Couscous Salad & Tomatoes Provençal

Another summer double header as we play catch up ....

Couscous Salad

Per Nana~

Couscous is not something I prepare often. Many people think it 

resembles "pastina" pasta but I definitely find a difference in flavor.  

This week however, using the couscous with all of the herbs and spices called 

for in the recipe made the dish quite interesting. Normally I don't use a lot of

 ginger or cumin in my cooking but it definitely worked well in this salad. 

Taking the easy way out for dinner, I served this 

salad with a delicious roasted chicken from Costco. 

Per Tricia~

This is definitely one of the recipes that gets filed under "never would have 

thought of these ingredients". Likely because I am not familiar with Moroccan

 cooking. But somehow, after four years of "French Fridays with Dorie".

...my pantry IS prepared for Moroccan dishes.  I actually surprised myself that I

 could easily lay my hands on turmeric, cumin, and ground ginger-

 check, check and check. It was the good old cinnamon I had to hunt for. 

My how times have changed, but for the better. The family enjoyed it 

and hubby said it was a good option for him to take for lunch at work. 

Yay. 

Tomatoes Provençal 

Per Nana~

Adding to this week's post is a make up recipe for tomatoes provençal. 

Many thanks to Kathy for this selection, it was excellent and quite tasty.

 This is one recipe I will make time and time again. 

The mixture of herbs that I used were fresh basil leaves and chives, blended 

with finely chopped garlic. I baked the tomatoes for 30 minutes as instructed, 

and then I basted them. Another 15 minutes and they were perfect. 

I sprinkled some parmesan cheese over the tomatoes as Dorie 

suggested, and they were simply delicious. 

Per Tricia~

The spoiling continues. 

It is widely known that I am treated to both standard and hard to find ingredients by

 getting a special delivery à la Nana. This week my lovely new next door neighbor, 

Nicole, just happened to ask if I could use some of her garden fresh tomatoes.

Yes, she evidently raises amazing heirloom tomatoes and offered to share. 

Coincidentally, on the same night that I was planning to

 make the tomatoes provençal. Cue the choir of angels. 

Aren't they gorgeous ?  Yup - they were absolutely delicious too.  

This recipe was wonderful. Even though it involved turning on the 

oven in the summer, I will still do it again and again. All of my

 taste testers approved. And now they want a garden next year as well ...

 Happy French Friday ~