Recipes: Whole Wheat Vegetable Orzo

This is a satisfying, hearty and healthy meal that is my go to pre-race.  I've eaten it before all of my half-marathons and before my marathon. 

Pasta is a great energy food.  Orzo are tiny pasta shapes that look like rice. 

2 cups whole wheat orzo
4 small carrots, peeled and diced
4 small zucchini, diced
2 cups of chopped broccoli florets (I use frozen and microwave it prior to adding)
4 tablespoons organic unsalted butter
1 cup grated organic cheddar cheese

Put the pasta in the saucepan together with the carrot.  Cover generously with boiling water and cook for five minutes over high heat.  Add the zucchini and broccoli and continue to cook for seven minutes.  Dump contents into a pasta strainer.  In the same pan you used, melt the butter.  Once melted pour back in the vegetables and pasta from the strainer.  Toss in the cheese and stir until melted all the way through.  Enjoy!

The beer is to calm the nerves!  Technically carbs too right?

You can also vary the vegetables if you like.  Using peas and corn instead of zucchini and broccoli. This recipe definitely makes enough for leftovers and this heats up very well, making it great to take to work.