I’m so tired of all this cold and snow! So I decided to make an indoor picnic for dinner lol which if you are like Conestoga Chuck and like your meats then this won’t be a recipe for you. If you are craving fresh veggies and warm sunshine, then you are in the right spot! (Sorry chuck lol)
So the first part of our meal is done in the instant pot (if you follow our posts regularly now is the time to say “duh” and smack your head and giggle) because I love my instant pot! I may have already stated that once or twice lol right chuck? I have to give my dad credit for this one tho because this is his concoction! Again… our recipes are usually without measurements because cooking is meant to be fun and experimental! So just give it a try, you won’t be sorry. These are meant to be made to please your taste buds… not mine (or Conestoga chuck’s).
Peel some sweet potatoes (or some butternut squash) and cut into cubes. Place into your ramekin and put the ramekins on top of your handy metal rack with handles with some water in the bottom of the IP pan. Drizzle some real maple syrup (not the fake stuff! Yuck!) on top. Sprinkle with some cinnamon. Place some dabs of real butter on top. Close the lid/steam valve closed too … and hit the steam button. In 10 minutes you will be in heaven! Soooo yummy! Sooo easy! Sooooo inexpensive! Even the picky eaters will like this one!
Now for the other dish. (Here is your chance to go “duh”, smack your head and giggle again!) made in my handy dandy vintage Corning Ware! I love my Corning Ware! I boil the couscous right in the vintage casserole dish on the stovetop and then drain it and put the couscous right back in the same dish! How cool is that?!?!?!
Follow directions on the package and boil some pearl couscous. Drain and rinse in cold water. Seriously go to a thrift store and get you some vintage Corning Ware folks!
Make the sauce: whisk together about 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and some minced garlic. Pour this over your couscous.
Now add the veggies, some feta cheese, and salt to taste. Tonight I’m using cherry tomatoes, black kalamata olives, and a cucumber. I also added some dried mint leaves, thyme, and parsley.
That’s it. Dinner is ready to be served! It feels like summer already! But I’m gonna have some hot green tea that has a nice lemongrass flavor to enhance my dining experience since technically it is still cold and winter… I’m gonna drink it hot with a few of the sugar lemon drops I made before (see previous post for lemon drop instructions) as sweetener. Can’t get any more wistful for summer than with this meal!
Ok… if you haven’t said “duh” smacked your head and giggled yet… this is your last opportunity folks! I’m waiiiiiiiting….
Of course our meal is served on vintage Corning Ware pie plates and in tiny casserole dishes! Duh! Lol 🙂
And now to go feed the meat lovers (aka Conestoga Chuck and his sister) so I can sit and enjoy my meal.
Hubby approved this meal: and I quote! “I’m stuffed!” After his second serving… and absolutely no arguments when I asked him to stop at the store for some fresh veggies on the way home from work lol. Which is a ringing endorsement from “the dude”!
Conestoga Chuck 