couscous

Mediterranean-inspired feast. When you read those words, what do you picture? An afternoon (or two!) slaving away in the kitchen? Think again! With this recipe you can offer friends and family a hearty Mediterranean meal in a matter of minutes. Sure, you'll have to take some help from the grocery store, but really, sometimes we all make a few cheats in the kitchen here and there. Quick-cooking couscous is tossed with veggies and served alongside spicy beef patties. Purchase hummus, tapenade, and pita bread, and you'll you be feasting in no time. Get the recipe now.

Couscous has recently become one of my favorite pantry staples. It's wonderfully quick-cooking and can be seasoned with just about anything. In this recipe, canned tomatoes, garbanzo beans, and fresh mint give the couscous a Mediterranean feel. The couscous is paired with a lemon-peppery lamb chop that's succulent to eat and simple to make. Don't feel limited by the recipe; it's actually highly adaptable. Substitute chicken for the lamb, black beans for the garbanzos, and cilantro for the mint, and you've got a totally different dish. To learn the versatile technique, read more

It's just one week until Dec. 25, and between the Christmas cookies, edible gifts, and holiday cocktail parties, my regular diet has gone by the wayside. Tonight I'm taking matters into my own hands by making a healthy steak and couscous dish. Couscous is a simple ingredient and it's important to season it well. This recipe does so with a Moroccan-inspired mixture of spices — cumin, coriander, turmeric, and cinnamon. The steak is rubbed with the same blend, resulting in a dish that is intensely flavorful. To get the straightforward recipe, read more

In terms of cooking seasonal cuisine, late September and early October can be a confusing time. The farmers markets are still overflowing with heirloom tomatoes, while butternut squash and apples begin to appear, too. I can't help but wonder, am I supposed to make Caprese salad or butternut squash soup?

Instead of obsessing over what to make, I like to select dishes that are virtually season-less, like this skewered fish with couscous. The fish chunks are coated with a store-bought tapenade before being cooked under the broiler. Served with a quick-cooking couscous, it makes for a healthy, balanced meal that comes together in minutes. To offer it to your family, check out the recipe and read more

Say good-bye to boring chicken with this creative and healthy recipe. It's a balanced meal complete with a refreshing cucumber and parsley salad and garbanzo bean couscous.

The chicken is seasoned with ground ginger and coriander, and thanks to quick-cooking boneless skinless tenders, it's ready in just five short minutes. Don't be intimidated by the multiple steps in the recipe, it really is simple. To check it out, read more

Dolores Park is San Francisco's see-and-be-seen picnic spot. On warm weekends, the park fills up with everyone from families to hipsters looking to soak up the sun. Since the weather here is unpredictable, rarely do I plan a picnic in advance. Every time my sister calls to invite me to D-Park, I simply grab whatever is in my fridge. However, with a warm week ahead of us, I promised her that I'd make the ultimate fresh, healthy picnic. The Mediterranean-inspired menu will consist of the regular store-bought suspects (salty cheeses, briny olives, cured meats, crispy crackers) supplemented with some homemade favorites.

I'll wrap eggplant caponata and mozzarella sandwich halves in parchment paper. Then, I'll pack two salads — three bean with honey-mustard vinaigrette and couscous with spiced zucchini — in reusable plastic containers. These vegetarian-friendly recipes are perfect for picnicking anywhere so why not add them to your repertoire? To do so read more