ORZO WITH FETA, GREEN BEANS AND TOMATOES

10 oz. Florida snap beans or Florida green beans
1 cup orzo (rice-shaped pasta)
1 medium Florida onion
2 garlic cloves
3 medium Florida tomatoes
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. white-wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh flat-leafed
parsley leaves
1 cup crumbled feta (about 6 ounces)

Fill a 4-quart kettle three-fourths full with salted water and bring to a boil for beans and orzo.

Chop onion and mince garlic. Quarter and seed tomatoes. Cut quarters lengthwise into 1⁄4-inch-thick slices. Trim beans and cut into 1-inch pieces. In a large skillet, cook onion and garlic in oil over moderate heat until onion is softened. Add tomatoes and cook, stirring, until tomatoes are softened, about 2 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.

Have ready a bowl of ice and cold water. In boiling salted water blanch beans 1 minute. With a slotted spoon transfer beans to ice water to stop cooking. Drain beans well in a colander and pat dry. Add beans to tomato mixture and return water in kettle to a boil. Boil orzo until al dente and drain in colander. Add orzo to bean mixture with vinegar, parsley, feta, and salt and pepper, to taste. Toss to combine well.

CURRIED CHICKEN, GREEN BEAN AND ALMOND SALAD

12 oz. Florida green beans or Florida snap beans, trimmed,
halved crosswise
2 cups shredded roasted chicken breast meat (from about 3
chicken breast halves)
1 cup thinly sliced red onion
5 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro, divided
2 tsp. curry powder
1⁄3 cup plain nonfat yogurt
3 Tbsp. low-fat mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp. sliced almonds, toasted

Cook beans in pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Rinse under cold water. Drain well. Transfer beans to large bowl. Add chicken, onion and 4 Tbsp. of the cilantro.

Stir curry powder in small skillet over medium heat until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Transfer to small bowl. Whisk in yogurt, mayonnaise and lime juice. Add dressing to chicken mixture; toss to coat. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with almonds and remaining tablespoon of cilantro.