Garden Happenings and Couscous Salad recipe!

Garden Happenings!

So much has been happening in the garden.... all the veggies are exploding! Well not literally but geez a Lou, everything is huge! I know from experience that all the tomatoes, squash (oh the squash), beans and cucumbers will be ready all at the same time and I will be flipping through my recipes, old and new, in search of ways to nourish ourselves with all the over abundance of it all. I'll have to remember to breathe as well.

We LOVE growing a garden.  It's a family affair really.  It all starts when the snow is flying outside with the seed catalogs and the layout planning.  Just when we think winter Will.Never.End.... our chance to get dirty comes.  The kids help in the tilling of the soil, digging of the holes and planting of the seeds.  It's very rewarding to them once they see the fruits of their labor. 

 Do you have a garden?  What do you plant?

Mama Mingle Event!

Are you a new mama?  Are you expecting?  This is an amazing event just for you!

Come meet the best resources all in one place, meet other new and expectant mamas, eat delicious food and have fun!  I'm so excited to be a part of this event, I hope I see you there!

Couscous Salad Recipe!

This is my new favorite summer salad.  Remember the abundance I talked about earlier?  This is a great recipe to you some of that up!  Fresh veggies, pearled couscous and a smoked paprika dressing that's to die for.  Seriously, I'd put this dressing on everything it's that good!  I originally got this recipe from a cookbook but revamped it to make it my own. 

 Ask me how I can revamp a recipe of yours!

Dressing

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Couscous

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 1/3 cup whole wheat pearl couscous (I used tri color, it's what I had on hand)

1/2 teaspoon salt

Salad

2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, halved

1 cup jarred roasted red bell peppers, drained and coarsely chopped (Trader Joe's has a red and yellow roasted red pepper jar that I love!)

2 packed cups baby spinach leaves

1/4 cup garlic chives, diced

5 oz capers, drained and rinsed

1/3 cup slivered almonds

For the dressing:

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, smoked paprika, salt and pepper until smooth.

For the couscous:

In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat.  Add the couscous and cook, stirring frequently, until the couscous is golden, 4 to 5 minutes.  Add 2 cups of water and the salt and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to medium-low.  Cover and simmer until the couscous is just tender and the liquid is absorbed, 9 to 10 minutes.  Uncover and set aside to cool slightly.

For the salad:

In a large bowl, mix together the tomatoes, bell peppers, spinach, chives, capers and almonds.  Add the couscous and the dressing.  Toss until all the ingredients are coated.

Enjoy!

I hope you and your family enjoy this hearty salad, it's seriously good!  You can serve it at room temperature or chilled, making it the perfect dish for your next BBQ or picnic.

So my friends, thanks so much for stopping by.  Check back often for updates, more recipes and maybe some giveaways!