Sweet Almond Milk Couscous [recipe]

A short post... I needed a quick lunch/dinner tonight because hubby and I had tickets to see Oasis in concert with special guest (and my absolute fav solo artist) Ryan Adams. I chose this Sweet Almond Milk Couscous recipe I found in the food section of my local paper a few weeks ago. It's actually a Mark Bittman recipe, and it was delicious. As you can see, we paired it with a salad.

For breakfast I made the vegan biscuits and gravy recipe from another one of my favorite cookbooks, Vegan with a Vengeance. I love this recipe... it is sooooo yummy. I love the bean-based gravy... it rocks!

--Sweet Almond Milk Couscous--

2.5 cups almond milk
1/3 cup sugar
pinch of salt
1 cup regular or whole wheat couscous (I used whole wheat)
2 teaspoons grated/minced lemon or orange zest (I used orange)
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 to 1 teaspoon rosewater (optional, I omitted it)
1 cup sliced or chopped almonds
1/4 cup shelled pistachios (optional, I included them)
1 cup chopped dried apricots

This recipe is uber easy! Combine milk, sugar and salt in a pot and bring to boil. Then add the couscous, zest and cardamom. Cover pot and cook for one minute before turning off the heat and letting it set for 5 minutes. After the time has passed, fluff the couscous with a fork and add rosewater if using. Then gently stir in the nuts and apricots. And enjoy! ;)

Asian Salad

I'm not sure where this recipe originated, but my sister makes this dish often for parties. It's always a big hit for those potluck-type shindigs.

It's really simple but delicious! Perfect for a light summer dinner. It's a great change of pace from a salad of greens.

And, it's vegetarian! ;)

ASIAN SALAD

1 package of slaw
1 (3oz) container of rice noodles
2 packages of ramen noodles cooked with no flavoring
1 bunch of green onions chopped
1 cup silvered almonds

Sauce:
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
2 tbl soy sauce

Mix the sauce and the other ingredients in separate bowls. Then combine it all together. See, told ya it was simple!

The recipe marks my second entry in the Presto Pasta Night round-ups, which are posted each Friday night. This week is the six-month anniversary of PPN. Head on over to Ruth's Once Upon a Feast blog to check it out... but only if you want your mouth to water!