Bison Steak, Twice Baked Potatoes, Orzo Primavera, and Cheddar Muffins

Last night we ate a feast!  It was all “clean” though.  We had Bison Steaks, Twice Baked Potatoes, Orzo Primavera, and Cheddar Muffins.  Yep, that’s a lot of starch.  I didn’t say it was a balanced meal.

The steaks were really good!  They had a lot of flavor to them and were easy to prepare.  The twice baked potatoes were my favorite.  They tasted amazing!  The Orzo Primavera was good, but not great.  It tasted very bland.  I’m trying to think of some other spices or something to add to it as we finish up the leftovers.  The Cheddar Muffins were good, but tasted like wheat bread or a bran muffin.  The cheddar wasn’t very present in them.  Good, but not great.  That’s the low down on those dishes.  The steak and potato will definitely be made again!

ORZO PRIMAVERA

Serves 6

1 cup whole-wheat orzo, dry
1 tsp sea salt
1 cup frozen baby peas and/or edamame thawed
1 small red pepper, seeded and diced
1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
1-2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp best-quality olive oil
Fresh ground black pepper

Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Stir in orzo and salt. Return to a boil. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep orzo from sticking. Grains should be tender yet firm when done.

Drain and transfer to a colorful serving bowl. Add all remaining ingredients and mix well. Season with salt and pepper.

———————

TWICE BAKED POTATO

Serves 2

1 potato
1 tbsp chives
2 tbsp fat-free cottage cheese
1/4 shredded fat-free cheese
1 tsp parsley

Bake at 450 degrees F for 45 minutes. Slice in half, remove insides and place skins on a cookie sheet. Mix potato insides with other ingredients. Put filling back into skins. Broil for five minutes.

———————

CHEDDAR MUFFINS

Makes 19 Muffins

1 + 3/4 cup whole-wheat flour
2 tbsp raw brown sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
3/4 tsp sea salt
1 + 1/2 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese
3/4 cup Yves Meatless Ham
1 egg, beaten
1 cup skim milk
2 tbsp canola oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line tins with muffin cups. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in cheese and ham. In a small bowl, combine egg, milk, and canola oil and mix well. Pour liquid ingredients into flour mixture and stir until all the flour is wet. Fill muffin tins to the top and bake 20-25 minutes. Remove muffins from tins right away and let cool before eating.

———————

JALOVEC’s MARINADED BISON STEAKS

Serves 2

2 tbsp grape-seed oil
1/2 clove garlic
1 tbsp thyme
1/4 tsp crushed juniper
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp chili paste (more if you enjoy it spicier)
2 Bison Steaks

Mix all ingredients. Coat 2 bison steaks with marinade and refrigerate 24 hours in advance. Heat the grill to the highest possible temperature. Season the steaks with sea salt and grill for about three minutes on each side.