Stop and Eat the Couscous

The past two weeks have slipped by in a blur of travel, work, travel, work. I am only just now catching up with my life outside of the office. Somewhere between Boston and Seattle, I concocted this quirky little salad, which was a happy accident of what I could find in the kitchen. (My pantry has been neglected, along with my blog.) The melange of couscous, cherry tomatoes, black beans, green onions, cucumbers, and pineapple, was quite tasty and extremely refreshing. Packed in a mason jar, it traveled beautifully to the beach. I sat quietly and enjoyed my strange medley as I caught my breath and soaked up the solitude... if only for a minute. It's good to be home.

Baked Jicama Wonton

To prepare for the Super Bowl, I have been testing new appetizer recipes. It is tradition at my house to make a table full of finger food that my husband and I graze on during the game. Today's experiment was baked wontons. These tasty creations will most certainly add a unique pop to the table of goodies and be a welcomed change to the pigs in a blanket of the past. The filling was made from jicama, carrot, and cucumber that I cut into matchsticks and tossed in ginger salad dressing. I added the juice of a clementine and sprinkled in a little fresh cilantro before rolling each wonton and baking at 425 degrees for about 8 minutes. They were crunchy, flavorful, and addictive! Originally, I thought the cilantro might be a deal breaker, but the result was actually bright and balanced. As a side note to stylists, the wonton wrapper is my new secret weapon. Versatile and quick to make, they will definitely be a go-to when I am trying to fill a plate with the clock breathing down my neck. tick...tock...tick....tock...