After my run and metro delays, I was ravenous by the time I got home at 8:40pm. Lack of proper grocery shopping meant I didn’t have anything to just pop in the microwave. Usually cereal or a PBJ sandwich are my fall back for such situations, but tonight I wanted something hot, spicy, tasty, filling, etc.
So this is what I did:
In a pan, I heated some olive oil and added a small chopped onion and garlic. While the onions softened I chopped all the forgotten vegetables from the crisper. This included half a zucchini, baby eggplant, orange bell pepper, tomato, and spinach. I added the zucchini and eggplant to the pan. Sprinkled some salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and let the heat do its thing.
Meanwhile, I boiled some water to make whole wheat couscous (I add a tablespoon of cumin to it). That took 5 minutes. Once done, I dumped the couscous in a bowl, added the grilled vegetables, and topped the whole thing with the chopped tomatoes, spinach, and orange bell pepper. Then I spotted a can of beets and decided to add those to the party as well.
Believe me, typing this post took longer than making the actual dish. If I had more time, I would have added olives, beans, hummus, olive oil, raisins, slivered almonds, etc. But even without those things, this was exactly what I needed to end the day.
This one wasn’t rocket science. Give it a try because you can’t mess it up. In addition to being colorful, quick, healthy, and tasty it’s a great way to clean up the fridge. And there were enough leftovers to take for lunch.
“A quick WEEKNIGHT dinner idea with Chika”
This definitely qualifies for a half hour show on the food channel. I kid you not!!!
I would be a one episode wonder!
why you gotta neglect my orange bell pepper like that