If you don’t know me personally or haven’t been following this blog long, you should read this About section to find out why I started it. You will see why every now and then I have to grab my BFF and go to lunch and spend the day thrift and vintage store shopping. Everyone needs a BFF, especially when you live in a zoo the majority of the time and need someone to help you escape from reality for a few hours and regain your perspective, like me.

We were out rummaging through our favorite stores last week and she tells me about this great recipe she had been making for years that she thought we would like. (There was no name for it, so I just made this one up.) I have no idea why I never heard about this before, because it sounded amazing. Especially since I had bought some of that awesome new ground beef from Whole Foods. I decided that would be the first thing I used it in. Let me tell ya, it is SO GOOD! My husband went back for seconds last night, which is always a great sign.

Of all the meats I purchased at Whole Foods last week, I thought the ground beef was really expensive. I really wanted to try it though and just see if it really was better. Well, it is. Way better. In fact, I am not sure after eating it that I could ever eat the regular ground beef anymore. I am spoiled. Forever.

This recipe is super easy to make and it is delicious. It took less than 20 minutes to have it on the table and ready.

Sassy Ground Beef and Orzo

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can Rotel tomatoes
• 3/4 cup red, yellow and green bell peppers, diced
• 3/4 cup sweet onion, diced
• 1/2 – 3/4 packet of taco seasoning
• 3/4 – 1 cup shredded cheddar and Monterrey jack cheese (optional)
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tbs light oil

Cook the orzo pasta according to the package directions. While your waiting on that, in a large skillet, over medium heat, add your oil. Then add the peppers and onions and let cook for about 3 minutes or until softened.

Then add in your ground beef and cook until browned.

Once that is done, dump in the whole can of Rotel and your taco seasoning. I used about 3/4 of the packet.

Let that simmer for about 8-10 minutes so the flavors can really blend together.

Put the orzo on the plate and then top with the ground beef mixture. You can add a little bit of shredded cheese to the top if you want, but it’s not necessary.

Out of curiosity, I also tried this with some whole grain tortilla chips and it was amazing. I was thinking that this would be a great appetizer to serve at parties with chips. You could cook it all and then keep it heated in a crock pot. Simple, easy and would be a great party snack.

I think this is a great way to get your kids to eat some veggies! Like I said the other day, I sneak stuff in to my dinners and if no one fusses about it, then I just keep doing it. As long as I dice things up really small, I can get away with it.