Explosively Colorful Couscous in a Edible Pepper Bowl

I got a call yesterday from a friend of my Mother's. Would I help her with a luncheon that she would be having at her home? Of course, I was ecstatic about this event, because it is my undying dream to own a small cafe and cater small affairs like this one. She wanted the menu to be light and healthy, but unique in it's presentation. I immediately went to my kitchen and got busy.

This was my moment and I stared eagerly at my pantry. My eyes scanned and my mind started developing the menu. I came across a box of Couscous and knew that I wanted to include this in the luncheon menu.

Couscous is one of those deliciously versatile ingredients that can be served as a side dish, a salad, a main course and EVEN a dessert. Depending on your recipe, it can be sweet, savory, spicy, or (heck) all of the above. One big problem with Couscous is the presentation! It can be colorful, robust and dense in flavor, but served in a bowl it really isn't a "sight to behold." That brings me to the "Edible Pepper Bowl."

Explosively Colorful Couscous in a Edible Pepper Bowl

1 box Couscous, flavor of your choice

2 cups vegetable broth

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/2 cup matchstick carrots

1 cup chopped broccoli

1 cup chopped cauliflower

1 cup mushrooms

1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

1 small cucumber, diced

6 oz feta cheese, crumbled

juice of 1/2 lime

fresh cilantro

salt and pepper to taste

4 fresh yellow peppers

Prepare couscous according to directions. Bring a small pan of water to a boil and add carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower and cook until crisp tender. Remove to a bowl of ice water, cool and drain. Saute mushrooms until they are golden brown. Add couscous, all veggies, beans, and cucumber and gently mix. Add feta cheese, juice of the lime, cilantro to your taste (I use a lot because this is my favorite herb), salt and pepper. Cut each pepper in half and remove seeds. Mound the couscous in the small edible pepper bowls and garnish with additional cilantro. To serve, drizzle with a small amount of olive oil.

I am definitely going to serve these with a side of soup. To make the soup presentation unique, I am bringing out my collection of small coffee cups ( I have about one hundred.) Considering that my recipe collection does includes about a million soup recipes, I better get busy figuring out what soup would be perfect with this couscous!

Boldly Flavored, Budget Friendly Navy Bean Soup

Of the many reasons to simmer a pot of homemade Navy Bean Soup, (yes, I did say many) one of the most compelling is the price. I will get to the others shortly.

For pennies per heaping mouth-watering bowl you can serve one of the most satisfying simmering soups that you and your family will ever enjoy. For that matter, the intriguing mix of flavors lends it to dinner party fare! (Ok, Ok, Ok, maybe I am pushing the soup a little far with dinner party fare, but what can I say) It is a soup with such sustenance and nutrition, all while it warms the winter chill away. Now I ask you, can you put a value on such a recipe? Yes, priceless!

Gin's Navy Bean Soup

1 pound dried navy beans
three quarts water
3 pounds smoked ham hocks
14 ounces Smoked Turkey Sausage
1 large onion, chopped
2 tablespoons McCormick smokehouse pepper
4 teaspoons Ham flavored soup base
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
2 cups chicken broth (optional)
salt to taste

Wash the navy beans and soak in 5 quarts cool water overnight. Drain beans and rinse. Place beans into pot with three quarts water. Add ham hocks, chopped onions, ham flavored soup base, and simmer approximately three hours in a covered pot, stirring occasionally. Remove ham hocks and set aside to cool. Dice meat and return to soup (optional.) Bring to a boil and season with 2 tablespoons McCormick smokehouse pepper, 1 teaspoon liquid smoke and salt to taste. Once boiling bring soup back to a simmer. At this point, the soup will be thick, you can serve as is or thin with 2 cups chicken broth (which is what I do.) In the meantime, slice smoked turkey sausage into thin coins and brown in a non stick pan. To serve, ladle soup into bowls, and stack sausage coins on top. Serve with crackers and hot sauce if so desired. The last thing you have to do is to ENJOY!

I did promise that I would get to the other reasons to simmer a pot of Gin’s Navy Bean Soup. We all know that beans pack a wallop of nutrition. They are full of protein and fiber, all of which could help you lose those extra holiday pounds. They are hearty and healthy. They are full of flavor with an ease to prepare. What more could you ask for?

If you are looking for something magnificent, your search is over. Gin’s Navy Bean Soup is comfort food at it’s finest. Now, get a simmering!