Faith Middleton's Food Schmooze: Orzo With Chopped Lobster And Fresh Corn

Lobster and Orzo Pasta

1 tablespoon oil

1cup small diced onion

2 tablespoon curry powder

1 cup white wine

2 cups half and half

1 pound orzo pasta cooked in boiling salted water and drained

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 pound of cooked chopped lobster meat

1 cup fresh corn kernels

¼ cup diced fresh tomato

4 tablespoons chopped chives

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Add the onions and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the garlic and curry powder then cook for an additional 2 minutes on medium low heat. Pour in the white wine and reduce until almost evaporated. Incorporate the half and half and the orzo pasta then cook until the half and half is reduce and absorbed into the pasta. Season with the one tablespoon salt then add the cooked lobster and corn kernels. Finish with the diced tomatoes and chopped chives. Heat through and serve.

Makes 8 portions.

(Recipe from Chris Prosperi)

Tomatillo Salsa

1 cup diced cucumber about ½ inch

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup diced tomatillo about ½ inch

½ cup diced red onion

¼ cup chopped cilantro

1 teaspoon agave nectar

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 ripe avocado ½ inch dice about ½ cup

Start by seeding and dicing the cucumber into ½ inch pieces. Then toss in a bowl with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and let stand for 10 minutes. In the meantime peel the dry outer husk off the tomatillo and cut into a ½ inch dice. Place in a large mixing bowl. Chop the onion and cilantro then combine with tomatillo and mix well. Season with agave and lime juice. Next carefully cut the avocado in half around the pit. Separate by twisting. Then remove the skin, pit and chop into ½ inch dice. Add to the other vegetables and mix to incorporate. Next squeeze out any excess water from the cucumber. Work in small batches. Add to the salsa and mix. Taste and add more salt if necessary.

Makes 3 cups.

(From Chris Prosperi)

Ellie Krieger's Low-Fat Popcorn

1/4 cup of Popcorn Kernels

1/2 teaspoon peanut oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

Put all three ingredients in a bowl and mix.  Put that mixture in a paper bag and fold over a couple of times.  Microwave for two minutes and wow.