Chronicles of a Late Bloomer

Although I love the way they taste, I don’t like the texture of certain vegetables (notably olives, raw onions, raw peppers, and mushrooms). They’re too loud, too fleshy, too overt. When I was little, I would tell my mom that raw onions “taste like they are screaming.” But, as I try to incorporate vegetables and nutrients into my diet, I have to get creative in order to get past my texture fetish.

According to the Weight Watchers’ Recipe Builder, this recipe makes 2 servings of 8 points each. It should also be packed with good carbs, fiber, and protein. I have it listed as a light meal.

Read on for the recipe.

• 1 cup whole wheat couscous
• 1 1/2 cups fat free chicken broth
• 1 cup chopped mushrooms¹
• 10-15 grape tomatoes
• 1/2 cup canned black beans (rinsed and drained)
• 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese

Boil mushrooms in broth until cooked. While cooking, rinse and drain black beans. Slice grape tomatoes in half or fourths. Toss beans, tomatoes, cheese, and uncooked couscous together in a large pot or bowl (one that has a lid or can be topped with a plate is best) and set aside.

When mushrooms are cooked well, I blend them into the broth so that the texture isn’t as noticeable, but that’s optional if you like bits of flesh floating about.² Pour the mushroom broth over the dry couscous mix and stir to coat. Top it with a lid and let sit for 10 minutes or until the broth is absorbed. I like my couscous wetter than the average cook, it seems, so you may have to toy with the ratio of liquid to couscous to suit your taste.

For a quick work-day lunch from the leftovers, I warm a serving in the microwave and then pack it into a small soup thermos. Stays warm and hits the spot in the middle of the day. To avoid cursing and frustration, I eat couscous with a spoon!

1. I like darker, earthier ones like shiitake and portobello [↩]
2. I like to use a blender stick for this job, but make sure the bowl or pot is tall enough that it won’t splash out and burn you. You could use a regular blender, I suppose, but I’m not responsible for any injuries that result from blending boiling liquid as though it were a smoothie, genius. [↩]