COUS COUS CASSEROLE

COUS COUS CASSEROLE

Ingredients:

(Makes 3-4 servings)

1 head broccoli, florets only

1/2 package Trader Joe's Harvest Grains Blend (Israeli cous cous, orzo, baby garbanzo beans and red quinoa) or 1 cup brown rice and 1 cup garbanzo beans

1 cup Trader Joe's canned Tuscano marinara sauce or other chunky marinara sauce

1 cup Trader Joe's shredded Quattro Formaggio or other shredded, pungent cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

6 or so heirloom or cherry tomatoes

2 tsp. crushed garlic

Garlic powder, to taste

[Optional: red pepper flakes]

Juice of 1/2 Meyer lemon

Splash of olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Steam broccoli florets for 5-7 minutes.

3. Prepare Harvest Grains according to package (using only a splash of olive oil and simmering at least 5 minutes longer than package suggests), mixing in crushed garlic and tomatoes while simmering.

4. Mix broccoli, grains, marinara sauce, lemon juice, [red pepper], most of the cheese and some garlic powder in a casserole dish.

5. Sprinkle with the rest of the cheese.

6. Cook uncovered in the oven for at least 15 minutes.

Notes:

*If your kid picks up a head of broccoli at Trader Joe's and says, "This one looks yummy Mommy! Let's get this!", you ask no questions, you just buy it and figure out what to do with it later. And thus, a new dish is born.

*Be careful to stir the grains well while cooking and probably add more water more frequently than package says to.

*Kids can help by stirring the mixture in the casserole dish and sprinkling the extra cheese.

*This is so easy and fast, and yet has been known to elicit the coveted "Yum!" from a real-life, picky three year old as well as a grumpy, tired hubby.