$5 Dinner: Spring Vegetable Couscous
Oh, lord, the humidity. It’s already got me in a state. My hands are clammy and my forehead is shiny. Let us just hope this is merely a transition to when I am suddenly glowy and crisp and fresh as a daisy. Seriously, how do people do that in summer? I will find this out in my next earthly incarnation, when I am rendered ethereal, rather than earthy.
(While we’re on the topic, generally speaking at least, does anyone have a non-greasy, everyday facial sunscreen that they love?)
I don’t have much to say today, so I will have to just cut to the facts: I have eaten this for three out of my last six meals. It is just what I needed in the wake of too much vacation: fresh, crisp, light, and lemony. I served it with a poached egg on top (no surprises there), but turn to whatever protein you like. Cold roasted chicken would be nice, cubes of tofu, a few chickpeas, or maybe even some flakes of smoked salmon. Oh, yes; that would be heavenly, indeed. And for the hot (and bothered?) among us, this is the perfect steamy day dinner or lunch. The stove stays on for mere moments, and you need only dirty one pan. Score one for the cooks in the battle against the summer heat!
Spring Vegetable Couscous
inspired by Everyday Food
Serves 2
1/2 cup chopped asparagus
1/2 cup peas
1/2 cup couscous
2/3 cup water
1/4 cup chopped herbs such as basil, mint, parsley and/or cilantro
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
3 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon olive oil
In a small saucepan, bring asparagus, peas, couscous, and water to a boil. Cover, turn off heat, and let sit until water has been absorbed. Fluff with couscous with a fork. Stir in herbs, lemon zest, lemon juice, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with the energizing protein of your choice.
Poppy: Hey! I’ve been meaning to learn how to poach an egg. Any tips?1 year ago
Kim: That looks absolutely delightful.
Regarding sunscreen, I like powdered SPF from Peter Thomas Roth Oily or Bare Minerals (I like Roth better). I keep it in my purse and brush it on whenever I’m feeling toasty, it’s also great over makeup.1 year ago
Poppy, Here’s what I do: Fill 1/3 of a small saucepan (that kind that you use to make a couple cups of rice or something) with water. Place over high heat and bring to a rolling boil. Crack an egg into the water right where bubbles are breaking the surface. Put the lid on. Turn off the heat. Let stand for 3 minutes. Then fish out with a slotted spoon. Voila!
Kim, Reallllllly. Interesting. I’ve wondered about powder sunscreens and just saw the PTR at Sephora, but have read mixed reviews. Very interesting indeed…1 year ago
The Single Gal: This freckled redhead loves the new Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Water Light Daily Face Sunscreen spf 60… it’s super thin & watery – not greasy!1 year ago
Ariana: I use Origins Out Smart. To apply I just mix a tiny dollop with my moisturizer in the mornings. It’s not greasy at all.1 year ago
Megan: mmm this sounds delicious! especially since i just bought four of the most enormous spring onions i have ever seen at the farmer’s market — like trying to put medusa into a shopping bag!
i am a fan of neutrogena oil-free moisturizer spf 15 — no bells or whistles, just a gentle, sun-block (UVA and UVB) moisturizer. i also like eucerin Q-10, which has spf 15.1 year ago
The Single Gal, Any chance you’re in Canada? I’m looking for the Neutrogena Water Light and can’t find it for sale, but I’m wondering if it’s the same as this: http://www.amazon.com/Neutrogena-Ultra-Sheer-Liquid-Sunblock/dp/B003901LEW1 year ago
Jen: Yum – sounds great and easy! And one pot? Fantastic. I’ve become a poached egg fan myself.
So, in appreciation…here’s my pick for daily sunscreen:
Eucerin everyday protection face lotion, SPF 30.
Oil free and good for sensitive skin – came recommended by my dermatologist. A little dab’ll do ya, as they say
http://eucerinus.com/products/face_eplotion.html1 year ago
Kathleen: I second the recommendation of Neutrogena oil-free moisturizer spf 15- i use it year round! Though not strong enough for an entire day spent outside it is perfect for everyday wear and keeps me breakout and shine free
1 year ago
Tara: I use Aveeno Positively Radiant. SPF 15. I’m on my second bottle, and still like it. I used to love an estee lauder sunscreen/moisturizer, but it was out of my price range.1 year ago
Adrienne: I use the aveeno facial moisturizer with spf 15 in it all year round. I love it – I am freckly and fair with a slightly oily T zone, and it doesn’t feel greasy to me at all.1 year ago
Karen: This recipe sounds delicious…. perfect for this hot steamy weather we are having here.
