Interpreting what "cook" means in a recipe.?

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Sugar Pie

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med-high to brown meat. (drain grease)

Then add peppers. Maybe turn down to med, but keep stirring and "cooking"

Then add orzo. If it's raw, you will probably be adding water or stock, too, so it will cook. Put lid on pan and set timer. If it's already cooked pasta, you are just warming it through, so time doesn't really matter.
 
I have a recipe that is a skillet dish using mainly bell peppers, ground beef and orzo. It says to "cook" the beef until brown, add the veggies and "cook" then add the orzo and "cook". It has times like 4 minutes, 7 minutes, etc.

My question is: Is all this cooking at a simmer, or between a simmer and a boil, and will the orzo be fully cooked after 7 minutes in the last stage?
Here are the actual directions:
Heat a medium soup pot over medium-high heat with the EVOO. When the EVOO is hot, add beef and season with salt, black pepper and allspice. Brown the meat for 5 minutes then add garlic, onion, peppers and bay leaf and cook for 7-8 minutes, until tender.

Stir in stock and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook to al dente, 7-8 minutes. Turn off heat. Fold in basil.

Serve in shallow bowls with grated cheese.

---Does that last bit mean BOIL 7-8 minutes?
Oh--I'm using an electric skillet. No stovetop.
 
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