Cous Cous and Not Remembering

Years ago Patsy gave me a ward cookbook that someone had given her. I don't even remember why she ever gave it to me, but sometime before she did she had gone through and marked her favorite recipes. By the Cous Cous recipe she had written "Wonderful!". She had also made a few changes and substitutions. 

As Patsy and I were discussing what we wanted to eat while she visited I mentioned Cous Cous. I brought out the cookbook and showed her the recipe and, although the comments were obviously written in her handwriting, she had no memory of the cookbook, the recipe, or ever giving it to me. It immediately became clear that we needed to make Cous Cous and infuse her brain with multiple veggies to improve her cognitive functioning. It certainly was a tasty cure.

Having Patsy visit has been a lot of fun. We'll definitely miss her.

This recipe may look long and daunting, but it is quite simple and start to finish takes less than an hour. The flavor is so worth any effort you have put into it. It is truly "Wonderful!". (We always double the cous cous part of the recipe because there never seems to be enough to go with the sauce)

Cous Cous

Sauce:

2 T. olive oil

2 ½-3 lb. chicken, cut up (or 1-2 chicken breasts)

4 small carrots (sliced)

1 medium onion (chopped)

2 medium turnips (cut up)

2 stalks celery (chopped)

2 cloves garlic (chopped)

2 tsp. coriander

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

¼ tsp turmeric

3 small zucchini (sliced)

¼ lb mushrooms

1 can garbanzo beans.

Brown chicken in olive oil and drain off fat. (If using chicken breasts, cube and set aside and add at the end). Add carrots, onions, turnips, garlic, celery, coriander, and turmeric. Pour broth over vegetables and heat to boil. Cover and simmer 30 minutes. Add zucchini and mushrooms; cook uncovered until tender. Add beans and heat 5 minutes. 

Cous Cous:

¾ c. raisins

1 ½ tsp salt

1 c. boiling water

 ½ c. butter

½ tsp turmeric

1 1/3 c. cous cous

Add butter to boiling water and melt. Stir in raisins, salt and turmeric. Stir in cous cous and turn off heat. Cover and let stand 5 minutes. Remove chicken pieces and place in the center of a large platter. Pour the sauce over the top and arrange cous cous around the edges. (If using chicken breasts, place some cous cous on your plate and spoon some sauce over the top).

Chicken can be omitted for a meatless meal.