Spooky Orzo and Orange Dreamsicles...(WW Points? Do you really want to know?)

So one night this week, while at work, I was flipping through a Bon Apetite magazine. I stumbled upon this orzo recipe and orange "drink" recipe that both sounded heavenly. I decided Halloween night was a good night to splurge on points and thought I'd make these. Here are the recipes as I found them, with calculated points values. Now, before you get scared off, read on my friends. I made some alterations to make them both "reasonable" points values - still a splurge, but at least one can eat them occasionally without turning into a pumpkin!

Ingredients:




Orzo with Creamed Corn sauce (12 WW points)
* 3/4 cup orzo
* 1 1/2 cups whipping cream
* 2 ears of corn, kernels cut from cob, divided (1 cob reserved)
* 2 T olive oil
* 3 T finely chopped fresh leek (white part only)
* 3 T dry white wine
* chopped fresh chive

Cook orzo in large saucepan of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain



Meanwhile, place cream, half of corn kernels, and reserved cob in heavy medium saucepan. Boil over medium heat until thickened, about 10 minutes. Discard cob: puree sauce in blender until smooth.






Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add leek and saute until tender, about two minutes. Add wine and simmer until almost evaporated, about 1 minute.



Add remaining corn kernels and suate until tender, about 3 minutes. Add creamed corn sauce and cooked orzo. Bring to simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl, sprinkle with chives, and serve. (Serves 4)



The feast!


Orange Dreamsicle (8 WW points)
* 2 cup(s) vanilla ice cream, (1 pint)
* 3 tbsp fresh orange juice
* 1 jigger(s) vodka, (3T)
* 1 fl oz orange-flavored liqueur, (3T)
Blend all ingredients, pour into 2 glasses and serve.

Even though I planned to splurge, the thought of using 20 points just for a side dish and after dinner/dessert drink made me ill. Plus, we invited my sister-in-law and her husband to join us for dinner and trick or treating, so I needed more food anyway. My overall plan for dinner was some shrimp (simply sauteed in a pan with some olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, and seasoned with salt and pepper) asparagus, and orzo. Sister in law and her husband are vegetarian though, so the orzo needed to be their main course. I decided to do 1 1/2 times the recipe, with a few changes, and call it 6 servings. We'll see how many servings it ends up being, but this is my "new" orzo recipe based on 6.

Orzo with Light Creamed Corn Sauce (6 WW Points)
* 1 1/2 cup orzo
* 1 1/2 cups 1% milk
* 1 T flour
* 2 T butter
* 3 ears of corn, kernels cut from cob, divided (1 cob reserved)
* 2 T olive oil
* 3 T finely chopped fresh leek (white part only)
* 1 1/2 T white wine vinegar, mixed with equal parts water

Follow the same instructions, except mix the cold milk with flour to make a roux, then add the milk and butter instead of the whipping cream. 6 servings

Lean Orange Dreamsicle (5 WW Points)
* 3 cup(s) fat-free ice cream, no sugar added
* 1/4 cup(s) fresh orange juice
* 2 oz vodka, (1/4 cup)
* 2 fl oz orange-flavored liqueur, (1/4 cup)
* 1 cup(s) 1% low-fat milk
Blend, pour into 4 glasses, and serve.

Apparently by the time we had the Orange Dreamsicles, I was too overloaded with sugar to remember to take pictures of them. But yes, they were yummy! I did get pictures of my dear hubby making our first drink of the evening - Orange Blossom martinis. I didn't calculate points for these, but they were yummy so I'll share the recipe!





Orange Blossoms
Ice
2 lemon wedges
1 1/2 ounces orange vodka
1/2 ounce cherry liqueur
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
1/2 ounce fresh orange
1/4 tsp ground anise
1 fresh lavender sprig (optional)

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Squeeze the juice from the lemon wedges into the shaker and drop them in. Add all of the remaining ingredients except the lavender sprig and shake well. Double strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with the lavender sprig.