one meal.. two meal.. three meal.. pow.. shrimp~asparagus lemon orzo {salad}

 

this was not what i intended on making the other night.. i was going to take my nice succulent shrimp add a sliver of jalapeno to the back and wrap it all in bacon and then skewer it and cook it on the grill {like i did here}  along with grilled asparagus {like i did here} and then a side of lemon orzo.. {which was going to be the featured recipe..} buttttttttt when i got home from work that idea went out the window because there was another monsoon outside and grilling on the patio didn't look to be to safe or fun for that matter.. so it got switched up.. i took 2 slices of center cut bacon i cooked them down until tender then threw in 1 jalapeno diced and cooked it until soft.. then i threw in the peeled deveined shrimp and cooked until no longer pink.. while it was cooking i made the orzo and the last 3 minutes of the water boiling i added my cut asparagus  then drained it all.. added a little lemon infused olive oil, lemon zest and lemon juice, then added it to the shrimp.. voila dinner is served.. it was so freaking good!!!! then the next day pete asked where it was i said why he said it would be good cold.. and guess what it was awesome cold!! so it started out as an entirely different meal.. got switched and made into a hot dish.. then the next day a cold salad.. i love it when that happens!! i hope you enjoy it!

  

shrimp~asparagus lemon orzo {salad}

prep time: 5 minutes
cooking time: 15 minutes
servings: 4

ingredients:

2 lbs. uncooked, peeled, deviened and tail off shrimp
1 jalapeno, diced fine
2 strips center cut bacon, diced small
1 tblsp. cajun seasoning
1 bag of orzo
1 bunch asparagus, woody ends removed and cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 tblsp. lemon infused olive oil
juice and zest of 1/2 a lemon
salt and pepper

directions:

cook orzo according to package directions except about 3 minute before orzo is to be done add asparagus to the boiling water.. drain and add back to the pot.. add lemon zest, juice and olive oil.. toss until evenly coated.. in the interim while it's cooking take a large non stick pan {i used my wok} over medium heat cook bacon down until translucent but not crispy.. about 4-6 minutes.. add jalapeno.. cook until soft about another 3 minutes.. i tossed my shrimp with the seasoning before adding to the pan.. then add to the pan it won't take long to cook.. about 6 minutes or so.. you want to cook them until no longer pink..  once shrimp is done and the orzo is done combine the two add salt and pepper and check to see if you need more cajun seasoning then serve.. now it can be served hot or cold.. or both like we did.. hot one night with a nice crisp salad and cold the next night.. it's a win win!!!

enjoy and get cook'n!!!