- The music director at my church has been there for 20 years and the choir celebrated on Sunday by performing a piece of music composed just for this occasion. They had been practicing in secret every Monday night since September off site, so that it would be a surprise. I've never seen anyone more overwhelmed by anything as Ed was by this. It was a lovely morning.
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Dressing:
1/3 cup water
1/4 sherry or balsamic vinegar (I used seasoned rice vinegar yesterday)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (.6 ounce) envelope Good Seasons Italian Dressing mix
Salad:
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup uncooked couscous
2 cups chopped red bell pepper
2 cups chopped tomato
1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup finely chopped green onion
1/4 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Combine the first 4 ingredients in a jar. Cover tightly, and shake vigorously.
Bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan; gradually stir in couscous. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Combine couscous, bell pepper, and remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Add the dressing mixture. Toss couscous mixture gently to coat.
Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 cup)
Best when made the night before. I hope you enjoy! Cheers!
20 comments:
The honey sounds fantastic, although I could never partake in the stuff.
Strange side note: saw the following item at a discount store:
Sugar-free honey.
As for the choir director, that sounds like it was a fantastic gift given to him by the choir.
Thanks for the recipe- it looks good and I'll definitely make it.
I have heard this about honey. We have several local honey producers, some of who sell at local farmer's markets.
That was a beautiful way to honor your music director. Music composed from the heart!
What a sweet thing the choir did!
First I must ask, what is couscous?
That makes a lot of sense about taking local honey as a remedy for allergies. I was taken back by G's comment on seeing "sugar-free" honey in the store. What???
Your music director must have felt like Richard Dreyfus in Mr. Holland's Opus. Anyway that's what I picture happening.
Yay! I'm so excited for spring and I love the sound of this dish.
G -
Sugar free honey - I can't think what that would be like.
And the music was incredible. The composer is Samuel Adler, who is a teacher at Juilliard and a "prominent American composer." This piece was written to be performed just this one time. (I'm sure to the delight of the choir members, who said it was difficult to sing.)
Leonora -
It's a favorite salad to take to potlucks and is a good tailgate recipe. You can load it in one of those big ziploc bags and it fits nicely down in a cooler like that.
FB -
There was also a harpist thrown into the mix. Just a beautiful morning filled with music.
Granny Annie -
Couscous is a type of North African semolina made from crushed durum wheat. Look for it in the section of the grocery store where rice is sold. Some recipes show cooked couscous topped with stewed meat and beans, such as garbanzo beans.
And the music - it was just like that - I was not sitting where I could watch his face during the music, but there was a plaque presented and he was wiping his eyes throughout that.
Joanne -
Let me know if you make it. I can't even think where this recipe came from, I've been making it for so long. I love it. It's great with a little hummus on the side + a salad with spinch and toasted pine nuts.
I wouldn't make this only because my cooking could easily kill someone but it does look good!
My mother eats honey every day, it's meant to good for stomach issues too.
What a sweet way to fight allergies.
The salad looks scrumptious!
What a lovely gift to the music director! It must have been really something to see his face! :)
WOW, a secret since September. That's just so beautiful, Lynn.
Yes, I was aware of that local honey thing. Not sure why, but my allergies which some years have been quite debilitating, this year have spared me.
gotta run
ooxx
I like to try to find local honey--it's normally better too, but mine generally comes in mason jars! The music sounds like it was a treat, and the salad looks delicious.
I thought I was full. NOM! Thank you for including the recipe.
Whst a lovely gift for the music director. One from the heart (which contains no batteries and doesn't need dusting). A memory to hug and cherish.
That looks yummy. Would you believe I've never made couscus before? Must be alot healthier than pasta salad-
I haven't found any local honey, always put the regular kind in my oatmeal tho. Also eating live culture yogurt everyday is supposed to head off pollen allergies.
What a great surprize for Ed the choir director- n a wonderful experience for your congregation!
Oooh get me that!
"They had been practicing in secret every Monday night since September off site;" way cool idea here! That couscous salad looks hot!
Joe -
Good to know about the honey - I have a friend with stomach issues, so I'll tell her.
Talon -
Love that - a sweet way, indeed!
Jannie -
I can't believe he didn't find out - they had a dress rehearsal last Monday night at our church and didn't expect him to be there, but he was. So they had to get his daughter to call him to come over to her house to help with an invented emergency.
xo
Sage -
Honey in a mason jar sounds wonderful!
Riot Kitty -
Nom is right! I had some last night with a dollop of hummus and a spinach and mushroom salad.
The Elephant's Child -
No batteries and no dusting - exactly and it was perfect.
Snaggle -
I like to make couscous because it cooks so quickly and with little fuss. Let me know if you try it.
Dr Zibbs -
Thanks for stopping by! That was a rare photo of food - but I talk about it all the time. :)
lg -
If you mean hot in a good way, then it is. :)
That couscous dish looked great! sandie
Sandie -
I had it for dinner again last night - delish.
Delicious recipe. Thanks! The parsley really makes a difference, though, to add some green-tasting texture. Maybe experiment with half of the recipe. Even try fresh cilantro or mint and I bet you'll see an amazing aliveness.
How wonderful that story about the specially composed and personally sung gift for the choir director. I bet most would be happy to have their choir rehearse at all!
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