shocked at how much I enjoy it. I truly feel like I am present and making a difference in my family members’ lives. I realized what my problem was. Being a virgo perfectionist, I tried to mom like I don’t have a job and I tried working like I don’t have family. I was in constant agony of guilt – when I was with my kids I felt like I should be working and when I was working I felt like I should be with my kids. Problem solved. As suddenly SAHM, I have only one goal and objective – my kids and my husband. At the end, I am grateful for how it worked out, although it was very painful at the time. Even though it was needed, I would have never made the decision to stay at home on my own. I am especially excited since this gives me some freedom for my passions – cooking and writing. It was only fitting that the first family meal I would make as a SAHM would turn those lemons into Lemony Orzo with Sausage and Veggies! Enjoy.

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