You know those mornings when you:
wake up in a panic because you forgot to send an important email…
and wait! you only slept five hours! where did all of these zits come from!? like… seriously.
and the coffee line is surprisingly short, but you spill coffee on your shoes because you’re an absolute bonehead.
and technology is confusing.
but cookies are totally not confusing so you eat like, thirty of them.
and it would be awesome if you could just stay home and hide from things… but the world keeps on spinning… and you keep spilling things… and emails keep coming… and seriously with the text messages!?
You know those days?
when work feels suffocating. and it’s 4 o’clock in the afternoon, and you’re still trying to pull something out of your day. well… something besides cookies.
I had that day yesterday. I just couldn’t turn things right. It was like slow motion falling, all day long.
It’s ok. It really is. Some days are just funktown.
What turns around these days?
Buying your best friend cupcakes for her birthday. Yes. Buying!!! I already told you it was a rough day! Geez! Sometimes bakers buy cupcakes. That’s real life!
Buy cupcakes. Light candles. Pet a fluffy sweet dog named Willy. Sing Happy Birthday to Miss (dirty 30) Whitney.
Doing nice things for other people totally helps me out of a funky day funk. It feels good. Making other people happy is the best distraction there is! Truly.
Buy cupcakes if you have to. Eat cookies if things get weird. Do good things for other people. Also… try couscous for lunch. It’ll totally counteract all of the cookies you ate for breakfast, and the cupcakes you’re about to eat after pizzadinner. Pizzadinner is totally a word.
Israeli couscous is a toasted pasta shaped like little balls. It’s different from traditional couscous, in that it’s much larger, really holds it’s shape, and doesn’t clump together. Tiny pasta balls. Like tapioca, but more pasta-y.
I love to turn this couscous into a salad.
I had a theme this go-round. I wanted everything to be green.
Snap peas. Raw. Sliced. Crisp. Pretty.
Maybe you want to try asparagus? Go for it!!
Green onions and green parsley. I’m really into parsley.
Maybe you want to try basil and oregano? Heck yes!
Big chunks of cucumber too!
What? You want to use roasted zucchini!? Why didn’t I think of that?
And lemon. Lemon should go into everything.
I toss it all together with lemon juice and olive oil. Salt and coarse pepper for days.
Feta cheese too… because come on! Don’t be dumb.
I thought toasted pistachios were a nice touch too. They’re green. I love a theme.
Feel free to play around with the ingredients.
This is just a simple little ditty for a ditty of a day.
Green Israeli Couscous Salad
four small or two large servings
3 cups water
1 1/2 cups dry Israeli Couscous
generous pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups sliced snap peas
1 English cucumber, cut into chunks
1/3 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup roasted and salted pistachios
salt and coarsely ground black pepper to taste
about 3 tablespoons olive oil
about 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
In a medium saucepan, bring three cups of water to a boil. Add a generous pinch of salt, followed by Israeli couscous. Stir and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer until couscous is just tender, with a slight bite, about 10 to 13 minutes.
Drain into a fine mesh strainer and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
Toss cooled couscous with the rest of the ingredients. Taste and add more salt and pepper as necessary.
Yea… it’s that easy! Cook couscous and toss it with veggies, herbs, cheese, lemon and olive oil.
Katie
I think every time I look at one of your posts, I can’t help but admire your dishes. The cute little ramekin, the festive plate, the patterned tablecloth. I’m not sure I would have had the courage to combine them all, but they look great together. And the salad looks delicious too, and so fresh.
joanne stefanacci
Oh no, Joy. I am sad. How can you do this to me? No gorgeous, gooey super-indulgent baked good? Or beverage? Fresh? And green? Ohhhh.
joythebaker
seriously?
Anne
Wow, looks terribly yum-town. Actually, I feel sure that Israeli couscous could be a great breakfast item too! Throw some fruit in there and who knows what might happen? Oooh, or make a savory version. Oh yeaaahhh. :)
Sasha (Global Table Adventure)
That was my day today! Thanks for the smiles. I’m totally ready for a fancy schmancy pizzadinner. I’ll even tuck my napkin in my shirt.
Jennifer Elle
That looks totally yummy! Kind of reminds me of tabouli, which I absolutely love. I bet this would taste great with hummus.
Stephanie
Making other people happy will make you happy as a by-product. So true! I’m really glad your you-know-whatty day turned out so nice after all.
I’ve been wanting to try Israeli Couscous, your salad looks wonderful!
Liz
I have been eating cookies nonstop since Monday. And the end is not in sight. They really do seem to be the best solution to most problems.
Frederike
Oh this story made me laugh out loud. Those days just happen.. The other day I was having one of those days too.. I found some time to rest on a bench in a park with a sandwich (starving/and just craving food) when a pigeon dropped his ‘you know what’ right on my face..
I just laughed, went home to clean my face and bought myself frozen yoghurt on the way back.. Food can heal..
I really like your recipe, now I just have to find that special couscous.. Probably a real adventure here in the Netherlands!
Em
I’ve had those days. And weeks. Only, I never have cookies around, so I end up eating a jar of white chocolate peanut butter, since that’s not too confusing either. I recommend it. I do have Israeli couscous though, so this salad might be in my future.
Also, was yesterday Whitney’s actual birthday? If so, she and I share a birthday. (Either way, I hope it was super.) And cupcakes from a store/bakery (‘handpurchased’) are totally awesome. At least more awesome than the accounting exam I got, which didn’t have candles or sprinkles or anything.
Sarah McD
I’m now on a quest to find Israeli couscous (or Ptitim.) Because I need this salad in my life. And my entire future. Except instead of parsley I want handfuls and handfuls of cilantro. And some bell pepper too.
Lisanne
“Feta cheese too… because come on! Don’t be dumb” This seals it. You are kind of really awesome.
Glo
Such beautiful illustrations that I MUST try this! A picture is worth a thousand words, and these are no exception. So I will do at least one good deed today for my special friend who needs cheering up. It’s the best cure for my baking spirit. Aloha!
The Café Sucré Farine
This is so……. pretty and it looks delicious! Would be just great for a picnic on the beach with a yummy sandwich!
Kocinera
“It was like slow motion falling, all day long.”
hehehe You put it so perfectly, Joy. I can definitely sympathize with your rough day. But I really like your solutions–especially the vibrant, green, Israeli couscous bit. I’ve never seen snow peas sliced up all cool like that! Love it!
Jessie
Thanks for the reminder to do nice things for people. I shouldn’t have to be reminded but well, I do. :) I’ve been in funktown since my dear friend up and moved away. The nerve of her! Just did my grocery shopping for the week…guess this goes to next week!