I just love how my cooking habits change from season to season. Obviously cooking with seasonal ingredients plays an important role in selecting exactly what I make for dinner but how I cook it directly effects what is going on outside.
In the winter, I don’t mind standing at the stove for an hour or more to make a big comfort food meal. In the spring I start to get out of that comfort food zone realizing I can’t hide behind bulky sweaters much longer, so meals need to start lightening up. In the summer, it’s all about fresh vegetables and getting through the CSA box before the next pickup. I also don’t want to spend a long time cooking. Get in, get out, on the table and in my belly! Oh and the fall is basically an extension of the summer, trying to savor the last bits and pieces.
I can’t be the only one that cooks like this. Right?
The one constant that does remain the same though is the vegetables. I never make a meal without one, even if it’s just a simple salad to go along with my main course.
I love vegetables and I’ll eat them every way, except over cooked, however I love them more when I can simply toss a whole bunch of them raw into a dish and call it a day. As the rest of the meal cooks away, you chop up those vegetables and everything is ready to go by the time the chicken finishes cooking.
This is one of those dishes where your knife skills doesn’t matter, it’s not about how it looks but how it tastes. The crunchy zucchini, sweet tomatoes and tender marinated artichoke hearts will turn any vegetable hater into a lover.
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- zest from 1 lemon
- 1 garlic clove, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon za'atar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups uncooked orzo
- 1 - 14.5 oz can quartered artichokes, drained and rinsed
- 1 medium zucchini, cut into 1/4 inch chunks
- 1 pint heirloom tomatoes halved
- 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives
- 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
- juice from 1 lemon
- 1 garlic clove, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon za'atar
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Rub the chicken thighs with lemon zest, mind garlic, za'atar and salt. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until no longer pink throughout. Let cool slightly and chop into 1/2 inch pieces.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook the orzo according to the packages directions.
- In a large bowl, combine the chopped chicken, cooked orzo, artichokes, zucchini, tomatoes, olives and feta cheese.
- In a small bowl whisk together the lemon juice, minced garlic, red wine vinegar, za'atar, salt and olive oil to form the dressing.
- Pour about half the dressing (more or less according to your taste) onto the orzo salad and toss.
- Serve immediately and store the remaining dressing for another use.
As part of the #ChooseDreams initiative from American Family Insurance #WeekdaySupper is presenting you with healthy recipes for the next few weeks to help turn your family favorites and comfort foods into healthier versions. Just by adding some fresh vegetables into a family favorite meal will instantly add nutrition and make it delicious.
I encourage you to visit your farmers markets or start a garden, when you get hands on with your vegetables it becomes a lot more exciting!
Please visit American Family Insurance for more information and visit our Family Favorites Turned Healthy #ChooseDreams Pinterest board for more fabulous ideas.
You can also visit American Family Insurance on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest,Google +, Youtube, and LinkedIn.
For more great #WeekdaySupper recipes this week, be sure to check out the rest of the recipes below:
- Monday – Blueberry Chicken and Rice by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Tuesday – Greek Chicken and Orzo Salad by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- Wednesday – Sesame Salad with Edamame by Ruffles & Truffles
- Thursday – Portuguese Flank Steak by Family Foodie
- Friday – Pasta & Pea Sauce by The Foodie Army Wife
Now that is a bowl of summer goodness!
You are definitely not the only one who cooks like that. For me, I mostly want to keep things quick in the kitchen because we don’t have central air and there is approximately zero air circulation near the stove!!
Perfect for a summer dinner!
I hate baking anything in the summer. I can’t stand it. So meals like this are perfect. Oh and look at those tomatoes! What great colors. I just got some interesting things in my CSA box and I can’t wait to explore.
Oh YUM!! I just bought a bag of Orzo this weekend! I’ll have to make this!
What a great weeknight dinner! I love how healthy and kid friendly this is!
This looks like the perfect summer salad!
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I love everything you put in here! Delicious!
Perfect summer weeknight dinner!
Ooh, I could leave out the chicken for a tasty vegetarian version. Can’t wait to try it!
Love all the delicious Greek flavors in this recipe! Perfect alone or as a side for a summer dinner.
You know I haven’t had orzo in awhile – this is a great reminder of how much I like using it as a vehicle for summers salads – I’d gobble yours right up! Yum!
I love all things Greek inspired and this looks fantastic!
This is a summer meal done right! I can completely imagine sitting down at a picnic with this!!
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This looks absolutely delish– a great main dish or side dish for the summer!
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Your summer cooking style and mine are basically identical twins! I’m all about eating all the veggies. Love this salad!
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This looks amazing, love all the flavors!
Girl, I am all about the veggies and quickie meals this summer. Who wants to spend all their time over a hot stove when there are summer situations to get into? Love the veggies here!