Roasted Vegetable Orzo with White Wine and Garlic Sauce

We thought we would switch it up a bit and try some orzo this week.  It is now my new favorite pasta!

What you will need

• 2 cups orzo (6 servings)
• 4 pints of cherry tomatoes
• 1 head of garlic, separated and cracked but leave the cloves in their skin
• 4 zuccinis, diced into bite size cubes
• 2 red peppers, seeded and cut into large pieces 
• 2 sweet onions, diced into bit size cubes
• olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• parmesian cheese

Preheat the oven to 425*.  Spread the tomatoes onto a jelly roll pan.  On another jelly roll pan, put the zuccini, red peppers, and onions on a jelly roll pan.  Place the garlic in one corner of the pan.  Cover the vegetables and garlic with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.  Bake for 25 minutes.  In a large stock pot, bring water to a boil.  Season the water with salt.  Add the orzo when you are ready; it will only take 9 minutes.  When vegetables are done, turn off the oven, remove the garlic and place the vegetables back into the oven to keep them warm.  Place the garlic on a cutting board, add salt, and make a paste by mashing it with a knife.  In a large glass bowl, add 1/4 cup white wine (dry), the garlic paste, and 1/4 cup of the pasta water; and mix well.  Add the cherry tomatoes and use a potato masher to mix them into the garlic water.  When the pasta is almost done, drain the water and add the pasta to the bowl.  Removing it right before it is done will allow it to soak up some of the sauce.  Cut and add the remaining roasted vegetables and mix together.  Season again with salt and pepper.  Serve in pasta bowls with grated parmesian on top...YUM-OLA!!!

Variations...you can also add more of your favorite vegetables (roasted eggplant, spinach, mushrooms).  The best part about this meal is it can go with anything...steak, fish, chicken, sausages...we like to make enough for leftovers and then mix it up throughout the week.  And don't forget the Italian bread with dipping sauce!

How many can eat...6 to 8, depending upon what you serve it with.