pepper lime couscous

You won't believe this, but I was very excited to marry Rob, live together and cook our meals. Yes, it's true...there's no fooling you! Having lived in dorms without a personal kitchen all of college, I looked forward to cooking with resources beyond the microwave and hotpot...the latter still being one of the best kitchen electronics invented (I found mine in the garbage graduation morning and use it every single day).

I remember preparing a meal for dinner just weeks after our wedding. Chicken, rice and lemon zucchini. When it was ready we thanked the Lord for food (and we were incredibly thankful because we were dirt poor), sat down (outside on that particular evening) and began to eat.

R: "Huh. What did you flavor this zucchini with"

S: "It's lemon. What do you think?"

R: "Lemon. Ahh, yes....it's, interesting. Very lemony."

S: "Very lemony? It's not that lemony."

R: "It's pretty lemony. You didn't put anything else in it....like 100 extra lemons or anything?"

pause.

S: "You're right. This is awful."

I threw the bottle of lemon concentrate out that night.

I have since found fresh lemons to flavor meals with just the right amount of acidity and sweetness. I have also found lime juice to be a healthy, natural burst of flavor...the kind that is refreshing...not damaging to your taste buds and teeth enamel. I'm still not sure why lemon and lime concentrate is sold, but I'm glad Rob is honest with me and I'm glad we shared that terrible meal together so that now we can be glad for more natural foods, like this pepper lime couscous:

Pepper Lime Couscous

By Sarah Ikegami

1 Cup Whole Wheat Couscous

1 Cup Vegetable Stock (can use water as well)

Juice of 2 Limes (please don't be tempted to use concentrate)

Fresh Cracked Pepper & Sea Salt to Taste (be generous...afterall, it is called pepper lime cousous)

Chili Pepper

Handful of Mixed Greens

Handful fresh cilantro

Bring vegetable stock to boil. Add couscous, lower heat to a simmer and stir constantly until the couscous absorbs all the stock (couscous cooks very quick...by the time you are stirring it's practically done). Remove from heat and fluff with a fork. Add lime juice, pepper, salt, chili pepper, mixed greens and cilantro. Stir, serve and enjoy!

PS - This meal takes 5-8 minutes to prepare. It's very simple. You may also want to add onion, garlic or other seasonal vegetables.