It was our son’s birthday today.

We couldn’t make it any easier tonight. Hot dogs, baked beans, potato chips, and soda. Yeah, not a real healthy dinner, but everyone loved it.

There’s nothing like a nice five-cheese sauce with roasted garlic and even more fresh parmesan reggiano grated on top.

No, we didn’t eat this beauty, but we sure gave it some thought, until we decided that pizza would be a lot more tasty last night.

We spent the day at a nature preserve where we visited a pow wow and then walked the trails.

Then we had a picnic.

Per the wife, we are taking the night off from cooking.

There’s nothing like a little KFC on a Friday night.

One thing we love around here is orzo. Yum.

Here’s how we make it.

We take one onion (chopped) and saute it in one stick of butter (yes, one stick).

Once the onions start to look a bit “clear”, add one pound of orzo.

Keep “toasting” the orzo until some of it browns.

When a fair amount of the orzo is “toasted”, add two cans of chicken broth (we use homemade chicken or turkey stock, but you can use whatever you want).

When it comes to a boil, reduce the heat and cover the pot. Simmer for about 40 minutes (or until the pasta is cooked to your liking).

And that’s it. That’s how we make orzo in our house, and there is never any left over.

I have loved artichokes my entire life, how did I miss the fact that March 16th is National Artichoke Hearts Day?

In celebration of this wondrous occasion, we will be serving Barbecued Chicken (in honor of our International EATAPETA Day festivities) along with those delicious artichokes pictured above, with a side of rice and a nice glass of southern iced sweet tea.

Don’t worry orzo fans, I will post the photos tomorrow.

Okay, so I forgot to post this picture the other day.

We tried a new sauce tonight that was delicious. Who knew they could shove five different cheeses into the jar with all those tomatoes and spices too?

It was very delicious.