Welcome to my site!

Welcome to my site!
I'm Cindy, and I love to cook! And, I love to eat... hence the size of my rear end! I come from a long line of cooks. My great great Grandmother was a cook in the original Harvey Houses. My grandmother Julia was an awesome cook, and my mom was incredible. I owe my skills to these great women. Especially my Mom who said this to me about making gravy... "Cindy Lynn, wallpaper paste is wallpaper paste & gravy is gravy. Never the two shall meet!" Shall we say my first experience at making gravy left a little bit to be desired! Thank the high heavens my cooking skills have improved since then! Enjoy!

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Israeli Couscous with Hazelnuts

I’ve never had Israeli Couscous before.  On a recent trip to Trader Joes I spotted a box of it on the shelf and thought let’s give it a try.  On the back of the box was a recipe to prepare it with Pine Nuts and Parsley.  Being that I didn’t have any pine nuts, I decided to substitute hazelnuts and adjust a few of the other ingredients as well.  I will definitely make this again.  It is sweet and savory at the same time, full of flavor, and delectable!  Give it a try – quite different from regular couscous; almost more pasta like. 

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons butter
½ white onion, finely chopped
3 bay leaves
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1 ½ cups Israeli Couscous
2 cups chicken broth (for vegan/vegetarian recipe substitute vegetable broth)
¼ cup raisins
Handful of chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Handful of chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup hazelnuts, toasted and rough chopped
Zest of one lemon
Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

Melt the butter in a soup pot; add the chopped onions and sauté until almost translucent. 

Add the bay leaves, cinnamon and couscous.  Sauté until the couscous just begins to brown. 

Add the chicken broth, parsley and raisins.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer until the chicken broth is absorbed. 

Add the basil, hazelnuts and lemon zest.  Salt and Pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy as a side dish or as your main course with a salad.

1 comment:

Columbo said...

Simply awesome tasting. This recipe is a keeper and a must to try.

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