I have been using Clinique Youth Surge moisturizer with SPF, but I just scraped the bottom of the jar this morning! Although I really liked the Clinique, it is a little pricey. I headed to the drugstore this morning to find a more reasonable alternative. I picked up a Eucerin moisturizer with SPF 30 (it is for sensitive skin). I am thinking the SPF 30 will be good for these upcoming months when I am outside more and it was less than $10!1 year ago
anonymous fan: I second Karen’s youth surge – favorite moisturizer with SPF by far. A splurge but I think worth it.1 year ago
WriteGal: I’m a fair-skinned redhead, too, and I use a mineral POWDER sunscreen/block. You get it from the dermatologist, called ColorScience. SPF 30, brushes on like any mineral powder and stays on all day, AND is waterproof. A life-saver, plus it reduces shine! Costs around $50.1 year ago
Gwen: I use Clarins UV Plus Day Screen High Protection SPF 40. It’s 100% physical sunscreen, which means it’s not at all sticky, and not irritating to my sensitive skin.
An FDA study was just released that found that vitamin A (also called retinol or retinyl palmitate) in sunscreen will actually *increase* your risk for skin cancer, so whatever you go with, be sure to check the ingredients list!1 year ago
beth: Mmm, this will be lunch soon. I have a basil plant that I’ve been coddling for a couple of weeks and it’s doing surprisingly well, given my non-green thumb. This recipe might be a good reason to prune a 1/4 cup worth of leaves from it for the first time!1 year ago
rhonda: Bare Essencuals Mineral make-up is SPF 20 – -& the mineral veil is perfect as a first step in humid weather- also in SPF 201 year ago
Amy C: Yup, super-sensitive fair-skinned girl here who also swears by mineral powder spf. I can’t put sunblock on my face or else I rash and breakout, but the mineral foundation has SPF 30 that works beautifully.
Also, anything topped by a poached egg is right up my alley!1 year ago
Heather: Delurking to tell you how much I love this moisturizer: http://www.neutrogena.com/econsumer/ntg/productdetail.browse?segment=women&catId=1&subCatId=4&productId=45&target=/products/face/oil-free-moisture-spf-15.jsp Its non-greasy, and its wonderful. I use it every single day.1 year ago
Nancy G: Spring Couscous is my new favourite thanks! As for sunscreen, I have very sensitive skin and I love , love, love Liz Watier Sun Smart SPF 30– it goes on very light and feels like it disappears on your skin–worth every penny!1 year ago
The Single Gal: Yep – that’s the stuff – a flight attendant friend gave it to me, she must have gotten it overseas… I didn’t realize it’s called something different in the States!1 year ago
BB: That looks delicious!
And I’ll second (fifteenth?) the recommendation for Neutrogena. I’m sensitive to chemical sunblocks, so I use their oil-free, chemical-free Sensitive Skin formula and it keeps my face happy.1 year ago
molly: Ha! We ad hoc’d something awfully similar for dinner tonight. Better would have been the idea of cooking hte greens AND couscous together. Brilliant. Oy, the humidity. Glad I’m not the only one griping over sticky feet and dripping brows. Ug.1 year ago
Jessica: Wow I really like this recipe. It’s great for the heat and the budget. Thanks for sharing.1 year ago
Sarah RN: Burt’s Bees makes a great SPF 15 daily moisturizer – it’s about $14 down here in Maryland at any drugstore, and is light and non-greasy (even on my shiny skin!)1 year ago
lindsay: I second the Eucerin. Walgrens makes a generic version of it, too, so it’s extra cheap!1 year ago
Steffie: I’m going to have to back up the previous posters with Aveeno’s daily moisturizer. I like the SPF 15 version, Ultra Calming. It’s been good to my “pregnancy mask.” Pesky hormones.
And I <3 couscous. We like adding bellpeppers to ours.1 year ago
rosie: I made this tonight and it was delicious! We ate it with baked salmon and it was so good. Thank you for the inspiration.1 year ago
Sara Rose: Sara Rose loves a good poached egg. On top of grits with sickening amounts of butter especially. But on top of couscous? With veggies and lemony goodness? Well whoddaathunk? LOVE IT.1 year ago
Alicia Kachmar: Coppertone Oil-Free sunscreen lotion…Aveeno Positively Radiant!1 year ago