Here's the Dish: Spiced Couscous

If you're feeling a little adventurous this Thanksgiving, and are tired of the usual suspects on the dinner table, then give this tasty dish a try. It has an interesting mix of sweet and savory flavors that explode in your mouth. You can use rice, couscous, or whatever grain you fancy for this one. I like to use the "Harvest Grains Blend" from Trader Joe's. It is a blend of couscous, orzo, baby garbanzo beans and red quinoa. As you can see in the photo, it's a colorful dish, too.

Spiced Couscous

Ingredients:

Half of a 16 oz package of Harvest Grains Blend, or 2/3 cup uncooked long grain rice

1 1/4 c. water (if using the rice; otherwise follow directions on package of Harvest Grains

Blend)

3/4 c. chopped sweet onion

1 1/2 t. olive oil

1 1/2 t. honey

3/4 c. reduced sodium chicken broth

1/4 c. golden raisins

1 tsp. curry powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground cumin

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 c. chopped sweet red pepper (or orange, or yellow!)

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan, bring rice or couscous and water to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 14-16 mins or until tender. (If using the Harvest Blend, boil 1 3/4 water or chicken broth to a boil - I like to use half water and half broth, for extra flavor. Add 1 T. butter and stir in 1 1/4 c. of the Harvest Blend. Bring back to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 mins.)

2. While rice is simmering, saute onion in oil for 1 minute. Stir in honey and cook two minutes longer. Stir in the broth, raisins, curry, salt, cumin and cinnamon. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for five minutes. Stir in red pepper and rice until well blended. Cook two minutes longer or until rice is heated through.